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The Thesis The thesis statement is the single most important aspect of your paper; it is, essentially, the justification for its very existence.

The Framework for Your Paper A good thesis serves as the blue print or plan for your paper The thesis can be broken down into sections of your paper

Consider a broad topic Check out the topic list on the wiki For example: World War I animal welfare

Our Broad Topic Horror Films

Narrow the topic by focusing on a specific aspect of the broad topic For example: * the United States' entry into World War I * violence toward animals

Narrow Our Topic Horror films today versus those of the past

Ask a research question about the specific aspect of the broad topic Was unrestricted German submarine warfare the major cause of the United States' entry World War I? Is there any connection between violence toward animals and violence toward humans?

Our Research Questions How do horror films today differ from those of the past? How has the production process changed? Do today’s films have a greater impact on audiences? In what ways are they different from the films of the 40’s and 50’s?

A research question addresses an issue, problem, or controversy and is answered with a conclusion, otherwise known as a thesis. The thesis is based on an analysis and interpretation of information and materials.

A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.

Despite their high-tech special effects, today's graphically violent horror movies do not convey the creative use of cinematography or the emotional impact that we saw in the classic horror films of the 1940s and 50s.

Formula for a Strong Thesis Specific topic + Attitude/Angle/Argument + A little tension = THESIS

For political, economic, social and cultural reasons, communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.

Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because of the ruling elite's inability to address the economic concerns of the people.

While cultural forces contributed to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the disintegration of economies played the key role in driving its decline.

Conflict in Darfur Who is involved in the conflict and why? What are the causes of the conflict and what is being done to bring peace? When did the fighting begin and what were the historical, political, cultural conditions? Why is the conflict continuing? Who is trying to bring peace to the region and will they be successful? How is world-wide intervention affecting the crisis?

The answer to your question becomes your thesis... The conflict in Darfur is fueled by ____________, ____________ and _____________, and hope for peace rests within _____________ and _____________________. When you fill in the blanks, this sentence will become your “working thesis.”