Author Steve Sharp tells his students that the thesis statement is the sun around which EVERYTHING in their paper orbits. Every sentence must fall within its gravitational pull and obey rational orbital laws. Otherwise chaos ensues. If you really want to succeed in the academic world, you simply can't afford to leave your readers scratching their heads after they've read your paper, wondering, "What's the point of this? Why was this written?" MASTERING THE THESIS STATEMENT teaches you just about everything you need to know to write an effective thesis statement and improve the quality of your academic writing. Because writing is such hard work, you may have to revise your thesis many, many times before you discover the gem that shines brightest - a thesis that not only suits the content and purpose of your paper but also truly reflects what you're trying to say.