Steps to Writing a Thesis Statement

You might start with making a valid comparison: McMurphy, the ex-con mental patient, is a lot like Jesus. Good observation—and maybe not an immediately obvious observation—but it’s still only an observation! So the question is, then……. How do you move from making a good observation to making a statement that is not obvious to the average reader and communicates a complex, surprising, interesting argument?

One way you can move this comparison towards being an interesting and complex argument is to put the whole comparison in a subordinate clause and then figure out what the main clause should contain. By showing parallels between Christ and his ex-con, mental patient, McMurphy, Kesey (allows, communicates, shows, suggests, protests, exposes, makes clear, etc.)_______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________

So…figure out a complex reason why Kesey might want to suggest that there is comparison between McMurphy and Christ? You might say…. M. is the one who brings hope and healing to his fellow mental patients. Not a bad start, but M. being helpful doesn’t explain why Kesey would care to make the parallel between M. and Christ.

Ask the questions: Why is McMurphy the one compared to Christ Ask the questions: Why is McMurphy the one compared to Christ? Why not make N. Ratched the kind, compassionate, healing one and then compare her to Christ? Why make an ex-con and mental patient the Christ figure? Do we as readers identify with McMurphy—the ex-con mental patient? We do? Why on earth would be identify with such a person? Why does M. make N. Ratched so evil? So sadistic? So extraordinarily lacking in compassion? Why do we, as readers, resent her authority? Aren’t we supposed to respect authority? What is significant about the power struggle between M. and N. Ratched? Who wins the struggle? Do the answers to any of these questions help you determine why misfit M. is the Christ figure?

Hmmmm…. Maybe Kesey wants us to sympathize with the “misfit”—and value the human compassion he provides. Maybe he wants us to value M. and the patients so that we will recognize the uniqueness and individuality of these mental patients who make us uncomfortable and, if we’re honest, are people we might rather not have to think about.

So maybe... The more M—the misfit, ex-con, mental patient—acts like Christ, the more we see HIS value—his worth—and the more we see the worth of the others we are guilty of calling misfits. Likewise, when Nurse R. demonstrates hyperbolic disdain for the patients—instead of caring for them and valuing them—we unconsciously see ourselves in her reflection of superiority over those she deems unworthy. Thus, not liking what we see, we cheer for the misfits and want to remove from authoritative positions such soulless people like N. R. We don’t want to see ourselves as unfeeling like her; we want to see ourselves as supporters of the underdog and Kesey gives us greater consciousness of our obligation to insure that all humans receive the fair treatment and justice they deserve.

So… How can you complete the beginning of your thesis So… How can you complete the beginning of your thesis? By showing parallels between Christ and his ex-con, mental patient, McMurphy, Kesey ______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

How does the argument in your thesis differ from the following “why” or “meaning of the novel as a whole” that one student supplied? Kesey makes clear that the misfits of the 1950’s society—especially those in mental institutions who are devalued and mistreated—deserve to experience salvation and grace in the same way Christ’s followers experienced salvation and grace from Him. Are both types of “why’s” necessary for an excellent paper? Why or why not?