Research Paper: Creating Your Thesis
This paper is an ARGUMENT, a persuasive essay on your topic. Thus, your thesis should be
a claim: a debatable, compelling opinion, position, or conclusion drawn from the
research. (Claim of fact: X is or is not true; value: x is better than y or X is the best ..; policy:
we should or should not do X)

Your thesis is not a fact or an obvious conclusion: its opposite could be true; reasonable
counterarguments can be made against it.

Furthermore, your thesis must be specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries
of your paper (six to eight pages).
Note: A narrower focus with more depth in each section is better than a paper with a
larger scope and little detail in each section.

All of the information included in your paper should relate to and support your thesis. (You
need to include a minimum of 12 pieces of research in your paper)
“As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes
your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different
approach to your topic."
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/thesis_composedraft.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml#unassigned
BUILDING THE THESIS
One way to create your thesis is to add up various components of your research
main counterargument
your opinion/position
+ main reasons to support
____________________________________
Thesis
Example:
(Counter) People should be responsible for choosing what they eat and knowing its nutritional
value.
(Reasons/Support) Fast foods are highly processed, are very unhealthy compared to “made at
home” versions of same foods, and can be dangerous to one’s health in some quantities
(Position/Opinion)Fast food chains should be forced to make their products healthier and
nutritional information should be placed on the packaging of those products.
_____________________________________________________________________________
THESIS:
Although adults are ultimately responsible for what they choose to eat, highly processed and
nutritionally bereft fast foods have become so unhealthy, and even dangerous, that chain
restaurants should be required to meet minimal nutritional standards and to place nutritional
information not only on their menus, but on the packaging of their products.
Creating your outline

The outline represents the layout of your entire argument, from thesis through the
conclusion (introduction is typically not included in an outline).
o You are required to include your thesis, main sections (Roman numerals), paragraph
topics (capital letters), and cited research and support (numerals). Research
analysis and commentary (lowercase letters) is optional.
 All ideas should be written in complete sentences, not words or phases
 Research MUST be cited (at least 12 pieces of research, or note cards, required)
 Remember, the sources of all research must be included on your annotated bibliography!
 There is NO prescribed number of sections or paragraphs etc. ALL OF THIS WILL VARY
FROM TOPIC TO TOPIC. YOU MUST DECIDE. In general, it is better to explore a few ideas
DEEPLY than to skim several ideas.
Suggested steps:
1) Use the steps from previous page to create your thesis. Surely, this will require you to examine
your notes and to reflect on all that you have learned about your research topic.
2) Look at your notes. Sort them into general topic piles. Then sort those piles into smaller
sections, etc.
3) Think about (you already have) the main sections you will include in your paper to SUPPORT
YOUR THESIS. A good way to structure your argument is the classical method: narration-the
background (what is the issue-define it and all related terms; why is this an issue we should
care about; what makes it current/relevant today); confirmation—the support of your
positions (sections that give the various reasons that back up your thesis); refutation—
addressing the counterarguments to your position; conclusion (What action is needed? Why
must it be done now?)
Thesis statement: (see previous page. When you write your paper, your thesis will be the last line in your introduction)
I.
II.
Roman numerals represent the main section of your paper. Example: Stress can be defeated.
A. Capital letters represent the distinct paragraphs within the major sections of the paper. They are
the topic sentences of the paragraphs. Example: One way to defeat stress is through action.
1. Numerals represent the support you will include in each paragraph. This is where your
research should be listed. When you include research in your outline you MUST place
quotation marks around any borrowed words from the source; if you are paraphrasing the
source, the words and their order must be your own—plugging in synonyms is insufficient.
Each piece of research you use must be followed by a parenthetical citation. Example: “When
faced with serious challenges, it helps to narrow them down to specific things you can do now”
(Brody 21).
a. Lowercase letters represent analysis and discussion of the facts. You do not have to
include these in your outline, but doing so now could facilitate the writing process later.
For the above fact, a student might write the following: Faced with the “serious challenge”
of writing a ten-page term paper, an individual can think about what she can do now to
work toward that goal; perhaps she can begin gathering her resources and taking notes to
prepare to write the paper.
2. Next piece of research or support
3. Next piece, etc.
B, Topic sentence of second paragraph of main section
1. Support/research
2. Support/ research
C.
Second main section of the paper
A.
1.
ETC. …
Take a look at the examples on the class website.
Outline is due Friday. If you miss Friday’s class for any reason, email me your outline and await a reply. No reply
means no receipt.