 The first paragraph of any essay is the introduction paragraph.  The introduction paragraph is like an upside down triangle in that it begins broad and gets more narrow as it goes.  Topic Sentence  Arguments  Thesis

 Topic Sentence: The topic sentence is a generalized sentence indicating what the essay will be about.  Arguments: The arguments give an indication of what information will be presented and in what order it will appear.  Thesis: The thesis is a strong, clear statement of what exactly the essay will be proving. It is essentially the answer to the question your essay is posing.

 A strong thesis statement does four things:  1) A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.  Your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. It is the answer to the question.

 2) A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.  Your thesis should indicate some point of discussion. Your thesis statement should be something that is debatable, otherwise there is nothing to prove.

 3) A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.  If your thesis statement is about two or more ideas, the reader will likely become confused as to what your paper is about.

 4) A strong thesis statement is specific.  A thesis should show exactly what your paper is about and it should help you keep your paper to a manageable topic.

Topic: Should schools have school uniforms? It’s the first day at a new school, and the most important question you have is “What will I wear?” Many students worry each morning as they select the clothes they will wear that day to school. Unfortunately, selecting the ‘wrong’ clothing can open a student up to ridicule or bullying. There is a solution to the “What will I wear?” dilemma that some schools have already implemented. All schools should have school uniforms because they produce a positive impression, are safer, and remove socio-economic pressures.