1. Thesis Statements

2. Thesis Statements always: Answer a question Answer a question Are not obvious to the reader Are not obvious to the reader Include the authors name, characters name OR title of the work Include the authors name, characters name OR title of the work Can cause one to argue about the work Can cause one to argue about the work

3. Building a thesis statement: Take a simple statement that interests you. Deal with something in the text for which you can find examples. Take a simple statement that interests you. Deal with something in the text for which you can find examples. Draw inferences and ask yourself questions like WHY this happens/exists Draw inferences and ask yourself questions like WHY this happens/exists Add these ideas to the original statement. Polish the statement continuously eliminating linking verbs and informal vocabulary. You MUST find a way to include the characters name, authors name OR the title of the work. (Not all 3, 1 will do.) Add these ideas to the original statement. Polish the statement continuously eliminating linking verbs and informal vocabulary. You MUST find a way to include the characters name, authors name OR the title of the work. (Not all 3, 1 will do.)

4. The process of refining the thesis Simple Thesis Simple Thesis Mary Warren is a pawn of all the other characters in the play. Mary Warren is a pawn of all the other characters in the play.

5. Building a better thesis Make Inferences Make Inferences Why does this happen? Because she is weak, lonely and impressionable Why does this happen? Because she is weak, lonely and impressionable Why? Because she is young and has no good female role models, and the Puritan society encourages submissiveness and obedience in women Why? Because she is young and has no good female role models, and the Puritan society encourages submissiveness and obedience in women

6. Revised thesis Because she is the weakest and most impressionable character in the play, Mary Warren evolves from victim to executioner. Because she is the weakest and most impressionable character in the play, Mary Warren evolves from victim to executioner. Conclusions: If the Puritan society did not perpetuate a culture of submissiveness and obedience, then Mary Warren would have spoken the truth and many innocent lives would have been saved. Conclusions: If the Puritan society did not perpetuate a culture of submissiveness and obedience, then Mary Warren would have spoken the truth and many innocent lives would have been saved.

7. Top 5 Weaknesses of BAD thesis statements! Make no claim (This paper will explore how Mary Warren is the weakest character) Make no claim (This paper will explore how Mary Warren is the weakest character) Are obviously true or a statement of fact (Mary Warren is weak) Are obviously true or a statement of fact (Mary Warren is weak) Restates conventional wisdom (If Mary had a mother she would be happier) Restates conventional wisdom (If Mary had a mother she would be happier) Offers personal conviction as the basis for the claim (Mary is a whiny, spineless brat) Offers personal conviction as the basis for the claim (Mary is a whiny, spineless brat) Make overly broad claim (Having a role model is good for ones development) Make overly broad claim (Having a role model is good for ones development)

8. Remember the Thesis As you write you paper, always go back to the thesis statement and make sure that your evidence supports your claim. As you write you paper, always go back to the thesis statement and make sure that your evidence supports your claim.