Narrowing your TOPIC and Developing a THESIS

Your research paper is to be 5-7 pages in length. This means that you must focus your topic and thesis statement sufficiently so that you can write your paper within the page limit.

For example, if you are required to write a 5-7 page research paper, the thesis statement, "Teenage pregnancy has a tremendous effect on the economy" would NOT be appropriate. Why? It is too broad for the limits of the paper! Here is an example of narrowing a topic to an appropriate thesis statement for a research paper of 5-7 pages:

Topic

• Teenage Pregnancy

Possible Thesis Statements

• Teenage pregnancy has a tremendous effect on the economy. (TOO BROAD)

• The dependence of teenage mothers on welfare has a tremendous effect on the economy. (BETTER)

• The increase of teenage dependence on welfare during the period from 1993-1996 had a negative effect on the economy. (GOOD)

When focusing your topic and developing your thesis statement, follow these guidelines:

Begin by scanning the titles in your bibliography:

• Scan the titles of the sources, looking for specific aspects of your topic.

• Think about the way the sources are related to each other.

• Consider the possible arguments you could develop based on your sources.

• Think of questions that might help you to strengthen your argument, and select articles that might be able to answer these questions.

Next, scan the articles:

• Scan the sources which you have determined will be able to help make your argument.

• Develop a preliminary thesis statement based on your scanning.

Read the articles:

• Read for specific points which will help to strengthen your argument.

• Take notes (be sure to document the notes you are taking, so that later you will be able to cite them!!!)

Review your notes:

• Think about how your notes fit together as the foundation for a good, logical argument.

• Revise your thesis statement if necessary.