IP1.1

How to Write a Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement?

• Your thesis statement tells your reader what the paper is about.

• It presents a problem that needs to be fixed.

• Your thesis statement is a theory that is proposed as a reason for something. It will be

proven in your paper.

Every paper that you have already written had a main idea or a central message behind it.

Thesis tips

• Do not bury a thesis statement at the end of your paper.

• Your thesis will continue to evolve, as you progress through other units in this course.

Sample thesis statement

Here is a sample thesis statement:

• “The major impediments to implementation of community policing are resistance to

change by veteran officers and a reluctance by officers to get involved with the

community.”

You’ll notice that it (1) describes a problem, (2) which is implementing community policing, (3)

due to resistance by officers. That’s a thesis statement.

Where do I put my thesis statement?

After you create your thesis statement, you will place it in two places:

1. First, place it in your Unit 1 discussion board (DB) assignment.

2. Second, place it in your Unit 1 submission (your IP1 paper). Click here to see a blank IP1

TEMPLATE where you can place your thesis statement.

Hypothesis

You will also have to write a hypothesis for your research paper. A hypothesis is not a thesis

statement. Click here to learn how to write your hypothesis.