A thesis statement usually appears at the beginning of the introductory paragraph of a paper, and it offers a concise summary of the main point or claim of the essay, research paper, etc. A thesis statement is usually one sentence that appears at the beginning though it may occur as more than one. The thesis statement is developed, supported, and explained in the course of the paper by means of examples and evidence. Thesis statements help organize and develop the system of proper writing, and also serve as a signal to readers about the topic of a paper. They are essential components of scholarly research papers.