Thesis Statements for Literary Essays. A thesis statement should Include the name of the work and the author. Include the name of the work and the author.

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Presentation transcript:

Thesis Statements for Literary Essays

A thesis statement should Include the name of the work and the author. Include the name of the work and the author. Avoid starting with There is/are/was/were or It is/was. Avoid starting with There is/are/was/were or It is/was. Typically appear at the end of the introduction. Typically appear at the end of the introduction.

A thesis statement should Be declarative (not a question). Be declarative (not a question). State a specific, debatable topic. State a specific, debatable topic. Interpret or analyze, not evaluate. Interpret or analyze, not evaluate.

Be declarative (not a question). Why does Mark Twain use pre- Civil War America to set his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Why does Mark Twain use pre- Civil War America to set his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? An ANSWER to that question might turn into a good thesis.

State a specific, debatable topic. Dorothy Parker's "Résumé" uses images of suicide to make her point about living. Dorothy Parker's "Résumé" uses images of suicide to make her point about living. …but what IS her point about living? State THAT in the thesis.  Dorothy Parker's "Résumé" doesn't celebrate life, but rather scorns those who would fake or attempt suicide just to get attention.

State a specific, debatable topic. Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play about a young man who seeks revenge. Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play about a young man who seeks revenge. This is merely a summary of the plot. Hamlet experiences internal conflict because he is in love with his mother. Hamlet experiences internal conflict because he is in love with his mother.

State a specific, debatable topic. Spirituality means different things to different people. King Lear and The Book of Romans each view the spirit differently. Spirituality means different things to different people. King Lear and The Book of Romans each view the spirit differently. So what? This offers no indication about HOW they differ. King Lear and The Book of Romans each view the soul as the center of human personality. King Lear and The Book of Romans each view the soul as the center of human personality.

State a specific, debatable topic. Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote many poems with love as the theme. Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote many poems with love as the theme. Not debatable. Not specific. Edna St. Vincent Millay’s use of love as a theme in her poems reflects the many romantic relationships she had outside of her marriage. Edna St. Vincent Millay’s use of love as a theme in her poems reflects the many romantic relationships she had outside of her marriage.

State a specific, debatable topic. There are many symbols in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House that show emotions. There are many symbols in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House that show emotions. Not debatable. Not specific. The symbols in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House express the tension between the husband and his wife. The symbols in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House express the tension between the husband and his wife.

State a specific, debatable topic. Hamlet and King Lear have similarities and different. Hamlet and King Lear have similarities and different. Too vague. Hamlet and King Lear both deal with the turmoil of men in positions of leadership. Hamlet and King Lear both deal with the turmoil of men in positions of leadership.

State a specific, debatable topic “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?” proves the point that the pen is mightier than the sword. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?” proves the point that the pen is mightier than the sword. Cut the clichés. Just state what you mean. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” juxtaposes human beauty to nature. “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” juxtaposes human beauty to nature.

State a specific, debatable topic The structure, character, and dialogue in “Black Boy” show us how all humans search for knowledge. The structure, character, and dialogue in “Black Boy” show us how all humans search for knowledge. Uses too personal of language and vague wording. The dialogue in “Black Boy” reflects the dialect of the author, Richard Wright, where he grew up, in East St. Louis. The dialogue in “Black Boy” reflects the dialect of the author, Richard Wright, where he grew up, in East St. Louis.

Interpret, not evaluate Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is an important American novel. Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is an important American novel. Holden Caulfield is an unforgettable character in The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is an unforgettable character in The Catcher in the Rye. Unless you are writing a review, it is not your job to praise or criticize the work. Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American ideals, one must leave ‘civilized’ society and go back to nature. Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American ideals, one must leave ‘civilized’ society and go back to nature.