College Composition / Unit 13 CMP 0307 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Thesis Placement
Captions available
The idea
In most American academic writing, the thesis appears near the start, often as the last sentence of the introduction.
In practice
Like a lawyer who opens with "My client is innocent" and then presents evidence, the writer states the main claim and then supports it.
Where people slip
Placing the thesis early also helps the writer, because it keeps every paragraph accountable to it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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