When you first started the research process, you had a general topic in mind. Eventually, after brainstorming and doing some background reading about the topic, you narrowed down your topic and developed a research question. Now it is time to convert the research question into a thesis statement.
If you are writing an informational essay or creating an informational presentation, you will need a thesis. If you are writing a persuasive essay or preparing for a debate, you will need a position statement. Essentially, the thesis and position statement accomplish the same thing: they let readers know exactly what your essay or presentation is about, providing them with an idea of how you will be supporting and organizing your ideas.