Introductory paragraph ends with a thesis
statement that makes a defensible claim that
answers the question, “What is the message from
the author to the reader of the Torah?”
• This last sentence of the introduction must
begin with the following phrase: “The
message of the Torah is that.
• Your thesis should answer our question
directly.
o Your thesis should explain most of the
books and its most important parts.
The job of your argument is to defend your
thesis statement not to summarize what happens
in the text.
• You should divide your argument into distinct body
paragraphs.
• Each body paragraph begins with a topic
sentence that states a reason why your
thesis statement is the best answer to our
question.