The thesis statement is the most important sentence of an essay as it is the controlling idea of the entire composition. The sole purpose of the body paragraphs is to defend, explain or exemplify the statement made in the thesis; therefore, a strong thesis statement is essential for a successful essay. The thesis statement is always the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Much like topic sentences (as discussed in Unit 1), a strong thesis statement.
- should not be too broad or too narrow
- should not announce the writer’s intentions. (for example: In this essay, I will discuss ...)
- must be a complete sentence.
Above all, a strong thesis statement clearly presents the main idea of the essay so that the reader is absolutely certain of what will be discussed in the body paragraphs. Here is an example of a basic thesis statement for an opinion essay:
- Cellphones should not be permitted in the classroom.
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