Thesis Statement   Tells what you intend to prove,   and how you intend to prove it.  Belongs in the LAST sentence in the introduction paragraph

Why should your essay contain a Thesis Statement?   To better organize and develop the argument of your essay   To provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument

How to Generate a Thesis Statement   Through research, decide upon the answer to your chosen research question   Decide how you will support your answer.

Example   Research Question: “What is the reason that Edgar Allen Poe wrote about the supernatural?   Answer/THESIS: “Edgar Allen Poe wrote about the supernatural because of his life experiences and his ability to gauge the interests of his audience.

A Strong Thesis Statement   Consists of two main parts – –Your topic, – –and then the assertion that you’re making about the topic.

Forming a Thesis Statement Find out the answer to your research question through research. 2. Research Question: “Who was the Beowulf Poet?” Include the two parts: --topic: “The Beowulf Poet … --assertion: was an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet whose work was written down by a later Christian poet.”