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Definition of thesis

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In high school, college, or graduate school, students often have to write a thesis on a topic in their major field of study. In many fields, a final thesis is the biggest challenge involved in getting a master's degree, and the same is true for students studying for a Ph.D. (a Ph.D. thesis is often called a dissertation ). But a thesis may also be an idea; so in the course of the paper the student may put forth several theses (notice the plural form) and attempt to prove them.

Examples of thesis in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

in sense 3, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Dictionary Entries Near thesis

the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children

thesis novel

Cite this Entry

“Thesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thesis. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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Meaning of thesis – Learner’s Dictionary

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thesis noun [C] ( WRITING )

Thesis noun [c] ( idea ).

(Definition of thesis from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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of or relating to birds

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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thesis statement

[ thee -sis steyt-m uh nt ]

• a short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text by means of examples and evidence.

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Word history and origins.

Origin of thesis statement 1

More About Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement .

In academic writing, a thesis statement is generally a sentence or two that summarizes the main point that an essay, research paper, or speech is making. It is typically located at the end of the introductory paragraph(s).

Thesis statements are kind of like roadmaps, laying out for the reader/listener where the writer/speaker is headed (argument) and how they are going to get there (evidence).

The thesis statement is widely taught in the humanities, especially in English classes in high school and college, to teach students how to make persuasive arguments that cite and analyze evidence and examples researched from literary, historical, or other texts.

Why is a thesis statement important in an essay?

Thesis comes from a Greek word that literally means “a setting down.” In the 300s BC, Aristotle defined thesis as when a philosopher puts forth a new idea that conflicts with general opinion.

Fast forward to today, when we use thesis to mean a “proposition” or “argument” one formally presents and defends. In academic settings, a thesis can be short for a thesis statement (our focus here) in an essay or shorter research paper. It can also be used for those much, much longer dissertations graduate students research, write, and defend for their degree (e.g., master’s thesis or doctoral thesis ).

Let’s look at statement real quick. It is a declaration or assertion. Sound redundant? The idea is that a thesis statement is the point in a paper or presentation that explicitly states the thesis. Usually in a sentence or two, the thesis statement summarizes the argument that’s going to be developed in the evidence and examples to come.

So, a thesis statement is just a sentence that gets the main point across. But, learning how to write these ain’t easy. That’s why educators, especially in English classes in high school and college, spend a lot of time teaching students how to craft effective thesis statements.

Why? Because in school, work, and life, we have to persuade people of our ideas and our point of view. These ideas might concern an analysis of literature or history, like a play by Shakespeare or a moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Or, these ideas might be a call to action, such as eating a certain diet or pursuing a business strategy.

How to write a thesis statement

There are many ways to make an effective thesis statement , but here are some general tips to follow.

So, let’s say you read a text, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night , or researched a topic, the health benefits of kale. Then you formed an opinion about it—a claim you want to make about it and why others should care. You found evidence—quotes, examples, facts, statistics—in your resources that you think back up your argument. Your thesis statement brings all these together: point of view , evidence , and significance . It lays out where the entire paper or presentation is going, which is why educators often liken it to a roadmap .

Here’s an example:

Kale is good for you because it is nutrient-dense, cancer-fighting, and loaded with antioxidants.

The argument here—which a first-year high-schooler might make in a persuasive essay—is that “kale is good for you” (despite how some think it tastes). The claims it’s using to back up this assertion are that it’s 1) “nutrient-dense”; 2) “cancer-fighting”; and 3) “loaded with antioxidants.” The reader can expect that the rest of the essay will develop these claims, that is, cite and analyze evidence for them.

Here’s a thesis statement for a literary analysis of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. This resembles more of a college-level example:

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night suggests that, when women do not reciprocate a man’s love, they are unjustly made out to be sexually deviant. This is illustrated in how the character Olivia is condemned as asexual because of her rejection of Duke Orsino.

Note how this thesis statement makes its claim in two sentences. Its argument centers on how women characters are vilified when they reject a man, and its evidence will be interactions between characters in Shakespeare’s play.

What are real-life examples of thesis statement ?

The term thesis statement is generally used by teachers and students in junior high, high school, and college, especially in English, Social Studies, and other classes in the humanities.

Okay so I rewrote my thesis statement! It’s a wee bit more vague but still a good direction a think. It’s more open so I can talk about more things and add more evidence. Wrote out an in-depth plan and then my brain crapped out. So I’m going to bed! Tomorrow is the day! — 🎃Unpaid Bills🎃 //Chaela (@Cierafire) August 14, 2019

Writing an explanatory essay in phases: thesis statement, body paragraph, concluding statement. Peer conversations to identify text evidence to support our thesis. pic.twitter.com/b6fdgx8rkD — Cheyenne England (@MsEnglandReads) August 7, 2019

The thesis statement is taught in what’s called the five-paragraph essay (or theme). This essay has an introduction which “funnels into” the thesis statement, including three reasons backing up the main argument. The next three paragraphs develop each of these claims, respectively, citing evidence and examples, such as literary texts, historical documents, or scientific reports. The final paragraph, the conclusion, restates the thesis statement and summarizes the paper and its broader significance.

Opentextbc.ca

Even after we are no longer in the classroom, people continue to reference thesis statements. While “real-life” thesis statements may not be as formal as the ones seen in five-paragraph essays, having a thesis statement —a point, a position, or a theory of the case—is considered informative, persuasive, and valuable in work, in the community, and in our personal lives.

The thesis statement is so widely taught and familiar that sometimes people joke about them. On social media, for instance, people may humorously end a post with “In this essay, I will …” when expressing a deeply felt but ultimately low-stakes opinion on some popular topic. The phrase In this essay, I will alludes to the signposting language some people use in their thesis statements.

pumpkin spice has nothing to do with pumpkins but with covering up pumpkin taste, it's a way to disassociate from the world rather than experience it, which mirrors late capitalism; in this essay I will — rachel syme (@rachsyme) August 15, 2019

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Thesis Definition

The thesis is one of the most important concepts in college expository writing. A thesis sentence focuses your ideas for the paper; it's your argument or insight or viewpoint crystallized into a single sentence that gives the reader your main idea. It's not only useful for the reading audience to understand the purpose of the essay; this purpose is also useful for you as a writer, as it indicates the type of support that will follow in the paper and may indicate a logical structure or order for that support. Thus, you need to have a good grasp of the concept of thesis in order to proceed.

The thesis identifies two basics:

• what your ideas are about, and
• what your ideas are (i.e. what you will be trying to prove).

There are two parts to a thesis sentence that reflect these basics.

