1. Informative - Explanatory Essay Thesis Statement

2. Basic Essay Structure Introduction Thesis Body paragraph 1 Body paragraph 2 Body paragraph 3 Conclusion

3. Informative / Explanatory Thesis Statement  States the main idea of the essay

4. Thesis must:  Name the main topic of the essay  Give brief description of what essay will explain  Give clear purpose to the essay

5. Examples  It is possible to learn to eat healthier by reading food labels.  To protect themselves against identity theft, consumers should understand how identity thieves work, guard their personal information, and learn how to fight back.  This 2 nd example uses the body paragraph topics in the thesis. It’s an easy way to really keep the thesis focused.