• Fulfills the Goals of a thesis statement
• Is specific (i.e. doesn’t contain words like “good” or “successful”)
• Is relevant to everyday life
• Should already answer the “how” and “why”

Example

“Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.” -> “In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.” -> “Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.” ¹