Develop a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a single sentence that explains what your paper is about. The rest of your thesis paper should relate directly to the thesis statement. For example, a thesis paper about Mark Twain might be “Mark Twain's literature laid the foundation for regional fiction of the 20th century.” Your thesis paper would prove the thesis to be true.
Research your thesis. Make notes about what you find. The research about your thesis will help direct the writing of your paper. For example, you might set out to write about the benefits of eating soy daily, but your research may uncover many drawbacks and change the direction of your thesis paper.
Write an outline for your thesis paper. An outline helps you organize your thoughts and stay on topic when writing your paper. A basic outline highlights your introductory paragraph, the major points you address in the paper and your concluding paragraph.
Write the body of your thesis paper. Use your outline and the notes from your research to make your points about the thesis. Most papers have three or four main points or arguments addressed in the body, and they use research to support the claims.
Read the body of your thesis paper. Write the introductory paragraph of your thesis paper. The introduction should grab the reader's attention, state your thesis and introduce the main points of your thesis. This is the first impression readers get of your paper, so it should be strong.
Write the concluding paragraph of your thesis paper. This paragraph should bring the main points together and restate your thesis. It should also give your readers a final thought to take with them about your thesis. This is sometimes called the “ah hah” statement because it can strike an emotional chord with the readers.