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What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

  1. To sum up all the main ideas of an essay

  2. To provide an overview of the essay topic

  3. To express the author's opinion on the topic

  4. To give background information for the essay

The correct answer is: To express the author's opinion on the topic

A thesis statement is typically a one-sentence statement that presents the main argument or point of an essay. This statement serves as a roadmap for the reader, letting them know what to expect from the essay. It is not meant to summarize the main ideas or provide an overview of the topic, so options A and B are incorrect. It also should not solely provide background information, so option D is also incorrect. While a thesis statement can include an author's opinion, this is not its sole purpose. Therefore, the best answer is C to express the author's opinion on the topic.