When you are working on a research paper, one of the most important part of the assignment is composing the research paper thesis.

Doctoral candidates may define dissertation with any number of subjective comments – “that terrible thing I have to complete before I get my degree,” “that culminating piece of research which is going to define me in my field,” or “that project that is going to consume the next 12-18 months of my life.”

Your literature review – it can be a “bear” to complete, and anything that can shorten your searches and your review will certainly be welcome.

What is a thesis statement? It is the most important sentence, or collection of sentences in any paper you produce while you are in college. What is a thesis statement supposed to do? The thesis statement serves two purposes.

“I believe unicorns are real.” This is a thesis statement. While the child who utters this statement would be hard pressed to prove this thesis, it does, nonetheless, fall into the criteria of a dictionary definition of a “thesis.”

Your dissertation will be unique in many ways. First, the research question you have devised is yours and yours alone.

There is no graduate course that prepares students for the “ins and outs” of thesis writing. Many departments will publish “guides,” but these really pertain to the structure and formatting of the finished product rather than providing step-by-step instructions on how to write a thesis.

The real work on a dissertation begins with the proposal. Certainly, there has been some work prior to this moment – you have completed some initial research related to your topic; you have generated a research question; and you have already read some dissertations that other researchers have produced that relate to your topic and question.

Students look for sample thesis statements as they are preparing to write essays, research papers, and graduate projects, such as theses and dissertation. Usually, these students have a topic in mind, but have not yet generated a thesis statement that will guide their research and writing.

Most of us learn best when we have models or examples to follow. Every classroom teacher, for instance, knows that in the teaching of ay new concept or skill, there is a “tried and true” process for getting student to mastery.