From Topic to Research Question or Thesis Statement

Generating a Research Question or Thesis Statement

Writing a research question or thesis statement defines the type of information that is needed for your assignment. Both approaches to refining your research goals have certain advantages.

 

Advantages of the Research Question:
  1. Questions require answers.
    A topic is hard to cover completely because it typically encompasses too many related issues; but a question has an answer, even if it is ambiguous or controversial.

    2. Topic Question
    Drugs and crime Could liberalization of drug laws reduce crime in the U.S.?

  2. Questions give you a way of evaluating the evidence.
    A clearly stated question helps you decide which information will be useful. A broad topic may tempt you to stash away information that may be helpful, but you're not sure how. A question also makes it easier to know when you have enough information to stop your research and draft an answer.

  3. A clear open-ended question calls for real research and thinking.
    Asking a question with no direct answer makes research and writing more meaningful to both you and your audience. Assuming that your research may solve significant problems or expand the knowledge base of a discipline, is more meaningful.

 

Advantages of the Thesis Statement:

  1. A thesis statement clearly defines your position.
    A thesis statement establishes your position on an issue, what you believe and will prove in your paper or assignment.

    2. Topic Thesis
    Drugs and crime The War on Drugs has been successful in reducing drug related crime in the U.S.

  2. A thesis statement is very specific.
    You will establish the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument. It helps you focus the subject so that you are able to adequately cover it within the boundaries of your paper.

  3. A thesis statement is argumentative.
    You make an argumentative assertion about a topic, stating the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. Unlike a research question, writing an effective thesis statement requires a more thorough examination of the topic to be sure that you can find evidence to support your argument.

    Developing a research question or thesis from a broad topic can be done in many ways. Two such effective ways are brainstorming and concept mapping.

 

 

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