A thesis statement should do what?

A thesis statement is fundamentally designed to answer a specific prompt while articulating a clear stance or position on that subject. It serves as the backbone of an essay or paper, guiding both the writer and the reader through the main argument or point being made. A strong thesis statement encapsulates the central idea of the work and often reflects the writer's viewpoint, offering a concise summary of the argument to be developed in the subsequent sections of the text. This clarity enables readers to understand the focus of the paper and what to expect in the discussion that follows.

In contrast, posing a question does not provide an answer or direction, while providing a narrative or merely listing topics lacks the specificity and assertiveness that a thesis statement requires.