How to Formulate a Thesis Statement

Step 1: Fill in your topic and question below.

Topic:

Research Question:

Step 2: Carefully read through the resources you’ve found related to your topic. Summarize the
main idea of each resource? Does it help your answer your question?

Step 3: Locate three different supporting facts, reasons, or explanations from your resources that, all
together, provide a strong answer to your research question. Paraphrase or quote these facts
below.

Use complete sentences! These will the main points (topic sentences) of your three body
paragraphs.

1.

2.

3. .

Step 4: Create your thesis statement. Try to structure each using the three-prong thesis structure,
like this:

Point 1

Turn your question into an answer. Point 2

Point 3

Thesis: