- has to do with topic sentences
- the main idea of the essay
- it’s what your essay is about
- should not be a paragraph
- 1 (or two) sentences
- road-map to your essay
- an assertion
- includes examples
- can help you organize your essay
- a question? no
- an opinion? yes!
- an argument? yes
- your first paragraph narrows from your topic to your specific thesis statement
Thesis statement of Egan’s “Reading Lucy”:
started her research to learn about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard
identifies with Lucy
women’s rights–women could work at the Navy Yard
draft: Through Lucy’s letters, I [Egan] learned about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and what role women played.
draft: Lucy’s letters, from a collection at BHS, not only teach the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard but also the roles that women had in the WWII-era workforce.
Lucy’s WWII-era letters and notebooks teach the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and women’s role in the war effort through personal detail and vibrant storytelling.