• The topic in the thesis tells what you are writing about.
• The angle in the thesis tells what your ideas are about the topic (again, what you are trying to prove).

For example:

• All successful college students have certain basic characteristics. [The main topic is about college students, while the idea or angle about the topic is that successful students share certain characteristics. The thesis indicates the type of support needed--discussion of those characteristics that contribute to college success.]
• For most adult students returning to college, the problems that they face along the way are outweighed by their achievements. [The main topic is about adult college students, while the idea or angle about the topic is that problems are outweighed by achievements. The thesis indicates the type of support needed and the order of that support--an explanation of the problems first and then an explanation of achievements second.]
• Adult students returning to college make up a higher percentage of entering students than they did twenty years ago because of a number of statistical, economic, and social reasons. [The main topic is about adult students returning to college, while the idea or angle about the topic is that there are reasons for the higher percentage of adults returning to college. The thesis indicates the type of support needed and the order of that support--an explanation of the statistical reasons first, economic reasons second, and social reasons third.]

Do you understand the basic topic and angle concept? If so, then there are a few more things to consider about the thesis. (And if not, now's the time to start asking a learning coach for assistance, so Email [email protected] ). It's important to investigate additional thesis characteristics at this point to make sure that you'll be creating a working thesis sentence that is workable and appropriate for college essays.  In addition to knowing what a thesis is, you need to know what a thesis is not. A thesis sentence's angle should NOT be:

• Too broad. For example, the following thesis really doesn't pinpoint a specific insight about the topic:  Adult students returning to college have a hard time. In what ways do adult students have a hard time? You'd need to identify a more specific insight in this angle.
• Too narrow a statement of fact. For example, the following thesis really cannot be developed into a full essay because the angle doesn't contain the writer's own thoughts or insights about the subject:  Adult students returning to college read an average of 7.5 books per term. A reader may respond by saying, "So what?" A narrow statement of fact does not contain your own personal analysis, argument, or interpretation of the topic--that all-important angle which a thesis must have.
• An announcement. For example, the following really is not a thesis at all because it lacks an angle that gives the writer's own insight into the topic: My topic is the adult student returning to college. Again, "So what?" What's the reader's idea here?

Once you create a working thesis, you should assess it to make sure that it fulfills thesis characteristics.  Make sure it has a clear topic (indication of what the thesis is about) and angle (what your own ideas are about the topic, i.e. what you are trying to prove). Make sure that the angle is not too broad, too narrow, a statement of fact, or an announcement. Work with the angle to make it indicate the order of your support, if you choose to do that for yourself or for your reading audience. And realize that the thesis is a working thesis until you finalize the essay (it's okay to revise the thesis as you go along, just as long as you retain important thesis characteristics.)

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thesis noun

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What does the noun thesis mean?

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun thesis . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

thesis has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun thesis ?

How is the noun thesis pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun thesis come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun thesis is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for thesis is from before 1398, in a translation by John Trevisa, translator.

thesis is a borrowing from Greek.

Etymons: Greek θέσις .

Nearby entries

• thesaurus, n. 1823–
• thesaury, n. a1639–1708
• these, n. a1600–48
• these, pron. & adj. Old English–
• Thesean, adj. 1815–
• Theseid, n. 1725–
• Theseium, n. 1819–
• these-like, adj. 1644–
• thesial, adj. 1654
• thesicle, n. 1863–
• thesis, n. a1398–
• thesis-novel, n. 1934–
• thesis-play, n. 1902–
• thesmophilist, n. 1644–
• Thesmophorian, adj. 1891–
• Thesmophoric, adj. 1788–
• thesmothete, n. 1603–
• thesocyte, n. 1887–
• thesp, n. 1962–
• Thespian, adj. & n. 1675–
• Thespianism, n. 1914–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for thesis, n..

thesis, n. was first published in 1912; not yet revised.

thesis, n. was last modified in March 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into thesis, n. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1912)

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What is a thesis | A Complete Guide with Examples

Table of Contents

A thesis is a comprehensive academic paper based on your original research that presents new findings, arguments, and ideas of your study. It’s typically submitted at the end of your master’s degree or as a capstone of your bachelor’s degree.

However, writing a thesis can be laborious, especially for beginners. From the initial challenge of pinpointing a compelling research topic to organizing and presenting findings, the process is filled with potential pitfalls.

Therefore, to help you, this guide talks about what is a thesis. Additionally, it offers revelations and methodologies to transform it from an overwhelming task to a manageable and rewarding academic milestone.

What is a thesis?

A thesis is an in-depth research study that identifies a particular topic of inquiry and presents a clear argument or perspective about that topic using evidence and logic.

Writing a thesis showcases your ability of critical thinking, gathering evidence, and making a compelling argument. Integral to these competencies is thorough research, which not only fortifies your propositions but also confers credibility to your entire study.

Furthermore, there's another phenomenon you might often confuse with the thesis: the ' working thesis .' However, they aren't similar and shouldn't be used interchangeably.

A working thesis, often referred to as a preliminary or tentative thesis, is an initial version of your thesis statement. It serves as a draft or a starting point that guides your research in its early stages.

As you research more and gather more evidence, your initial thesis (aka working thesis) might change. It's like a starting point that can be adjusted as you learn more. It's normal for your main topic to change a few times before you finalize it.

While a thesis identifies and provides an overarching argument, the key to clearly communicating the central point of that argument lies in writing a strong thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement?

A strong thesis statement (aka thesis sentence) is a concise summary of the main argument or claim of the paper. It serves as a critical anchor in any academic work, succinctly encapsulating the primary argument or main idea of the entire paper.

Typically found within the introductory section, a strong thesis statement acts as a roadmap of your thesis, directing readers through your arguments and findings. By delineating the core focus of your investigation, it offers readers an immediate understanding of the context and the gravity of your study.

Furthermore, an effectively crafted thesis statement can set forth the boundaries of your research, helping readers anticipate the specific areas of inquiry you are addressing.

Different types of thesis statements

A good thesis statement is clear, specific, and arguable. Therefore, it is necessary for you to choose the right type of thesis statement for your academic papers.

Thesis statements can be classified based on their purpose and structure. Here are the primary types of thesis statements:

Argumentative (or Persuasive) thesis statement

Purpose : To convince the reader of a particular stance or point of view by presenting evidence and formulating a compelling argument.

Example : Reducing plastic use in daily life is essential for environmental health.

Analytical thesis statement

Purpose : To break down an idea or issue into its components and evaluate it.

Example : By examining the long-term effects, social implications, and economic impact of climate change, it becomes evident that immediate global action is necessary.

Expository (or Descriptive) thesis statement

Purpose : To explain a topic or subject to the reader.

Example : The Great Depression, spanning the 1930s, was a severe worldwide economic downturn triggered by a stock market crash, bank failures, and reduced consumer spending.

Cause and effect thesis statement

Purpose : To demonstrate a cause and its resulting effect.

Example : Overuse of smartphones can lead to impaired sleep patterns, reduced face-to-face social interactions, and increased levels of anxiety.

Compare and contrast thesis statement

Purpose : To highlight similarities and differences between two subjects.

Example : "While both novels '1984' and 'Brave New World' delve into dystopian futures, they differ in their portrayal of individual freedom, societal control, and the role of technology."

When you write a thesis statement , it's important to ensure clarity and precision, so the reader immediately understands the central focus of your work.

What is the difference between a thesis and a thesis statement?

While both terms are frequently used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings.

A thesis refers to the entire research document, encompassing all its chapters and sections. In contrast, a thesis statement is a brief assertion that encapsulates the central argument of the research.

Here’s an in-depth differentiation table of a thesis and a thesis statement.

Now, to craft a compelling thesis, it's crucial to adhere to a specific structure. Let’s break down these essential components that make up a thesis structure

15 components of a thesis structure

Navigating a thesis can be daunting. However, understanding its structure can make the process more manageable.

Here are the key components or different sections of a thesis structure:

Your thesis begins with the title page. It's not just a formality but the gateway to your research.

Here, you'll prominently display the necessary information about you (the author) and your institutional details.

• Title of your thesis
• Your full name
• Your department
• Your institution and degree program
• Your submission date
• Your Supervisor's name (in some cases)
• Your Department or faculty (in some cases)
• Your University's logo (in some cases)
• Your Student ID (in some cases)

In a concise manner, you'll have to summarize the critical aspects of your research in typically no more than 200-300 words.

This includes the problem statement, methodology, key findings, and conclusions. For many, the abstract will determine if they delve deeper into your work, so ensure it's clear and compelling.

Acknowledgments

Research is rarely a solitary endeavor. In the acknowledgments section, you have the chance to express gratitude to those who've supported your journey.

This might include advisors, peers, institutions, or even personal sources of inspiration and support. It's a personal touch, reflecting the humanity behind the academic rigor.

Table of contents

A roadmap for your readers, the table of contents lists the chapters, sections, and subsections of your thesis.

By providing page numbers, you allow readers to navigate your work easily, jumping to sections that pique their interest.

List of figures and tables

Research often involves data, and presenting this data visually can enhance understanding. This section provides an organized listing of all figures and tables in your thesis.

It's a visual index, ensuring that readers can quickly locate and reference your graphical data.

Introduction

Here's where you introduce your research topic, articulate the research question or objective, and outline the significance of your study.

• Present the research topic : Clearly articulate the central theme or subject of your research.
• Background information : Ground your research topic, providing any necessary context or background information your readers might need to understand the significance of your study.
• Define the scope : Clearly delineate the boundaries of your research, indicating what will and won't be covered.
• Literature review : Introduce any relevant existing research on your topic, situating your work within the broader academic conversation and highlighting where your research fits in.
• State the research Question(s) or objective(s) : Clearly articulate the primary questions or objectives your research aims to address.
• Outline the study's structure : Give a brief overview of how the subsequent sections of your work will unfold, guiding your readers through the journey ahead.

The introduction should captivate your readers, making them eager to delve deeper into your research journey.

Literature review section

Your study correlates with existing research. Therefore, in the literature review section, you'll engage in a dialogue with existing knowledge, highlighting relevant studies, theories, and findings.

It's here that you identify gaps in the current knowledge, positioning your research as a bridge to new insights.

To streamline this process, consider leveraging AI tools. For example, the SciSpace literature review tool enables you to efficiently explore and delve into research papers, simplifying your literature review journey.

Methodology

In the research methodology section, you’ll detail the tools, techniques, and processes you employed to gather and analyze data. This section will inform the readers about how you approached your research questions and ensures the reproducibility of your study.

Here's a breakdown of what it should encompass:

• Research Design : Describe the overall structure and approach of your research. Are you conducting a qualitative study with in-depth interviews? Or is it a quantitative study using statistical analysis? Perhaps it's a mixed-methods approach?
• Data Collection : Detail the methods you used to gather data. This could include surveys, experiments, observations, interviews, archival research, etc. Mention where you sourced your data, the duration of data collection, and any tools or instruments used.
• Sampling : If applicable, explain how you selected participants or data sources for your study. Discuss the size of your sample and the rationale behind choosing it.
• Data Analysis : Describe the techniques and tools you used to process and analyze the data. This could range from statistical tests in quantitative research to thematic analysis in qualitative research.
• Validity and Reliability : Address the steps you took to ensure the validity and reliability of your findings to ensure that your results are both accurate and consistent.
• Ethical Considerations : Highlight any ethical issues related to your research and the measures you took to address them, including — informed consent, confidentiality, and data storage and protection measures.

Moreover, different research questions necessitate different types of methodologies. For instance:

• Experimental methodology : Often used in sciences, this involves a controlled experiment to discern causality.
• Qualitative methodology : Employed when exploring patterns or phenomena without numerical data. Methods can include interviews, focus groups, or content analysis.
• Quantitative methodology : Concerned with measurable data and often involves statistical analysis. Surveys and structured observations are common tools here.
• Mixed methods : As the name implies, this combines both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

The Methodology section isn’t just about detailing the methods but also justifying why they were chosen. The appropriateness of the methods in addressing your research question can significantly impact the credibility of your findings.

Results (or Findings)

This section presents the outcomes of your research. It's crucial to note that the nature of your results may vary; they could be quantitative, qualitative, or a mix of both.

Quantitative results often present statistical data, showcasing measurable outcomes, and they benefit from tables, graphs, and figures to depict these data points.

Qualitative results , on the other hand, might delve into patterns, themes, or narratives derived from non-numerical data, such as interviews or observations.

Regardless of the nature of your results, clarity is essential. This section is purely about presenting the data without offering interpretations — that comes later in the discussion.

In the discussion section, the raw data transforms into valuable insights.

Start by revisiting your research question and contrast it with the findings. How do your results expand, constrict, or challenge current academic conversations?

Dive into the intricacies of the data, guiding the reader through its implications. Detail potential limitations transparently, signaling your awareness of the research's boundaries. This is where your academic voice should be resonant and confident.

Practical implications (Recommendation) section

Based on the insights derived from your research, this section provides actionable suggestions or proposed solutions.

Whether aimed at industry professionals or the general public, recommendations translate your academic findings into potential real-world actions. They help readers understand the practical implications of your work and how it can be applied to effect change or improvement in a given field.

When crafting recommendations, it's essential to ensure they're feasible and rooted in the evidence provided by your research. They shouldn't merely be aspirational but should offer a clear path forward, grounded in your findings.

The conclusion provides closure to your research narrative.

It's not merely a recap but a synthesis of your main findings and their broader implications. Reconnect with the research questions or hypotheses posited at the beginning, offering clear answers based on your findings.

Reflect on the broader contributions of your study, considering its impact on the academic community and potential real-world applications.

Lastly, the conclusion should leave your readers with a clear understanding of the value and impact of your study.

References (or Bibliography)

Every theory you've expounded upon, every data point you've cited, and every methodological precedent you've followed finds its acknowledgment here.

In references, it's crucial to ensure meticulous consistency in formatting, mirroring the specific guidelines of the chosen citation style .

Proper referencing helps to avoid plagiarism , gives credit to original ideas, and allows readers to explore topics of interest. Moreover, it situates your work within the continuum of academic knowledge.

To properly cite the sources used in the study, you can rely on online citation generator tools  to generate accurate citations!

Here’s more on how you can cite your sources.

Often, the depth of research produces a wealth of material that, while crucial, can make the core content of the thesis cumbersome. The appendix is where you mention extra information that supports your research but isn't central to the main text.

Whether it's raw datasets, detailed procedural methodologies, extended case studies, or any other ancillary material, the appendices ensure that these elements are archived for reference without breaking the main narrative's flow.

For thorough researchers and readers keen on meticulous details, the appendices provide a treasure trove of insights.

Glossary (optional)

In academics, specialized terminologies, and jargon are inevitable. However, not every reader is versed in every term.

The glossary, while optional, is a critical tool for accessibility. It's a bridge ensuring that even readers from outside the discipline can access, understand, and appreciate your work.

By defining complex terms and providing context, you're inviting a wider audience to engage with your research, enhancing its reach and impact.

Remember, while these components provide a structured framework, the essence of your thesis lies in the originality of your ideas, the rigor of your research, and the clarity of your presentation.

As you craft each section, keep your readers in mind, ensuring that your passion and dedication shine through every page.

Thesis examples

To further elucidate the concept of a thesis, here are illustrative examples from various fields:

Example 1 (History): Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the ‘Noble Savage’ on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807 by Suchait Kahlon.

Example 2 (Climate Dynamics): Influence of external forcings on abrupt millennial-scale climate changes: a statistical modelling study by Takahito Mitsui · Michel Crucifix

Checklist for your thesis evaluation

Evaluating your thesis ensures that your research meets the standards of academia. Here's an elaborate checklist to guide you through this critical process.

Content and structure

• Is the thesis statement clear, concise, and debatable?
• Does the introduction provide sufficient background and context?
• Is the literature review comprehensive, relevant, and well-organized?
• Does the methodology section clearly describe and justify the research methods?
• Are the results/findings presented clearly and logically?
• Does the discussion interpret the results in light of the research question and existing literature?
• Is the conclusion summarizing the research and suggesting future directions or implications?

Clarity and coherence

• Is the writing clear and free of jargon?
• Are ideas and sections logically connected and flowing?
• Is there a clear narrative or argument throughout the thesis?

Research quality

• Is the research question significant and relevant?
• Are the research methods appropriate for the question?
• Is the sample size (if applicable) adequate?
• Are the data analysis techniques appropriate and correctly applied?
• Are potential biases or limitations addressed?

Originality and significance

• Does the thesis contribute new knowledge or insights to the field?
• Is the research grounded in existing literature while offering fresh perspectives?

Formatting and presentation

• Is the thesis formatted according to institutional guidelines?
• Are figures, tables, and charts clear, labeled, and referenced in the text?
• Is the bibliography or reference list complete and consistently formatted?
• Are appendices relevant and appropriately referenced in the main text?

Grammar and language

• Is the thesis free of grammatical and spelling errors?
• Is the language professional, consistent, and appropriate for an academic audience?
• Are quotations and paraphrased material correctly cited?

Feedback and revision

• Have you sought feedback from peers, advisors, or experts in the field?
• Have you addressed the feedback and made the necessary revisions?

Overall assessment

• Does the thesis as a whole feel cohesive and comprehensive?
• Would the thesis be understandable and valuable to someone in your field?

Ensure to use this checklist to leave no ground for doubt or missed information in your thesis.

After writing your thesis, the next step is to discuss and defend your findings verbally in front of a knowledgeable panel. You’ve to be well prepared as your professors may grade your presentation abilities.

Preparing your thesis defense

A thesis defense, also known as "defending the thesis," is the culmination of a scholar's research journey. It's the final frontier, where you’ll present their findings and face scrutiny from a panel of experts.

Typically, the defense involves a public presentation where you’ll have to outline your study, followed by a question-and-answer session with a committee of experts. This committee assesses the validity, originality, and significance of the research.

The defense serves as a rite of passage for scholars. It's an opportunity to showcase expertise, address criticisms, and refine arguments. A successful defense not only validates the research but also establishes your authority as a researcher in your field.

Here’s how you can effectively prepare for your thesis defense .

Now, having touched upon the process of defending a thesis, it's worth noting that scholarly work can take various forms, depending on academic and regional practices.

One such form, often paralleled with the thesis, is the 'dissertation.' But what differentiates the two?

Dissertation vs. Thesis

Often used interchangeably in casual discourse, they refer to distinct research projects undertaken at different levels of higher education.

To the uninitiated, understanding their meaning might be elusive. So, let's demystify these terms and delve into their core differences.

Here's a table differentiating between the two.

Wrapping up

From understanding the foundational concept of a thesis to navigating its various components, differentiating it from a dissertation, and recognizing the importance of proper citation — this guide covers it all.

As scholars and readers, understanding these nuances not only aids in academic pursuits but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the relentless quest for knowledge that drives academia.

It’s important to remember that every thesis is a testament to curiosity, dedication, and the indomitable spirit of discovery.

Good luck with your thesis writing!

Frequently Asked Questions

A thesis typically ranges between 40-80 pages, but its length can vary based on the research topic, institution guidelines, and level of study.

A PhD thesis usually spans 200-300 pages, though this can vary based on the discipline, complexity of the research, and institutional requirements.

To identify a thesis topic, consider current trends in your field, gaps in existing literature, personal interests, and discussions with advisors or mentors. Additionally, reviewing related journals and conference proceedings can provide insights into potential areas of exploration.

The conceptual framework is often situated in the literature review or theoretical framework section of a thesis. It helps set the stage by providing the context, defining key concepts, and explaining the relationships between variables.

A thesis statement should be concise, clear, and specific. It should state the main argument or point of your research. Start by pinpointing the central question or issue your research addresses, then condense that into a single statement, ensuring it reflects the essence of your paper.

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Definition of thesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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• formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
• build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
• develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework/an algorithm
• advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
• explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
• make a prediction/an inference
• base a prediction/your calculations on something
• investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
• design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
• do research/an experiment/an analysis
• make observations/calculations
• take/record measurements
• carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
• run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
• repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
• replicate a study/the results/the findings
• observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behavior
• fund/support the research/project/study
• seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
• collect/gather/extract data/information
• yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
• analyze/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
• consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
• fit the data/model
• confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
• prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
• draw/make/reach the same conclusions
• read/review the records/literature
• describe/report an experiment/a study
• present/publish/summarize the results/findings
• present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal

Nearby words

Definition of 'thesis'

Video: pronunciation of thesis

thesis in American English

Thesis in british english, examples of 'thesis' in a sentence thesis, related word partners thesis, trends of thesis.

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In other languages thesis

• American English : thesis / ˈθisɪs /
• Brazilian Portuguese : tese
• Chinese : 论点
• European Spanish : tesis
• French : thèse
• German : These
• Italian : tesi
• Japanese : 主張
• Korean : 논지
• European Portuguese : tese
• Spanish : tesis
• Thai : ข้อสมมุติ, ข้อวินิจฉัย

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Related terms of thesis

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What does 'SCOTUS' mean? Here's a brief rundown on the country's highest court.

Sometimes, we have a lot we want to say, but don't always have the time, or character count, to do so. Acronyms , initialisms and slang help shorten our conversations.

This also applies to government and politics. If you're getting your license updated, you're might head to the " DMV ." And did you see what the " POTUS " said during the last State of the Union address ?

Maybe you've seen news headlines or social media posts about " SCOTUS ," and didn't know what the term meant.

Here's a brief overview of the country's highest court .

What does 'SCOTUS' mean?

"SCOTUS" stands for " Supreme Court of the United States ."

The acronym dates back to 1879 , according to Merriam-Webster, and first appeared a handbook for telegraph code operators called "The Phillips Telegraphic Code for the Rapid Transmission by Telegraph."

Similar to how we have characters count on social media, telegrams were priced by length. So, acronyms were big money savers.

Supreme Court immunity case: Live updates of oral arguments in Trump's fight for immunity.

Who are the Supreme Court justices?

There are currently nine justices on the Supreme Court . There are eight associate justices and one chief justice.

John G. Roberts, Jr. is the current, and 17th, chief justice. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and was sworn in on Sept. 29, 2005.

The eight associate justices are:

• Clarence Thomas : Appointed by President George H.W. Bush. Sworn in on Oct. 23, 1991.
• Samuel Alito : Appointed by President George W. Bush. Sworn in on Jan. 31, 2006.
• Sonia Sotomayor : Appointed by President Barack Obama. Sworn in on Aug. 8, 2009.
• Elena Kagan : Appointed by Obama. Sworn in on Aug. 7, 2010.
• Neil Gorsuch : Appointed by President Donald Trump. Sworn in on April 10, 2017.
• Brett Kavanaugh : Appointed by Trump. Sworn in on Oct. 6, 2018.
• Amy Coney Barrett : Appointed by Trump. Sworn in on Oct. 27, 2020.
• Ketanji Brown Jackson : Appointed by President Joe Biden. Sworn in on June 30, 2022.

Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president and confirmed by Senate . There is no term limit for the Supreme Court. A justice can retire whenever they choose, or serve until they die.

What are the ages of Supreme Court justices in 2024?

Here are the ages of the ages of the current Supreme Court justices from oldest to youngest: 

• Justice Thomas, 75
• Justice Alito, 74
• Justice Sotomayor, 69
• Chief Justice Roberts, 69
• Justice Kagan, 63
• Justice Kavanaugh, 59
• Justice Gorsuch, 56
• Justice Jackson, 53
• Justice Barrett, 52

Just curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From " When did Joe Biden take office? " to " What are the requirements to be president? " to " What does a mistrial mean? "− we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our  Just Curious section to see what else we can answer. 

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Mike pinder dies: moody blues’ co-founding keyboard player was 82, taylor swift explains meaning behind ‘tortured poets’ songs including “fortnight”, “florida” & more.

By Denise Petski

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Senior Managing Editor

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Taylor Swift is opening up about the inspiration behind several of her tracks on her 11th studio album Tortured Poets Department.

In an Amazon Music commentary , Swift said the album’s opening song “Fortnight”, a team-up with Post Malone, “exhibits a lot of the common themes that run throughout this album, one of which being fatalism, longing, pining away, lost dreams.”

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She said she “always imagined” that “Fortnight” occurred in an “American town where the American Dream you thought would happen to you didn’t.”

“You ended up not with the person you loved and now you have to just live with that every day, wondering what would’ve been, maybe seeing them out,” she explained. “And that’s a pretty tragic concept, really. So I was just writing from that perspective.”

She also talked about the song “Clara Bow”. Named after the silent film actress, Swift said “Clara Bow” is “a commentary on what I’ve seen in the industry that I’ve been in over time.”

“I used to sit in record labels trying to get a record deal when I was a little kid. And they’d say, ‘you know, you remind us of’ and then they’d name an artist, and then they’d kind of say something disparaging about her, ‘but you’re this, you’re so much better in this way or that way.’ And that’s how we teach women to see themselves, as like you could be the new replacement for this woman who’s done something great before you. I picked women who have done great things in the past and have been these architypes of greatness in the entertainment industry. Clara Bow was the first ‘it girl.’ Stevie Nicks is an icon and an incredible example for anyone who wants to write songs and make music.”

In “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” Swift said she used a metaphor “from the perspective of a child’s toy being somebody’s favorite toy until they break you, and then don’t want to play with you anymore.”

“Florida!!!”, featuring Florence + the Machine, is not inspired by a former relationship, but rather her experiences from “always watching Dateline.” Swift said she pondered the question of ” What happens when your life doesn’t fit, or your choices you’ve made catch up to you, and you’re surrounded by these harsh consequences and judgment, and circumstances did not lead you to where you thought you’d be and you just want to escape from everything you’ve ever known? Is there a place you could go?”

“I’m always watching  Dateline ,” she continued. “People have these crimes that they commit, where do they immediately skip town and go to? They go to Florida. They try to reinvent themselves, have a new identity, blend in. And I think when you go through a heartbreak, there’s a part of you that thinks: ‘I want a new name. I want a new life. I don’t want anyone to know where I’ve been or know me at all.'”

The Tortured Poets Department broke streaming records when it was released on April 19. It became the first album in Spotify history to reach more than 300 million streams in a single day, according to the platform.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

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Baby Reindeer' s Ending Explained: What Does It All Mean?

The new Netflix limited series ends with Martha revealing the rationale for her pet name and Donny reaching a full-circle realization

JP Mangalindan is a Senior Writer for TV at PEOPLE. He joined PEOPLE in May 2023. JP's work has previously appeared in publications like Fortune , Business Insider , TechCrunch , GQ , Teen People and Entertainment Weekly.

Ed Miller/Netflix

Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season finale of Netflix's Baby Reindeer .

Baby Reindeer and its ambiguous ending is getting viewers talking.

The new Netflix limited series, which follows a bartender and aspiring comedian (Richard Gadd) relentlessly stalked by a woman (Jessica Gunning), deals with tricky subjects including sexual assault and mental health.

Not only did Gadd create, write and star in the limited series, but it’s based on a true story: Gadd’s true story.

“It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused,” he told The Guardian in mid-April. “But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.”

While Gadd’s real-life experiences closely mirrors Baby Reindeer’s plot at times, there are distinct differences, too. Yes, Donny and Martha actually met at a bar, and Donny offered her a free drink. But Gadd made it a point to change the character’s names and identifying details for Martha and Darrien (Tom Goodman-Hill), the successful TV writer who groomed and raped Donny.

There’s also a lot of truth to Martha’s stalking efforts. Over the course of four years, her real-life counterpart called Gadd “baby reindeer” and went on to send him 41,071 emails, 350 hours of voicemail, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages and 106 pages of letters.

Though Gadd went to the police about the situation, the authorities weren't much help. The comic said they were skeptical he was being stalked because of the stalker's gender.

“When a man gets stalked, it can be portrayed in films and television as a sexy thing,” he recently told  The Times . “Like a femme fatale who gradually becomes more sinister. It doesn’t carry as much threat of physical violence, is less common and can be trivialized.”

But eventually, Gadd found a silver lining by using his experiences as the basis for his stand-up show Monkey See Monkey Do, which won the Edinburgh comedy award in 2016, and much more recently, through Baby Reindeer.

As the show worked its way to its inevitable conclusion, Martha found Donny’s number and left him a slew of voicemails, which Donny listened to. He decided to hold off on reporting her creepy messages to the police out of “fascination” and “guilt” to keep her “in my life.”

He later visited his parents to discuss the viral video of a recent stand-up performance that became a moving impromptu monologue, in which Donny opened up about his sexual assault and his complex, years-long situation with Martha. Not only were his mom and dad extremely sympathetic, his dad revealed a long-kept secret: that he was also sexually assaulted when he was younger, presumably by a Catholic priest.

In the weeks that followed, Donny spent all his time cooped up in his room until his ex-girlfriend Keeley (Shalom Brune-Franklin) finally checked on him and insisted he move back into her mother’s place, where he previously lived.

But it’s his next move that was a complete surprise: a visit to Darrien at his home where the writer raped him repeatedly. There, Darrien acknowledged that he saw the viral video and it was "really brave" of Donny before offering him a paid writing gig on a show that’s returning for another season.

"It won't be like the last time," Darrien insisted, noting that the gig would be paid. However, he failed to acknowledge his own past actions and the trauma he inflicted on Donny.

The comic agreed to take the job, but after leaving Darrien's home, Donny was visibly distraught by their interaction.

While strolling to a bar, he listened to one of the many voicemails Martha left him in the days before she was arraigned, sentenced to months of jail time and received a five-year restraining order. Donny had spent a lot of time — perhaps too much time — organizing Martha’s voicemails by theme. He landed on several messages marked as “Complimentary”: one gushed about his “great jawline” and overall attractiveness. Another said he had “it," a kind of star quality.

In the final scene at the bar, a deeply pensive Donny ordered a drink and pulled up another voicemail in which Martha finally explained why she started calling him “baby reindeer.” As it turns out, she had a stuffed reindeer growing up with big lips and a “cute bum.”

“It was the only good thing about my childhood,” she explained in the voicemail, before noting that "they" — who viewers can presume are her parents — "fought all the time."

“Well, you are the [spitting image] of that reindeer. The same nose. The same eyes. The same cute wee bum. It means so much to me," Martha added. "You mean so much to me.”

Her words brought Donny to tears as he sat at the bar alone and came to the realization that he and Martha were more alike than he thought after they each unexpectedly brought a form of comfort to the other.

As the scene wound down to a quiet finish, Donny went to pay for his drink but realized he didn't have his wallet. The bartender, seeing that Donny had been crying, said the drink was on the house.

It was a nod to the very beginning of the show when Donny, as a bartender, served Martha a free drink. Only this time, Donny was alone, left with his complicated emotions, hundreds of hours of Martha’s voicemails and lingering memories of a woman who loved him in the most twisted and misguided of ways.

While it becomes clear that kindness can go a long way, the show also drives home the point that the human experience can be messy and painful, and those emotions can't always be completely resolved and neatly tied up with a bow.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

All 7 episodes of Baby Reindeer are available to stream on Netflix.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org .

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Taylor Swift is giving fans more insight into her new album “ The Tortured Poets Department ,” thanks to a track-by-track experience with Amazon Music.

Fans can now listen to the album — which shattered streaming records after its release on April 19 — along with commentary from Swift breaking down the meaning of each track. To listen to “The Tortured Poets Department” with Swift’s commentary, fans can simply say to Alexa, “I’m a member of ‘The Tortured Poets Department.'”

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Of “Clara Bow,” named after the silent film actress, Swift said the track is “a commentary on what I’ve seen in the industry that I’ve been in over time.”

“I used to sit in record labels trying to get a record deal when I was a little kid. And they’d say, ‘you know, you remind us of’ and then they’d name an artist, and then they’d kind of say something disparaging about her, ‘but you’re this, you’re so much better in this way or that way.’ And that’s how we teach women to see themselves, as like you could be the new replacement for this woman who’s done something great before you,” she said. “I picked women who have done great things in the past and have been these architypes of greatness in the entertainment industry. Clara Bow was the first ‘it girl.’ Stevie Nicks is an icon and an incredible example for anyone who wants to write songs and make music.”

“People have these crimes that they commit; where do they immediately skip town and go to? They go to Florida,” the singer added. “They try to reinvent themselves, have a new identity, blend in. I think when you go through a heartbreak, there’s a part of you that thinks, ‘I want a new name. I want a new life. I don’t want anyone to know where I’ve been or know me at all.’ And so that was the jumping off point. Where would you go to reinvent yourself and blend in? Florida!”

As for “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me,” Swift revealed that she wrote the tune “alone, sitting at the piano in one of those moments when I felt bitter about just all the things we do to our artists as a society and as a culture.”

“There’s a lot about this particular concept on ‘The Tortured Poets Department,'” she added. “What do we do to our writers, and our artists, and our creatives? We put them through hell. We watch what they create, then we judge it. We love to watch artists in pain, often to the point where I think sometimes as a society we provoke that pain and we just watch what happens.”

Lastly, Swift broke down the metaphor within “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys.”

The song is about “being somebody’s favorite toy until they break you and then don’t want to play with you anymore,” she said. “Which is how a lot of us are in relationships where we are so valued by a person in the beginning, and then all of the sudden, they break us or they devalue us in their mind. We’re still clinging on to ‘No no, no. You should’ve seen them the first time they saw me. They’ll come back to that. They’ll get back to that.’”

Listen to the track-by-track experience on Amazon Music here .

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Pro-Palestinian protesters urge universities to divest from Israel. What does that mean?

Pro-Palestinian student protesters across the country occupied campuses in tent encampments this week in a campaign to urge their universities to divest, an action students over the decades have demanded from their schools' administrators.

The word "divest" refers to diverting money from a university's endowment − the pool of money a college has and tries to grow through investments. Some of the biggest university endowments in the country total nearly $50 billion and comprise thousands of funds .

The protesters opposed to Israel's military attacks in Gaza say they want their schools to stop funneling endowment money to Israeli companies and other businesses, like weapons manufacturers, that profit from the war in Gaza.

"It's like, why is our money being used to fund bombs overseas?," said Layla Saliba, a student protester researching endowment investments with the group Columbia University Apartheid Divestment. "Let's reinvest this money in our community instead," she said.

Columbia University's endowment is more than $13 billion ; it ranks among the top ten largest endowments in the country. The school did not respond to a request for comment.

The protests began in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, triggered by the militant group's assault on Israeli communities Oct. 7 that killed almost 1,200 people. Israel's subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians − militants and civilians; men, women and children − and has fueled a dire humanitarian crisis.

In addition to divestment, protesters across the U.S. are calling for a cease-fire and student governments at some colleges have also passed resolutions in recent weeks calling for an end to academic partnerships with Israel.

Are universities investing in Israel?

Protesters have called for a halt to investments in Israel, but experts say that might be too simplified a take on what colleges have done with their funds. To begin with, it's difficult to define what an "investment" in Israel entails, said economist Sandy Baum, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute who studies college finances.

She said bigger investments are more obvious than smaller ones tucked away in mutual funds − an investment tool that pools money and spreads it out over many assets, and a type of financial tool many colleges rely on.

Universities hire private companies to manage their endowments to preserve their funds over the long run, Baum said.

Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and necessary programming and services.

"The purpose of the endowment is to have money that will allow the university to permanently provide educational opportunities so that they don't have to go out and raise new money every year to continue operating," she said.

The bigger a university's endowment, the more is at stake. That's one reason why pro-Palestinian student protesters at wealthy universities are fighting so hard this week, she said. There's a lot of money involved.

"There are always going to be differences of opinion about what you don't want to invest in," Baum said.

When else have protesters demanded divestment?

Student-led movements for university divestitures aren't new.

For over a decade, students at Princeton University have urged the school to divest from the fossil fuel industry, citing concerns about the environment and climate change. In 2022, advocates landed a major win when the school agreed to divest from publicly traded oil and gas companies, according to Sunrise Princeton, a longtime climate divestment group on campus.

In 1969, Princeton University students occupied a prominent campus building to demand the school divest from South Africa, where the government operated a punitive and often violent system of apartheid that segregated people by race. Nearly a decade later, Princeton University enacted "selective divestment" from South Africa, the Daily Princetonian reported , where the university's financial shares could be withdrawn if companies failed to meet its standards.

This week, about 100 protesters gathered in a central courtyard at the New Jersey campus to demand the school divest from companies associated with the Israeli military, the student newspaper reported . Unlike at Columbia, where many student protesters have been arrested, Princeton students have not faced arrest or disciplinary action from the university, the campus publication said .

"Divestment sends a moral signal that institutions of higher learning, especially those with prestige, will not tolerate certain injustices," said Alex Norbrook, co-leader of Sunrise Princeton.

Director of Media Relations Jennifer Morrill referred to a statement Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber has issued regarding divestment, saying any divestment would only occur after years of sustained campus interested, and in situations where the community can come to a consensus.

The current push for universities to stop doing business with companies profiting by investing in Israel and by extension in the country's war in Gaza mirrors grassroots efforts in recent years to urge U.S. organizations to boycott Israeli companies.

Since 2005, the Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) movement has organized around "withdrawing support" for Israel's treatment of Gaza and urges banks, municipalities, pension funds, religious groups and universities to remove their investments from Israel, according to the BDS website.

How Los Angeles Rams’ busy first round led to Jared Verse, their definition of ‘defense’

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — As pick after pick came off the board, Los Angeles Rams outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio, initially sitting on a low couch in front of the television broadcast in the lower level of the team’s draft house, got up and began to pace.

The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft featured a unique opening run on offensive players. That left top pass rushers Jared Verse and Dallas Turner on the board as the Rams’ pick inched closer.

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Suddenly, Minnesota traded up to No. 17. Coniglio speed-walked up two levels of stairs and into the war room where coach Sean McVay, general manager Les Snead and others held operations. The Vikings selected Turner, and the Rams — after an anxious few moments as the Cincinnati Bengals picked at No. 18 — sent their pick in for Verse at No. 19 . Coniglio and defensive coordinator Chris Shula walked back downstairs, shouting, fist-pumping and back-slapping other coaches.

Verse’s energy matched theirs.

“This is a dream come true, a dream come true, woo!” Verse said, speaking with reporters shortly after the pick. “It’s time to work. It’s time to show them they ain’t make a mistake, it’s time to show them what we do. I’m excited (to) get to work. … I’m ready for it.”

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Verse, who excelled with back-to-back nine-sack seasons in 2022 and 2023 at Florida State, is the Rams’ first opening-round draft pick since they selected Jared Goff in 2016.

