What is a thesis statement?

# A thesis statement is the single, specific claim that an essly supports. It is the most important part of an essay. The purpose of the thesis statement is to give order both to the reader and to the writer. It summarizes the main point of the essay and states how the topic will be developed by the writer. A thesis statement has typically two functions:

   >     A. It names the topic.
       B. It reveals the writer's opinion about that topic.

A thesis statement is a road map for the essay. It controls the writer and tells the reader what the writer will discuss in the rest of the essay. A thesis statement focuses the claim into one or two sentences. It usually appears at or near the end of the first paragraph of an essay. As it is the most important part of an essay, it should be clear and specific.