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The purpose of a thesis statement is to?

  1. Summarize the entire paper

  2. Introduce the main argument of the paper

  3. Give an overview of the paper’s contents

  4. Combines two or more ideas into a single statement

The correct answer is: Introduce the main argument of the paper

The purpose of a thesis statement is to introduce the main argument of the paper. This statement should be clear and concise, and should guide the reader in understanding what the paper is about. Option A is incorrect because a thesis statement should not summarize the entire paper, but rather state the main point or argument. Option C is also incorrect because while it may provide a brief overview, it should specifically state the main argument. Option D is incorrect because a thesis statement should only focus on one main idea or argument, not multiple ideas.