Where is the best place in an essay to put the thesis statement? How long does it have to be?

Question

This applies broadly to most types of English papers, including in an argumentative essay, narrative essay, etc.

Answer 1

The thesis statement is best placed at the very end of the introduction paragraph, because it allows your readers to get a good glimpse at what you are going to be talking about in your paper. It should ideally be the last sentence of the introduction. The thesis statement can be 1, 2, 3, etc. sentences long, as long as you get your point across and have all the information you need in it (ie. the main point of the paper/your argument/etc.). It is best to keep it short and sweet at one sentence but it can certainly be longer if needed.