This instructional activity focuses on identifying thesis statements including explicit and implicit thesis statements, "How to Identify the Thesis Statement" (video), topic sentences, paragraph parts graphic, and a self-check activity.

This page defines the thesis statement and tells how to develop one when the topic is assigned and when the topic is not assigned. Also gives guidelines for determining whether the thesis statement is strong or weak.

Learn what a thesis statement is, how to generate a thesis statement for an assigned topic, and how to generate a thesis statement if a topic has not been assigned.

Superbly written explanation of thesis development. Use the links on the right to work through the writing process.

This lesson focuses on prewriting including the purpose and characteristics of prewriting, prewriting strategies, the rhetorical context, and developing a working thesis statement. It also includes a slide show about author, audience,...

This introduction focuses on evaluating argumentative thesis statements. Click on the Next link at the bottom right for more information.

Answers questions about what a thesis is, why you might write one, how to write it, and the content that should be included!

The first part of this page lists five characteristics of a thesis statement and gives examples of a poor and an effective statement for each characteristic. The second part of the handout dispels common myths about the thesis statement.

Explains the thesis statement and distinguishes it from the purpose statement. Gives an example of a paragraph containing both. Be sure try the link at the bottom of the page, "Developing a Thesis Statement." This page goes into further...

This article by Vaughnlea Leonard focuses on writing a research paper for an accounting class. The main differences from other research papers is choosing an appropriate topic and selecting sources written by accounting experts.

Brief explanation of the thesis statement, followed by examples of faulty and improved thesis statements.

How do you write a winning statement of purpose? This is a clear and comprehensive explanation of how to approach and write an essay from the San Jose State University. Practice exercises are given at the end.

This structural design will guide students in writing a career research paper from start to finish. They will gather information; cite sources MLA style; develop a thesis statement, outline, and paragraphs; and create a research paper...

A tip sheet on how to write and develop an introduction to a research paper.

This lesson focuses on how to write a summary including strategies for annotation, paraphrasing the thesis statement, distinguishing major ideas from minor ones, and picking appropriate quotes. It also provides videos including "How to...

Resource defines what an essay is, the parts of an essay and their functions, and also discusses the editing process and how important it is to check a draft for completeness and high quality. Includes a link to an online guide to citing...

Discussion focuses on understanding the three academic language objectives that make an effective argument: understand the concept of a thesis statement, the significance of writing an argument with an audience in mind, and the...

This 35-minute interactive tutorial models the research process via the story of Quentin, a UMUC student. It takes him through the various research process steps: understand how to locate background information on his topic by showing...

An explanation of an expository essay and its structure: thesis statement, logic transitions, introduction, body, conclusion, support, and creativity.

Learn how to create an effective argument in this step-by-step process.