What
is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the controlling idea of a
paper. It expresses the idea that the body of the paper will prove. Other names
for the thesis statement are "main idea," "controlling
idea," and "thesis." Any thesis statement will make a debatable
claim about one or more works of literature. Usually, thesis statements
appear in the first paragraph of the paper.
That is, a paper's thesis cannot be a
restatement of fact or an unsupportable opinion. It must elaborate an idea that
most readers would find new and refreshing, rather than unduly familiar or
self-evident. A thesis statement often suggests a particular way of reading or
understanding a story. The best thesis statements are specific rather than
general.
Introduction
The introduction should start with a
general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of
your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a
"grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch
a reader's attention. The thesis should tell in one (or at most two)
sentence(s), what your overall point or argument is, and briefly, what your
main body paragraphs will be about.
Your body paragraphs should be organized to explain
your thesis in three separate paragraphs.
Conclusion
Your conclusion begins with a
restatement of your main point; but be sure to paraphrase, not just repeat your
thesis sentence. Then you want to add some sentences that emphasize the
importance of the topic and the significance of your view. Think about what
idea or feeling you want to leave your reader with. The conclusion is the
reverse of the introduction in that it starts out very specific and becomes a
bit more general as you finish.
Avoid quotes in intro or conclusion
Do not start or end a paragraph with a quote
Cite all quotes with MLA citation
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