Thesis Notes

English IV
Notes on the literary essay: Thesis

The thesis is what the writer wants to say—the writer’s opinion—boiled down to a single arguable statement. It is the answer to the question, “What’s your point?”

Synonyms for the word thesis: argument, claim, assertion

The writer’s first version of a thesis statement is often called a working thesis.

Strategies for formulating a strong literary thesis
1. Think of a general question or interesting observation related to the novel or play.
Examples:
How do the options for women today differ from those available to Soroya in The Kite Runner?
What is the effect of the culture of Afganistan on Amir’s actions?
Does Nora’s personality seem annoying and childish?
Is Nora really a strong woman when she is away from Torvald?
2. Narrow your chosen subject to a workable size by asking yourself, “What about it interests me most? Or “What is most likely to interest others?”
3. Put an argumentative edge on the narrowed subject
-by simply phrasing it as a statement:
-asking yourself questions about the narrowed topic (Why did this happen? What is surprising about this? What were the various causes? Which character shows this more clearly? How does this happen in the novel? What events are important? Do any symbols reinforce my idea? ) and using the answers as part of the thesis.
4. Gather evidence and information from the literary work. Copy the best 15 or so quotes related to any aspect of your topic. If you are finding too many quotes, narrow your topic further.
5. Look for outside information on the novel, the author, or the time period. Use library data bases for solid literary criticism, not the general Internet. Turn in print outs of these articles and use two or three quotes or paraphrased ideas from them in your essay.
6. Sharpen the “argumentative edge of your thesis by asking yourself, “What am I arguing against? What is the position of the ‘other side’? List any possible evidence from the novel to support the opposition.
7. Evaluate the potential of your decided-upon thesis sentence.
-How much evidence can you find to support this thesis? If you can find only one or two examples in the entire novel, or if you can find only one weak reason, or if you have to stretch the meanings of quotes to support your thesis, you probably need a better thesis.
-Is it a proposition worth supporting? Is it a major theme of the novel? A connection that not everyone will at first see? An interesting parallel? A clear explanation of a complicated idea in the novel? Not a plot fact

Amir’s primary goal of his youth is to gain the love of his father. (True, but this is a fact)
A Doll’s House gives an interesting portrayal of Norwegian Christmas customs. (true, but not the point of the play)

8. Many thesis sentences will benefit from the addition of an essay map, a brief statement attached to the thesis, or elsewhere in the introductory paragraph, that indicates the major points to be discussed in the essay. It will show your divisions.

How will you know you have a good thesis?
A good thesis typically has several key characteristics:
It says something significant about what you have read
It helps your reader understand the literary work better.
It is not obvious or something any reader would already know.
It is at least mildly contestable. Someone would support the other side.
It asserts something you can support in three to five pages.