1. The Most Important Sentence in your Paper
Thesis Statement
The Most Important Sentence in your Paper

2. Thesis Statement
A sentence or two in your essay that contains the focus of the paper. The entire paper is spent developing and supporting this statement with evidence. It is the most important sentence in the essay.

3. What is a thesis statement?
Helps readers understand the purpose of the essay
Previews the main points
Is usually found at the end of the introduction
Is what all paragraphs must relate back to and “prove”

4. What does my thesis need?
An answer to the question of the essay
Title and author of text
Preview of your main points

5. Example
Question: How did James Dashner make The Maze Runner a captivating book?
Thesis: James Dashner uses mystery, fascinating characters, and vivid descriptions to make The Maze Runner a captivating book.
Question: What will the body paragraphs in this essay be about?

6. In _____, what theme does the author develop throughout the text?
What’s the question of your essay?
In _____, what theme does the author develop throughout the text?

7. In _____, what theme does the author develop throughout the text?
Theme: Friendship can survive hardships.
“The Southpaw” by Judith Viorst
Throughout = beginning, middle, and end
Thesis: Throughout the beginning, middle, and end of “The Southpaw,” Judith Viorst demonstrates that friendship can survive hardships.

8. In _____, what theme does the author develop throughout the text?
Theme: Fear can cause normally peaceful people to act in a violent and illogical way.
“The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” by Rod Sterling
Throughout = beginning, middle, and end
Throughout the beginning, middle, and end of “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street,” Rod Sterling shows the readers how fear can cause people who are normally peaceful to act in violent and illogical ways.

9. Write your thesis.

10. Steps for Today
Write your thesis, and get it approved.
Take a highlighter and highlight any place you see the theme “shining through.”
Choose the BEST examples of theme in your story – at least two from the beginning, two from the middle, and two from the end.
Begin outline – ignore the introduction and the conclusion for now.
Remember, a topic sentences tells what the whole paragraph is about.
Example: To begin, Sterling begins developing the theme very early in the text.