This article describes a prewriting heuristics strategy that can help students find the genesis of their thesis. The 3 functions of the heuristic procedure are that it aids in retrieving relevant information stored in the mind; draws attention to important information that can be further researched or accessed; and prepares the mind for the intuition of an ordering principle or hypothesis. When students literally have the tools of the thesis criteria coupled with a handy heuristic at their fingertips, they will do better on writing assignments. This heuristic, called Topics, Themes, WTS (Working Thesis Statement), allows for connections between what is taught and what is thought. (Contains 3 figures.)