What is a thesis? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.

A thesis is a road map for the paper. It tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper and provides a focus

A thesis is an interpretation of a subject, not the subject itself. For example, the subject or topic of your paper might be World War II or Of Mice and Men; a thesis offers the reader a way to understand the war or the novel.

The thesis statement is typically located at the ______ of your opening paragraph.

A thesis contains: Title of the work Author’s name Focus –Major idea you want to explore Two or three supports –Literary elements or tags from your notes The Virgin Suicides Jeffrey Eugenides Focus = teenage suicide Supports = depression, family influence, perception

Blueprint for your thesis In [Title of Work], [Author] explains [focus] using [support 1, support 2, support 3]. In The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Eugenides discusses the teen suicide phenomenon by examining the girls’ depression, their family relationships and the way they are perceived by the community.

You already have a start Look over your notes Decide which aspect you wish to be your focus, your main point See which tags could work as supports Craft everything into a sentence

In his short story, “The Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka uses symbolism, stream-of- consciousness, and family relationships to develop the theme of alienation

Use your notes to help you get started...

Introductory Paragraph Must grab the reader’s attention: You might: –use a quotation – tell an anecdote, –relate to real life –discuss the theme –give author background (if it relates to your thesis) –provide historical context. Thesis statement is the LAST sentence of the introductory paragraph

Due Monday, 2/1