For many types of writing, you will be able to assert your central idea in a sentence or two. Such a statement, which ordinarily appears in the opening paragraph of your finished essay, is called a thesis statement. As you develop your ideas, you are likely to form a tentative, or working, thesis. Think of your working thesis as preliminary, open for consideration and revision, as you clarify your purpose and consider the expectations of your audience.

What makes an effective thesis statement?

A successful thesis statement is a central idea that requires supporting evidence; its scope is appropriate for the assigned length of the essay; and it is sharply and specifically focused.

The thesis is often one or more of the following: