Early-childhood intervention programs that focus on social and emotional development of disadvantaged youth deserve more funding because they have led to reductions in criminal behavior.

Early-childhood intervention programs for disadvantaged youth are very important.

The first statement makes a focused assertion about specific types of intervention programs, and this assertion can be argued in a paper. The other statement is a broad, unfocused claim that is too vague to make an effective thesis.

For more help, see section APA-1.