In North American academic writing, arguments generally start with a claim. A claim states a position, perspective, or interpretation of a topic that others can agree or disagree with. Unlike facts, which are statements of truth, a claim is arguable. It shares your idea with your audience, and lets them know what you will focus on in the discussion to come. Conventionally, claims are often placed in the first sentence of an academic body paragraph; that claim or topic sentence tells the reader right away what you will be arguing in that paragraph.
A thesis statement should identify the major claim of a work and:
For example: "Royal Roads University is unique amongst post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island because of its history, diversity of wildlife, Hatley Castle, and educational programs".
The advantage of a clear thesis statement is that it will also help you to stay on track. At any time during your writing process, you should be able to make a direct connection between what you're writing and your thesis statement. If that connection isn't clear, you may need to either adjust your writing, or revisit your thesis statement. Thesis statements can change during the evolution of a paper; however, make sure you re-examine your outline before you divert too far from your original plan.
Please see the resources below for more information on writing thesis statements: