Thesis Statements

1
Thesis Statements
2
A Thesis Statement IS NOT

• The subject

Alice Walkers Roselily
Kate Chopins The Story of An Hour
3
A Thesis Statement IS NOT

• Too broad

Alice Walkers Roselily comments on the social
implications of marriage.
Kate Chopins The Story of An Hour comments on
the social implications of marriage.
4
A Thesis Statement IS NOT

• An assertion, statement of fact or an observation

Alice Walkers Roselily portrays the
consciousness of Roselily as she is being married.
In The Story of An Hour, Kate Chopin explores
Louise Mallards reaction to her husbands death.
5
A Thesis Statement

• Takes a stance rather than announces subject.

Alice Walkers Roselily portrays the conflicted
consciousness of Roselily as she is being
married. This conflict stems from Roselilys
inability to achieve her own personal identity as
an autonomous individual in her culture.
In The Story of An Hour, Kate Chopin explores
Louise Mallards conflicted reaction to her
husbands death which results in her inability to
accept her prior identity as Mrs. Mallard. As a
result of this inability, Louise must die.
6
A Thesis Statement

• Must be narrow, rather than broad, in order to
  sufficiently argue your thesis.
• Must be specific rather than vague or general

x
Alice Walkers Roselily is very confusing.
In Alice Walkers Roselily, Roselilys
conflicted consciousness is mired in symbols of
entrapment that reflect her view of marriage.
7
Consists of two parts

• Your topic
• The analysis, explanation, or assertions you are
  making about the topic. (The So What of your
  argument)

1
In Alice Walkers Roselily, Roselilys
conflicted consciousness is mired in symbols of
entrapment that reflect her view of marriage.
2
8
A Thesis Statement

• Is a map or guide both for yourself and your
  audience.

9
A Thesis Statement

• Has one main point rather than several main
  points.

10
The Main Point

• Is supported by reasoning or evidence from the
  text

11
The Evidence

• Is organized into paragraphs with one topic per
  paragraph

12
Remember

• Your thesis is a working thesis. If you find
  yourself straying from your original argument,
  one alternative is to rewrite your thesis
  statement.

13
Remember

• Your thesis is making a claim
• That your must sufficiently prove with reasons
  and evidence.
• That could be an opinion, an evaluation, a
  cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation.
• With which people could possibly disagree.

14
Remember

• Your thesis is not an expression of what you
  think or feel.
• Do not summarize the plot. Analyze the plot.
• Focus on how your argument develops or changes in
  the story.

15
Checklist

• Must be in introduction
• Must be specific and narrow
• Must be arguable
• Must answer So what?