Thesis Statements

1. Thesis Statements

2. What is a Thesis? • It declares what you intend to prove. • Not a simple retelling of facts (i.e. a summary) • Must be clear, concise and easy to identify • Provides focus for the paper & research

3. Reminders • A thesis… • Is never a question • Is not a list • Should not be vague, combative or confrontational • Should have a definable, arguable claim • Should be clear and specific

4. How A Thesis Is Written • A thesis statement relating to literature always has two parts: a what and a how. • What = What you are asserting the author intended to do • How = Your description of how the author did it.

5. Elements of a Thesis In the 19th century novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley comments on the dangers of knowledge by presenting characters such as Victor and the monster, whose quests for knowledge lead to their ultimate downfall.

6. Elements of a Thesis In the 19th century novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley comments on the dangers of knowledge by presenting characters such as Victor and the monster, whose quests for knowledge lead to their ultimate downfall.

7. Elements of a Thesis In the re-telling of Beowulf, the medieval narrator transforms the Anglo-Saxon tale into a kind of Christian allegory by incorporating Christian images, Biblical allusions and a Christ-like protagonist who must suffer in order to save others.

8. Elements of a Thesis In the re-telling of Beowulf, the medieval narrator transforms the Anglo-Saxon tale into a kind of Christian allegory by incorporating Christian images, Biblical allusions and a Christ-like protagonist who must suffer in order to save others.

9. Elements of a Thesis In the classic play, Hamlet, Shakespeare comments upon the continuous and contagious quality of corruption by using images of the sun, poison and decay all of which reveal the moral, social and political deterioration of a Medieval kingdom. . .

10. In the classic play, Hamlet, Shakespeare comments upon the continuous and contagious quality of corruptionby using images of the sun, poison and decay all of which reveal the moral, social and political deterioration of a Medieval kingdom. .

11. What do all three have in common? In the 19th century novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley comments on the dangers of knowledge by presenting characters such as Victor and the monster, whose quests for knowledge lead to their ultimate downfall. In the re-telling, Beowulf, the medieval narrator transforms the Anglo-Saxon tale into a kind of Christian allegory by incorporating Christian images, Biblical allusions and a Christ-like protagonist who must who must suffer in order to save others. In the classic play, Hamlet, Shakespeare comments upon the continuous and contagious quality of corruptionby using images of the sun, poison and decay all of which reveal the moral, social and political deterioration of a Medieval kingdom. .

12. In the 19th century novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley comments on the dangers of knowledge by presenting characters such as Victor and the monster, whose quests for knowledge lead to their ultimate downfall. In the re-telling, Beowulf, the medieval narrator transforms the Anglo-Saxon tale into a kind of Christian allegory by incorporating Christian images, Biblical allusions and a Christ-like protagonist who must who must suffer in order to save others. In the classic play, Hamlet, Shakespeare comments upon the continuous and contagious quality of corruptionby using images of the sun, poison and decay all of which reveal the moral, social and political deterioration of a Medieval kingdom. .

13. The Importance of “By” • The word “by” separates the “what” and “how” of your thesis. • Likely, if you are not using the word “by,” you probably do not have both parts of the thesis in place. • There are few appropriate substitutes. “Through the use of” is one, but I strongly advise you to stick with the “by” formula.

14. A Sample Imagine you are asked the question, “What message about the world do the realist authors have?” Bad Thesis: • The realists say that life is grim. Better Thesis: • The realists revolt against romanticism in a grim depiction of life. Best Thesis: • The realists revolt against the imaginative elements of romanticism by writing short stories wherein the fantasies of characters do nothing to prevent their violent fates.