Thesis Statements

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Thesis Statements

• Insight to an Academic Argument
• As adapted from http//www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/ha
  ndouts/thesis.html

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What is a thesis statement???

• A thesis statement is usually one sentence that
  tells a reader how you will interpret the
  significance of particular subject matter, in
  this case, Romeo and Juliet.
• but it does more than that.

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A good thesis statement

• is a road map for the rest of your paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A
  thesis is an interpretation of a question or
  subject, not the subject itself.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence somewhere in your
  first paragraph that presents your argument to
  the reader.

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How do you know your thesis is strong?

• Ask yourself if you have answered the question.
• Ask yourself if you have presented a position
  that others could dispute. A good thesis
  statement DOES NOT state an undisputed fact.
• Ask yourself if your thesis statement is
  specific enough for the scope of your paper.
  AVOID vague words like GOOD, VERY, SUCCESSFUL, A
  LOT

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continued

• Ask yourself if you can stick to what your thesis
  says without wandering off topic.
• Ask yourself if your thesis passes the HOW? WHY?
  SO? Test. If you think your reader might have to
  ask any of these questions, you should go back
  and narrow your thesis statement.

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Examples

• Topic/Questions Compare and contrast the
  reasons why the North and South fought the Civil
  War.
• WEAK The North and South fought the Civil War
  for many reasons, some of which were the same and
  some different.

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Better

• While both sides fought the Civil War over the
  issue of slavery, the North fought for moral
  reasons while the South fought to preserve its
  own institutions.

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BEST

• While both Northerners and Southerners believed
  they fought against tyranny and oppression,
  Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves
  while Southerners defended their own right to
  self-government.

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Assignment

• Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain's
  novel Huckleberry Finn
• WEAK
• Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a great American
  novel.

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BETTER

• In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a
  contrast between life on the river and life on
  the shore.

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BEST

• Through its contrasting river and shore scenes,
  Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find
  the true expression of American democratic
  ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go
  back to nature.

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Your Essay Topics

• 1. Is Romeo and Juliet truly a tragedy? Why or
  why not? Be sure to refer to your Tragedy-Plot
  Summary guide when answering your question.
• 2. How does Shakespeare treat death in Romeo and
  Juliet? Consider the legal, moral, familial, and
  personal issues associated with this. Compare or
  contrast the deaths of Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio,
  and/or Tybalt when answering this question.
• 3. How do Romeo and Juliets suicidal tendencies
  relate to the overall theme of young love? Are
  suicide and self-destructive tendencies
  inextricable from love or are they inherently
  separate issues? Explain Romeo and Juliets
  suicides did they have any other choice(s)?