+ What is a thesis statement? Creating a backbone for your essay

+ What is the thesis statement? The thesis statement is a sentence or a few sentences that describe that the essay will be about. It does NOT say: My paper is about llamas. Instead it will announce the opinion or information the paper will present like this: Llamas are an interesting mammal. Often a thesis statement uses a three part structure to provide an overview of what the paper will contain. For example: Aruba is a great place to a vacation because of the weather, the beaches, and the great package deals.

+ Why are three parts important? Just like a stool, your paper needs to be balances and stand on its own. A thesis helps this happen. The first time sometimes happens it is an accident. The second time is happens it is a coincidence. The third time and you have a pattern emerging. When we give our readers that pattern, they come to see our argument as having merit.

+ Where does the thesis go? The thesis is typically the last sentence of your introduction. Your introduction should begin with an interest catcher. Think about a way to make your reader interested in reading more about your topic; aim to pull them in with an interest catcher.