• Thesis statement (Argumentative paper)

http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/writing/on-line/thesis.html

?? A substantial generalization that can stand by itself as the basis of an essay?™s development
?? A statement that clearly and concisely conveys the writer?™s main argument in an essay
?? A statement that is broad enough and arguable enough to be worth defending in an essay

An example:
?œBicycle riders in Taiwan should be required, by law, to wear helmets.??br>

• Research question (Analytical paper)

??A question that calls for research to reach a conclusion

An example:
?œShould bicycle riders in Taiwan be required, by law, to wear helmets???/p>