1. (Tentative) Thesis Statement
Typically a one-sentence statement that expresses the central idea or point of your essay (your thesis)
Typically placed at end of introduction
Specific statement on which reasonable people might disagree or on which your reader is uninformed

2. The U.S. economy is bad.
Only additional federal stimulus money will return the U.S. to a healthy economy.
Federal stimulus money is prolonging, rather than ending the economic recession.

3. For Essay 2
Your thesis should sum up the targeted consumers, the central message, and the effectiveness of the advertisement.
Written for a reader who is uninformed

4. Example
Mountain Dew
The Mountain Dew advertisement is trying to sell Mountain Dew to as many people as possible.
Obvious, vague

5. The Mountain Dew advertisement tells young people that drinking Mountain Dew will give them the image and energy they need for their extreme lifestyle.
More specific and less obvious, but no evaluation

6. INSTEAD: The Mountain Dew advertisement effectively convinces young people that drinking Mountain Dew will give them the image and energy they need for their extreme lifestyle.
Specific: The audience, the message, the evaluation of the ad’s effectiveness

7. Other Examples
Primarily through a convincing emotional appeal, Hardees manages to link their product and restaurant to the stereotypical young male’s desire for entertainment and enjoyment.

8. While the Hardees advertisement successfully attracts the attention of young male consumers by their presentation of a fun and satisfying life, it fails to convince them that such a life really has anything to do with eating Hardees food.