To the Rams, Verse — their highest defensive draft pick since retired star Aaron Donald was selected at No. 13 in 2014 — filled the combination of best player available and biggest need. He is expected to start immediately opposite second-year pass rusher Byron Young and with second-year defensive lineman Kobie Turner on the interior. Turner already reached out to Verse.

“Kobie was the first one, real quick. He texted me to let him know if I needed anything,” he said. “He reached out to me, ‘Don’t hesitate.’ And I’m going to take him up on that offer. He’s gonna regret saying that to me.”

Verse met privately with the Rams this week (he did not have any formal meetings or workouts with the team, which Snead said was intentional to keep their interest under the radar). Team sources said he was one of their top overall prospects. On Thursday, the Rams called multiple teams to gather intel on what the prices would be to trade up or down, including a conversation with a team in the top 10 that could have led to selecting an offensive player.

Los Angeles Rams draft Jared Verse: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

Team and league sources believed those costs to be too high, especially with multiple other teams trying to trade into that group and therefore driving up the cost. The Rams did not get on the phones as the last few picks of the top 10 unfolded, a source said.

“Offense definitely pushed defense our way,” Snead said. “We always felt like Jared had a chance to get there, but there was definitely a chance for him to go right before us depending on how that whole thing shook out. I think that heavy offensive, six QBs going, helped Jared get to us.”

As the board fell in rare fashion — 14 offensive players were selected before a single defensive player , including six quarterbacks — the Rams prepared to possibly trade back from No. 19. Having two of the top pass rushers clustered so closely motivated them to stay put, and they were rewarded with Verse.

Verse immediately will lend size, power and high-end energy to a pass rush that was woefully incomplete last season. One scout compared Verse’s attacking, ceaseless play style to former Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd , although Verse has more bulk around his frame, and the scout believed Verse’s power will complement Young’s speed.

Verse initially will play edge/outside linebacker, but McVay noted Verse eventually could play over a guard.

“You can tell he cares about football, he has fun playing football, and oh, by the way, he’s pretty disruptive and violent,” Snead said. “You think ‘defense,’ the way he plays is next to the word in the dictionary.”

Los Angeles Rams NFL Draft picks 2024: Grades, fits and scouting reports

Verse will arrive in Los Angeles in the coming days and said he’s ready to hit the field right away.

“What I’m going to give (to the Rams) is a dawg,” Verse said. “I come in with a lot of physical strength, I come in with a chip on my shoulder, and that chip is going to continue today. … I’m hungry. I need this. This is my lifestyle, how I do everything. It’s how I execute. The thing I’m going to be able to give them is that work.”

(Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)

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Jourdan Rodrigue covers the Los Angeles Rams for The Athletic. Previously, she covered the Carolina Panthers for The Athletic and The Charlotte Observer, and Penn State football for the Centre Daily Times. She is an ASU grad and a recipient of the PFWA's Terez A. Paylor Emerging Writer award (2021). Follow Jourdan on Twitter @ JourdanRodrigue

Passover 2024 is here! When is Pesach? What is The Haggadah? A Seder meal? How to celebrate

Passover is nearly here and the Jewish holiday plays an important role in Judaism , according to myjewishlearning.com .

Only unleavened bread or "matzo" must may be eaten during the celebratory Jewish festival, according to britannica.com . Matzo symbolizes "the Hebrews' suffering while in bondage and the haste with which they left Egypt in the course of the  Exodus ."

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Here's what you need to know about Passover:

When is Passover 2024?

Passover begins at sundown Monday, April 22 and ends at sundown on Tuesday, April 30, in 2024, according to almanac.com .

What is Pesach?

Pesach is the Hebrew word for Passover, according to myjewishlearning.com . The name comes from the miracle in which God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the 10th plague.

What is the meaning of Passover?

Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Hebrews’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, according to britannica.com . The holiday also recognizes the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites − the “passing over” of the forces of destruction − when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the  Exodus .

How is passover celebrated?

Passover is a ceremonious occasion to rejoice in Judaism, especially during the first family meal or Seder, according to britannica.com .

Foods of symbolic significance are consumed, while prayers and traditional recitations are performed. Strict dietary laws are observed and special prohibitions restrict work at the beginning and end of the festival.

How long is Passover?

Biblicial command dictates Passover last for 7 days, according to chabad.org . The festival begins on  Nissan 15 , while the first and seventh days are observed as  yom tov − a period when work is not performed.

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When does Passover 2024 start?

Passover starts at sundown on Monday, April 22.

When does Passover 2024 end?

Passover ends at sundown on Tuesday, April 30.

What is The Haggadah?

The Haggadah is a book − meaning the "telling" − that is read during the Passover Seder, according to reformjudaism.org .

What is a Seder?

The Seder dinner is a Jewish ritual celebrated during the first two nights of Passover, according to myjewishlearning.com :

There are three fundamental patterns of the Seder − the family, the individual and the nation.

"The Seder permits Jews to worship God through prayer, study and learning by taking part in what is essentially a lesson of Jewish history, literature and religion. Participation in the seder lets one symbolically and vicariously relive the Exodus," the website states.

When is the first Seder of 2024 Passover?

The first Passover Seder begins at sundown on Monday, April 22, according to myjewishlearning.com.

When is the second Seder of 2024 Passover?

The second Passover Seder is Tuesday, April 23, according to myjewishlearning.com.

What are the 6 parts of a Seder plate?

The six parts of a Seder plate include beitzah, charoset, chazeret, karpas, maror and zeroa, according to reformjudaism.org .

What is beitzah in Passover Seder?

The word literally means “egg,” according to reformjudaism.org . The Passover Seder plate item represents the Passover sacrifice from biblical times and symbolizes the spring season.

What is charoset in Passover Seder?

A part of the Passover Seder consisting of fruits, nuts, spices and wine, according to reformjudaism.org . The color and consistency reminds Jews of the bricks and mortar used by Israelite slaves.

What is chazeret in Passover Seder?

A vegetable − usually romaine lettuce − that is used in addition to maror on the Seder plate, according to reformjudaism.org .

What is karpas in Passover Seder?

Karpas is a green herb or vegetable − such as parsley, celery or watercress − which symbolizes spring and rebirth as part of the Passover Seder, according to reformjudaism.org .

What is maror in Passover Seder?

The word literally means "bitter," according to reformjudaism.org . Maror is the bitter herb or vegetable − such as horseradish − that symbolizes "the bitter plight of enslaved Israelites" for the Passover Seder.

What is zeroa in Passover Seder?

Zeroa is the shank bone "symbolizing the Paschal lamb offered as the Passover sacrifice in biblical times," according to reformjudaism.org . Chicken neck is a common substitute, as is beets for vegetarians.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter:  @ChrisFSims .