A thesis statement focuses your ideas into <em>one or two sentences</em>. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused. For example, with an informative essay, you should compose an informative thesis (rather than argumentative). You want to declare your intentions in this essay and guide the reader to the conclusion that you reach. A persuasive thesis usually contains an opinion and the reason why your opinion is true.
You will know when the introduction has moved on because at the end of the introduction, there is a thesis statement. The thesis statement is how you will know when the introduction has moved on.
