Question

When writing

Answer 1

What a thesis statement should NOT look like:

It should never include phrases like: in my opinion, I think, I believe, etc.

However, it may be helpful to write a rough draft of a thesis statement with this phrases to make sure you are expressing your thoughts or arguments clearly. Be sure to delete these phrases when writing the final draft of your thesis statement.

Where does my thesis statement belong in my essay?

It is the closing sentence in the first paragraph of your essay
It should also be re-written in new language as part of your conclusion