Thesis

A thesis is a statement that expresses the main idea or argument of a research paper or essay. It is usually one or two sentences long and appears at the end of the introduction. A thesis should be specific, clear, and debatable, meaning that it can be supported by evidence and challenged by other perspectives.

How does one write a thesis?
There are several steps involved in crafting a good thesis statement. First, one should identify the topic and purpose of the paper or essay. Second, one should conduct preliminary research to find out what has been said or written about the topic. Third, one should narrow down the focus and scope of the topic to a manageable and relevant question or problem. Fourth, one should take a position or make a claim about the question or problem based on evidence and reasoning. Fifth, one should write the thesis statement using concise and precise language.

Here are three examples of theses for different types of papers or essays:

- Analytical: "In The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger uses symbolism, irony, and characterization to explore the theme of alienation and identity in modern society."
- Expository: "The main causes of global warming are human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture, which increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."
- Argumentative: "The death penalty should be abolished because it violates human rights, fails to deter crime, and costs more than life imprisonment."