Creating a Thesis

1. Creating a Thesis The thesis is a single sentence that states the main idea that you intend to explain or prove in your paper.

2. To write a thesis, first try to put it in the following pattern. You don't have to keep it like that, but it might help to get your ideas clearly organized.

3. Topic + opinion because reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3.

4. You already know that your three reasons have to be the writer's life, the historical period in which he wrote, and the comments of the critics.

5. So what you have to figure out is the topic and your opinion that you want to prove.

6. For instance, for the poem "The Man He Killed," the topic could simply be the title of the poem: The poem "The Man He Killed”…

7. Then the opinion might simply be: …can be better understood…

8. Then add the word “because” and the 3 reasons: …because of Thomas Hardy's life, the influence of the time period in which he was writing, and what the critics say.

9. So the final thesis might look like this: The poem "The Man He Killed” can be better understoodbecause of Thomas Hardy's life, the influence of the time period in which he was writing, and what the critics say.

10. (Topic) The poem "The Man He Killed”(Opinion) can be better understood (Reason #1)because of Thomas Hardy's life, the (Reason #2) influence of the time period in which he was writing, and (Reason #3) what the critics say.