THESIS STATEMENT NOTES

Thesis Statement should … Be one sentence that shows the exact direction of your paper Be one sentence that shows the exact direction of your paper Answer the question, “What am I trying to prove?” Answer the question, “What am I trying to prove?” Break your topic down into separate aspects – which are? Break your topic down into separate aspects – which are? –Your body paragraphs!

Thesis Statement should NOT… Contain phrases like, “I am going to tell you about” or “This paper will be about” Contain phrases like, “I am going to tell you about” or “This paper will be about” Simply re-state your topic Simply re-state your topic Be more than one sentence Be more than one sentence

Thesis Examples In Jack London’s novel, The Call of the Wild, various themes of conflict exist, such as man versus himself, man versus nature, and the complex intermingling of both. In Jack London’s novel, The Call of the Wild, various themes of conflict exist, such as man versus himself, man versus nature, and the complex intermingling of both.

Body Paragraphs: 1. Man vs. Himself 1. Man vs. Himself –details, examples, & secondary sources 2. Man vs. Nature 2. Man vs. Nature –details, examples, & secondary sources 3. The complex intermingling of both 3. The complex intermingling of both –details, examples, & secondary sources

Thesis Examples In A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway vividly illustrates his main character, Fredric Henry, and Fredric’s changing ideals about love and war through his use of supporting characters like Rinaldi, Count Greffi, and the priest. In A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway vividly illustrates his main character, Fredric Henry, and Fredric’s changing ideals about love and war through his use of supporting characters like Rinaldi, Count Greffi, and the priest.

Body Paragraphs: Rinaldi Rinaldi –details, examples, & secondary sources Count Greffi Count Greffi –details, examples, & secondary sources The priest The priest –details, examples, & secondary sources

Thesis Examples Close thematic examination of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the rise of good versus evil, utopian ideals, and the pressures of conformity. Close thematic examination of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the rise of good versus evil, utopian ideals, and the pressures of conformity.

Body Paragraphs: the rise of good versus evil the rise of good versus evil –details, examples, & secondary sources utopian ideals utopian ideals –details, examples, & secondary sources the pressures of conformity the pressures of conformity –details, examples, & secondary sources

4 parts to a thesis: (but not necessarily in this order) Author’s name Author’s name Title of story Title of story Topic- your theme and/or style of writing/literary device Topic- your theme and/or style of writing/literary device Specific aspects- how is the topic shown…through what or through whom? Specific aspects- how is the topic shown…through what or through whom?

Body Paragraphs Should not include anything that you have not stated in your thesis statement. Should not include anything that you have not stated in your thesis statement. Should elaborate the topics and aspects of your thesis statement. Should elaborate the topics and aspects of your thesis statement. Should follow the order of your thesis statement. Should follow the order of your thesis statement. Can be as many or as few as you need to convey your information. Can be as many or as few as you need to convey your information. You should start a new body paragraph when you change your thought process. You should start a new body paragraph when you change your thought process.