Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A thesis statement is a clear and concise sentence that presents the main argument or claim of an essay. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the main points that will be discussed in the essay.
Supporting evidence refers to facts, examples, statistics, or expert opinions that are used to back up and strengthen the claims made in a thesis statement.
A claim is an assertion or proposition that states what you believe to be true. In an essay, claims are typically presented in the form of thesis statements.