The Writing Process: Multi-paragraph Composition Structure - continued

Thesis Statements

A thesis statement introduces the focus of the entire multi-paragraph composition and is typically the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. Just like a topic sentence, it informs the reader of the composition’s main idea. The thesis statement should be limited enough in scope so that it can be adequately supported in three to five paragraphs.

Make sure your thesis statement expresses your attitude toward the topic or indicates what the development of the topic will be.

Examples:

Topic: High School Graduation

Thesis: A high school graduate will have an easier time continuing with post-secondary education, finding employment, and earning a decent living.

Topic: Apartment Inspections

Thesis: When looking at an apartment to rent, it’s important to thoroughly inspect three areas: the kitchen, the bathroom, and the living area.

The student who was writing about conducting an apartment inspection would first go to the prewriting, where she developed her thesis statement. Then, she would think about how she was going to structure the composition. In this case, she will organize it spatially, by room. She would then create an outline of the key points for her composition: an introductory paragraph ending in that thesis statement, and then draw on her organized ideas, points and details to draft the outline for her body. She would compose a concluding sentence that restated her thesis and perhaps called her audience to action.

Click here to view a detailed breakdown of a multi-paragraph composition outline.