Grade 7, 8 and 9 essays tend to have a thesis statement.

A thesis statement tells us what the writer’s ideas are.

Here’s one for A Christmas Carol.

Dickens presents X because he wants his readers to develop social responsibility towards the poor and the working class, contribute to charity, pay a fair wage and celebrate family, especially at Christmas.

A great thesis statement contains 3 or more of the writer’s ideas. These stay the same, no matter what the essay question.