THESIS STATEMENT and BODY PARAGRAPH NOTES

A Thesis Statement… Is one complex sentence with subordinating parts that has a clear, central idea, which shows the exact direction of your paper. Is one complex sentence with subordinating parts that has a clear, central idea, which shows the exact direction of your paper. Should answer the question, “What am I trying to prove specifically?” Should answer the question, “What am I trying to prove specifically?” Is used to guide the content of the paper Is used to guide the content of the paper

Thesis Statement…  Is a road map constantly reminding you of your location and in what direction you are headed.  Breaks your topic down into separate aspects – which are?  The topic sentences to 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

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: Must start with a topic sentence! Must start with a topic sentence! A topic sentence announces the main idea derived from the thesis, and each subsequent sentence develops and supports the idea of your topic sentence. A topic sentence announces the main idea derived from the thesis, and each subsequent sentence develops and supports the idea of your topic sentence. If each topic sentence for every body paragraph does not relate back to the thesis, your paper is OFF TOPIC! If each topic sentence for every body paragraph does not relate back to the thesis, your paper is OFF TOPIC!

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 follow the order of your thesis statement. Should follow the order of your thesis statement. Should elaborate the topics and aspects of your thesis statement. Should elaborate the topics and aspects of your thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs: 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 using a transition sentence. You should start a new body paragraph when you change your thought process using a transition sentence.

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

Body Paragraphs should follow the thesis: 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 through the eyes of his protagonist Guy Montag. Close thematic examination of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 demonstrates the rise of good versus evil, utopian ideals, and the pressures of conformity through the eyes of his protagonist Guy Montag.

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