 Hi, welcome to this very special tutorial. In this tutorial, you will learn how to identify the requisite steps to write in a thesis statement, recognize examples of effective and ineffective thesis statements, identify the components of a well-structured thesis statement, and recognize that the thesis writing process is flexible, non-linear, and susceptible to change. What's that? You already learned this a long time ago. Well, let's face it, we can all use a refresher on this topic. And let me tell you why. Knowing how to write a thesis is a skill that follows you all the way from your middle school years to your high school, college, and I daresay, master's and PhD schooling. So let's start with a very basic question. What is a thesis? Put simply, a thesis is a statement that usually appears in the intro paragraph or section and offers a main point or claim of the essay. In other words, it's an argument. If you needed in any perspective or topic you're talking about, it's the very foundation by which you will build your whole essay. Let's go over what a thesis is not. A thesis is not a summary of the text. It cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. It is not a question. It should not state mere facts or a topic. By the end of your intro and thesis, your essay reader should think, this essay will try to prove or convince me of something.