What is a thesis statement?

The thesis statement of an essay is the main point that the essay is trying to make. It's the one- or two-sentence summary of the writer's argument. In other words, if I asked you to respond to my question with a short answer instead of a whole big essay, that short answer would be your thesis.

Where does the thesis statement go in an essay?

The thesis statement is usually found at the end of the introduction paragraph of the essay. In other words, your introduction paragraph must do three main things:

Hook your reader's interest so they want to keep reading;
Set up the basic context and topic of your essay (if you're writing about a text, you must include the author's full name, title of the text, and any other essential information; if you're writing about a controversial issue, perhaps introduce the topic and debate generally);
Present your thesis statement, which is basically a spoiler for your essay's argument. That's right--no suspense or surprises allowed in academic writing.

Need help coming up with your thesis statement?

Click on the below link to learn more about thesis statements and how to make sure you have an effective one. This reading will help you develop a strong "working thesis," a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment throughout the writing process.

"Thesis Statements" from English Composition I by Lumen Learning