To develop a thesis statement, the first thing you'll need to do is determine what kind of paper you're writing. It will be either expository (explain something to the reader), argumentative (make and justify a claim), or analytical (break down and evaluate an issue). The type of paper you're writing will affect the content of your thesis statement, which should be very specific. The main issue you'll cover in your paper should be listed in your statement, and should be backed up with proper evidence. Generally, the statement will appear at the very end of the paper's first paragraph. As you write your paper, you may find that your topic changes somewhat. Making adjustments to your topic can mean the need to make adjustments to your thesis statement. This is normal, and to be expected. Once you've finished your paper, drawn conclusions, and made any revisions and edits, be sure to go back to your thesis statement. Read it again carefully, and revise it as necessary, to be completely in line with your paper's body and conclusion. It's very important that everything in your paper matches up. That's one of the main issues instructors look for when they grade papers from their students. They'll look to make sure the thesis statement is well developed, and that it's clear and direct. Then they'll focus on whether the statement ties in with the rest of the paper. If any of those areas are not adequately handled, the paper's grade will be lower. Because of the way a thesis statement is handled, it's "double developed" - once when you first create it, and again once you've written your paper and gone back to make adjustments to it. By working with the statement twice instead of only once, you'll be more likely to have a strong thesis that will adequately match the information provided in the body of the paper.
