The thesis<span> statement usually appears near the beginning of a paper. It can be the first sentence of an essay, but that often feels like a simplistic, unexciting beginning. It more frequently appears at or near the end of the first paragraph or two.</span>
The thesis is not the hook that grabs the reader. It is, however, the single sentence that gives direction to your essay. It not only narrows your focus, it also identifies the main points you will evaluate, explain or justify. Because it introduces the purpose of the paper, the thesis statement is often found in the introduction of an essay.
