developing a thesis
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Developing a Thesis. Theme. Theme – universal truth What big ideas is the author dealing with? What does the author reveal about life or about the human condition?. “Big Ideas” in To Kill a Mockingbird. Tolerance Courage Hypocrisy Education Respect Prejudice/Inequality - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Developing a Thesis
Theme
Theme – universal truth
What big ideas is the author dealing with?
What does the author reveal about life or about the human condition?
“Big Ideas” in To Kill a Mockingbird
Tolerance Courage Hypocrisy Education Respect Prejudice/Inequality Family Background Innocence Growing Up Justice/Injustice
Thematic or Universal Level Reading Beyond the Lines
Identify the SubjectTurn the Subject into a Question
Subject/”Big Idea”: ToleranceQuestion: Why is it important to see things
from another person’s point of view?
Subject/”Big Idea”: Loss of InnocenceQuestion: What causes a loss of innocence?
Examples of thematic statements Seeing things from other people’s perspective is
important because it promotes tolerance. Loss of innocence is moving from the assumption
that people are naturally good to the more adult perspective gained from confronting evil.
Ignorance is often at the root of trouble. Hardship is necessary to the development of
one’s character. Someone of extraordinary strength is often
needed to step forward when others hesitate.
Check your thematic statement:
o Use a declarative sentence. o Avoid clichés (What goes around, comes around; love
conquers all, etc.) o Avoid moralizations (ought, to, should, must, good,
bad, right, wrong, etc.) These create morals of the story or lessons that should be learned, not themes.
o Keep it universal (relates to anybody, anywhere, any time.)
o Be sure it reflects the “big idea about life that the author wants us to think about.”
o Double check that this could also apply to other works of literature.
Examples of what theme is not…
Loss of Innocence = “Big Idea”Level 2 – Novel Related
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s innocence is lost as she faces the truth about human nature.
Level 2 – Novel RelatedIn her encounters with Mayella, Bob Ewell, and Mrs. Gates, Scout faces the truth about human nature,
Level 3 – ClichéFacing the truth about human nature allows you to grow and change
Evidence: think in 3’s Find three examples in the novel where your
theme is evident. Example:
Theme: Seeing things from other people’s perspective is important because it promotes tolerance.▪ Evidence #1: Scout understands Miss Caroline’s actions at
school after Atticus explains that she is new to town and doesn’t understand “Maycomb’s ways” yet.
▪ Evidence #2: Scout sees things from Bob Ewell’s point of view after Atticus explains why Bob reacted as he did after the trial.
▪ Evidence #3: Scout is able to see things from Boo’s point of view while standing on his porch after walking him home.
Evidence: think in 3’s
Theme: Loss of innocence is moving from the assumption that people are naturally good to the more adult perspective gained from confronting evil.
Evidence #1: Mayella lies on the stand during the trial.
Evidence #2: Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout for revenge against Atticus.
Evidence #3: Racism in Maycomb, as seen in Mrs. Gates’ comment.
Thesis Statement A thesis statement includes three things:
a subjectan opiniona preview of your essay (often in 3's)
Example for Expository Essay: Dedication, hard work, and perseverance are
essential to success. Television has a positive effect because it helps
you learn; it gives you information from all over the world, and it allows you to relax.
Expository Essay Expository – explain your THESIS
(opinion) with examples
LEAD+
Thesis
Intro Middle
Example(s)
Conclusion
End
Literary Essay
Literature – novel, poem, drama, short story,
Tell a STORY
A Charact
er Wants
Something
Overcomes
Conflict/Problems
To Get It (or Not)
Beginning Middle End
LEAD
Literary Analysis Thesis StatementTAG – Title, Author, Genre of your Text Technique – what did you notice about the
author’s choice of/use of…?diction, imagery, symbols, motifs, archetypes, allusions, characters, etc.
Task (or purpose) of the technique – what is the technique accomplishing in the text?
Theme – an interpretive statement that links the technique to what the author is expressing about life or the human condition
Literary Analysis Thesis Statement TAG – Title, Author, Genre of your Text Technique – diction, imagery, symbols, motifs,
archetypes, allusions, characters, etc. Task (or purpose) of the technique – what is the technique
accomplishing in the text? Theme – what is the author revealing about life or the human
condition?
In Richard Selzer’s essay “The Knife,” he uses images of exploration to expresses his sense of wonder and excitement about his profession. Although explorers fear the unknown danger of their task, they must summon all their courage to reach their objective.
A thesis statementincludes three
things: a subject an opinion a preview of your
essay
An analytical thesis statement includes:
In TAG, the author uses TECHNIQUE to TASK, revealing THEME
• Technique and “Big Idea” = subject of your paper.• Task and thematic statement = your opinion and interpretation• A strong analytical thesis statement might preview the evidence
Thesis Statement
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s innocence is lost as she confronts lies, attacks, and racism in the town of Maycomb. In her encounters with Mayella, Bob Ewell, and Mrs. Gates, Scout faces the truth about human nature, illustrating loss of innocence is moving from the assumption that people are naturally good to the more adult perspective gained from confronting evil.
Literary Analysis Paper Prompts:Prompt 1:
Many authors use the archetype of the hero’s journey to show the transformation of a character. Write an essay analyzing how the journey functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole.
Prompt 2:Focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole.
Create Your Own Prompt:Write an essay analyzing how the author uses _____________ to
TECHNIQUEdevelop_____________ revealing the theme of _______ in the work.
TASK/PURPOSE THEME
TAG PRACTICETitle * Author * Genre
Literary Analysis Reflection LetterLetter Format – Dear Ms. Goss, Date, Etc.
I’m most proud of…
I notice in reading only my Thesis and Topic Sentences that…
In providing me feedback, please focus on…
Please don’t focus on…because I know I didn’t…
Genre * Title * Author
The __________ Title by ______________...Genre Author’s Name
The sci-fiction novel Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card depicts a future world where children are trained in the art of war to protect the earth against an alien species.
Make the Author the SubjectIn the __________ Title, _______________
verbGenre Author’s Name
In the sci-fiction novel Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card depicts a future world where Ender Wiggins, a young child soldier, is the hope of the Earth against an alien species.
Author * Genre * Title In ______________’s _____________ Title,
Author’s Name Genre
In Orson Scott Card’s sci-fiction novel Ender’s Game, Ender Wiggins is recruited to Battle School in an attempt to save the earth against an alien species.