what is a thesis statement

A: a sentence that provides information about a topic

B: a paragraph that introduces a paper topic

C: a concise summary of the central idea of a text

D: a detailed summary of the key points of a text

C: a concise summary of the central idea of a text.

C: a concise summary of the central idea of a text

The correct answer is C: a concise summary of the central idea of a text.

To arrive at this answer, we can eliminate options A, B, and D based on their descriptions. Option A refers to a basic sentence providing information about a topic, which is not specific to a thesis statement. Option B refers to a paragraph introducing a paper topic, which is different from a thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument. Option D refers to a detailed summary of key points, which is not necessarily the same as the central idea of a text.

A thesis statement, on the other hand, is a single, declarative sentence that presents the central idea or main argument of a text. It is typically found at the end of the introductory paragraph of an essay or research paper and guides the reader in understanding the purpose and direction of the piece. A well-crafted thesis statement concisely expresses the main point or claim and sets the scope and focus of the entire work.