Creating A Thesis

Make a map and follow it!

Responding to a Prompt

Do you remember what a prompt is, and how to respond to one?

Do you remember that you’re responding with a “big idea,” ASSERTING something about that prompt?

One thing we noticed in your most recent essays was a lack of direction. You need a thesis and better organization.

Prompt: What’s the nature of Lennie’s and George’s relationship?

Think about how you responded to the prompt above . . .

What is your evidence of this belief? Are your ideas accurate? Example: George hates Lennie. Is this an accurate assertion?

Your thesis will be one sentence long. It must include your assertion, your thesis, what you’ll prove.

The thesis is a map your writing must follow.

George hates Lennie.

Hmmmm. . . What’s missing with this thesis?

ummmm . . . Who’s George? Who’s Lennie?

Uhhhhhh . . . Do I care?

What’s missing?

What’s Missing? Well . . .

George and Lennie are two characters in a book called Of Mice and Men.

The novel was written by John Steinbeck.

George is “in charge” of Lennie, and Lennie is developmentally challenged—I can prove this using the novel.

George hates Lenny.

**How do you prove that George hates Lenny?

You need a qualifying clause added to your thesis statement.

Qualifying clauses start with when, because, unless, even, so that, whether, if, etc., and they’re an important part of the one sentence thesis. Try again . . .

Better thesis: George hates Lenny because of lost jobs, lost opportunities, and Lenny’s intellectual inferiority.

Let’s practice making a thesis statement about characterization that is specific to a literary work.

Think about Macbeth. Think of a character who develops as the

play progresses. What is your proof, your evidence that

this character changes?

A One Sentence Thesis Map Needs . . .

Title of work: Author’s name: Assertion: Qualifying clause:

Let’s look at another example . . .

Thesis:

In Macbeth, Shakespeare’s main character moves from a loyal warrior to a crazed tyrant because of the witches’ prophecy, his fear of losing the kingdom, and his distance from loved ones.

Write down the thesis, then label its parts: author’s name, title of the work, the assertion AND the qualifying clause.

Next, we’ll practice using Lady Macbeth and your paper . . .

How does Lady Macbeth change?

In _______________’s _____________, (author of work) (title of work)

Lady Macbeth ______________(assertion)

________________________ __________________________, (qualifying clause) (piece of evidence)

_____________, and _____________ (piece of evidence) (piece of evidence)

Purpose of a Thesis:

Your thesis is a road map for both you and your reader. It must include your assertion and qualifiers (proofs).

Make sure you include only information and evidence that you’ve asserted in your thesis. You must stay on topic, or both you and your reader may get lost.