CUNY WriteSite CUNY WriteSite

The Main Idea

Take a look at the sentences below. Which do you think would make a better sentence to state the main idea for a short paper?
We took a vacation in Canada last summer.
Our vacation in Canada last summer was a disaster.
•The main idea, or thesis, should give your readers a clear and specific idea of your topic.
•The main idea should also include some opinion about the topic.
•The main idea can be thought of as a one or two sentence summary of the whole writing project.
•It is often a good idea to state your main idea early on.

Practice - An exercise in evaluating thesis statements.


« back to writing an introduction



The CUNY WriteSite
Search | Index | Guide | Introduction | Writing Projects | Writing for Exams
Grammar and Style | Net Library | Conversations | Campus Resources | Teachers and Tutors

© 2000 The City University of New York
All rights reserved.