How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper

Another feature of the thesis statement is that it should

In sum, a thesis statement should have the following 4 characteristics:

1) SPECIFICITY. Stating a specific relationship between at least two variables or entities.

2) SIGNIFICANCE. Addressing an issue that's worth caring about.

3) FOCUS. Raising only one central issue; not two or more.

4) SCOPE. Having a scope that can be analyzed and concluded within the limited time allowed for a research paper (usually a semester).

Let's take each of these characteristics one by one:

1) SPECIFICITY. "In this paper we're going to look at the ways in which people live happy lives" is not specific enough. You need to further narrow down general terms like "happy," "people," etc.

Here is a more specific version of the same thesis statement: "In this paper we'll research the thesis that couples who are married fourteen years or longer live on the average ten years longer than their non-married counterparts, at all education and income levels, and have less medical bills."

2) SIGNIFICANCE. Here is a very specific thesis statement: "In this paper we'll examine the way the post-WW2 New York and London stock market price fluctuations have affected the worldwide sales of Haiku poetry books."

Yes, the statement is specific enough but it's not clear why we should care about it. Its significance is not clear.

Here is a more significant version of the same thesis statement: "In this paper we'll examine the way the post-WW2 New York and London stock market price fluctuations have affected the number of students enrolled in major business schools in the world and the core classes these schools offered."

3) FOCUS. Here is an unfocused statement: "We'll study the development of beauty as a social value in contemporary Europe while looking to see if the happiness of an average Italian or German has anything to do with rising levels of medical care, literacy, or four weeks of annual vacation."

This statement is so unfocused you can bet this research paper will never be done.

Here is a more focused version of the same thesis statement: "We'll study the ways in which expanded medical care, literacy, and leisure time have impacted the "happiness" of an average European, as evidenced by literary and anecdotal data."

4) SCOPE. Here is a thesis statement that is specific, significant, and focused but cannot be studied within a semester due to its gigantic scope:

"Children born to couples with prior exposure to lead paint have a statistically significant chance of becoming autistic within the first five years of their lives, regardless of race, gender, family's socioeconomic status or the country of birth."

You can easily see that to study all births in the world (anytime!) is not a research project that can be concluded within a semester and within the 20 to 30 page limits of a standard research paper.

Here is another version of the same thesis statement with a more realistic scope: "Children born to couples with prior exposure to lead paint in New York City in the post-1990 period have a statistically significant chance of becoming autistic within the first five years of their lives, regardless of race, gender, or the family's socioeconomic status."

Now this research project has a better chance of getting completed in time due to its much narrower scope, forming a "tree view" with the main trunk splitting into thick branches which in turn taper off into even thinner braches and leaves.

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