(Or as I like to say, “What’s your point?”) Thesis Statements (Or as I like to say, “What’s your point?”)

What is an Analytical Paper? Breaks down a text(s) into its component parts Evaluates the data Presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience as an argument. In other words, “I believe this text is saying … and here’s how I know and here’s why you should believe it too.”

Analytical Thesis Statement Introduce your topic concisely State your point of view on the topic directly and in one sentence This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you'll make in the rest of your paper.

A thesis statement… Is a road map for the paper Interprets the significance of subject matter Directly answers the question(s) asked Specifically for the critical analysis paper: Through your critical lens, what themes are revealed? Through your critical lens, what purpose does your character serve throughout the novel to embody the author’s beliefs? Through your critical lens, what literary legacy does your novel serve?

Characteristics of a Thesis Statement Claims are disputable A single sentence Located at the end of the introduction paragraph

How to create a Working Thesis Use the following formula to create a working thesis: I am writing about _____________________ and I am going to argue/show/prove _____________. Remember!!! A working thesis is the basic argument for your paper An argument that you think you can support with evidence You will change/modify this thesis along the way

How do I arrive at my thesis? Step One: Create a working thesis Step Two: Collect and organize evidence Step Three: Look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities) Step Four: Think about the significance of these relationships. Step Five: Modify your working thesis into a final thesis. Does all evidence in your essay support/prove the thesis to be true?

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Do I answer the question? In this case, the question is “what do YOU think your text(s) is saying and how is it saying it?”

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" or "successful," see if you could be more specific: why is something "good"; what specifically makes something "successful"?

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Does my thesis pass the “so what?" test? If a reader's first response is “so what?" then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It's OK to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test? If a reader's first response is "how?" or "why?" your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Critical Literary Analysis For a critical literary analysis, your thesis statement will include the title(s) of the work(s) you will discuss in your paper and the author(s) of those works, as well as what it is that you will argue about those works.

Sample literary thesis statement Main Point #1 Main Point #2 Main Point #3 “In Lewis’s novel, The Screwtape Letters, Lewis develops many themes involving human choices, characters a reader can learn life experiences from including the patient and the struggles with his life, and the legacy of Christian ideals and values that Lewis’s book left behind.” “In the novel Death With  Interruptions, the author Jose Saramago develops the theme that love needs death to maintain a normal society by personifying death, and as a result, the author leaves a lasting literary legacy through the unique writing style he uses to convey these ideas.” Main Point #1 Main Point #2 Main Point #3