Writing a Thesis Statement A thesis statement that is too general serves no purpose! Always keep the statement specific.

What is a thesis statement?  The statement of your central idea or opinion and the reasons supporting that idea.  It usually appears in the introduction of your essay.  Helps focus your essay and gives it direction  Guides through the writing process

What does a thesis statement do?  Narrows your topic to the single most important idea you want your audience to gain from your writing  Names the topic and asserts something about it (conveys your purpose and your opinion)  Provides a concise preview of how you will arrange ideas in your report

Guidelines  It does not have to be long or complicated  Must be supported by using sufficient materials in your paper  It can appear anywhere in the opening paragraph, however, it is most likely to be the first or last sentence  Keep the reader’s (teacher’s) expectations in mind

Example – Too general The 1995 Newbery Medal winner, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, shows how children and adults cope with the death of a loved one.

Example – Revised The 1995 Newbery Medal winner, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, portrays children and adults similarly and accurately depicts the ways in which both children and adults cope with the death of a loved one through the use of round and flat characters, point of view, and plot.