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Writing Thesis Statements

Writing Thesis Statements. extra help for writing your To Kill a Mockingbird character analysis. Thinking Question. When you read a passage, how much do you have to read to understand the topic or purpose?. Thesis Statements. Give direction for the entire essay.

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Writing Thesis Statements

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  1. Writing Thesis Statements extra help for writing your To Kill a Mockingbird character analysis

  2. Thinking Question • When you read a passage, how much do you have to read to understand the topic or purpose?

  3. Thesis Statements • Give direction for the entire essay. • Let the reader know what (in general) the essay is about.

  4. What is a thesis statement? • A thesis statement is a sentence used in an essay that serves as the guide for the essay and directly answers the question or task asked of the writer. • It should REPHRASE the prompt, state an OPINION (something arguable), and include AT LEAST TWO “reasons” (abstract words, character traits)

  5. What a thesis is NOT? • A factual statement (Mrs. Badiner likes purple.) • A topic sentence (Purple is the best color for hair.) TOPIC SENTENCE: Scout Finch is a tomboy. Why isn’t this a thesis? What is it missing?

  6. YOUR thesis sentence • Your thesis sentence must include the following: • The NAME of the character you are writing about • An OPINION or ASSERTION about the character or his/her effect on the plot or other characters in the novel • TWOcharactertraits that support your assertion / opinion • Your thesis will be the last sentence in your introductory paragraph.

  7. If a thesis is meant to answer a prompt… • All Mrs. Badiner told me is that I’m supposed to write a character analysis. • It doesn’t seem like there is a question to answer!!! • There is ALWAYS a prompt or question, sometimes you just have to dig a little to find it.

  8. So, what is the question? • When you analyze a character, you attempt to explain WHY a character thinks/behaves/acts the way he/she does. • What is the “question” that you’ll answer in your thesis?

  9. How about one of these? • What characteristics does __________ have that are essential to the novel? Why are they essential? • Why is it important that __________ is ________ & _________? • Why/how would the novel be different if ________ wasn’t _______ & _______?

  10. Turn a question into a thesis! • What characteristics does Nathan Radley have that are essential to the novel? Why are they essential? • Because Nathan Radley is anti-social and hardhearted, Boo Radley is isolated from society; therefore, Jem & Scout become fascinated with the idea of ‘making Boo come out.’

  11. Turn a question into a thesis! • Why is it important that Nathan Radley is anti-social & hardhearted ? • Nathan Radley’s hardheartedness and anti-social behavior causes the townspeople to become superstitious in all matters concerning Boo.

  12. Turn a question into a thesis! • Why/how would the novel be different if ________ wasn’t _______ & _______? • If Nathan Radley wasn’t hardhearted and anti-social, Scout and Jem would not have learned the importance of treating others with compassion and respect.

  13. Did I address all parts of the prompt?

  14. Check Your Work! • When reading back your thesis, ask yourself a few questions

  15. Can I (or someone else)argue against this statement?

  16. Will I address all this in my essay?

  17. Is it grammatically correct?

  18. Is it clear and understandable?

  19. YOUR Introductory Paragraph • Your introductory paragraph must include the following information: • The name of the novel (underlined) • The author’s name • 1-2 sentences that summarize the broader themes of the novel, or provide the reader with your with a general idea of the setting / major conflict in the novel • Information to grab the reader’s attention and arouse their interest

  20. Proofreading the Introduction • Does the introduction include… • The name of the novel (underlined) • The author’s name • 1-2 sentences that summarize the broaderthemes or main idea of the novel and/or explains the setting of the novel • Information to grab the reader’s attention and arouse their interest • Correct spelling? Grammar? • Does it make sense? • NO “I” “You” “Me/My/Mine” “We/Us”

  21. Ideas for writing your thesis • Because Nathan Radley is anti-social and hardhearted, Boo Radley is isolated from society; therefore, Jem & Scout become fascinated with the idea of ‘making Boo come out.’ • Because (your character) is (trait 1) and (trait 2),what happens? • Nathan Radley’s hardheartedness and anti-social behavior causes the townspeople to become superstitious in all matters concerning Boo. • (your character’s) (trait 1) and (trait 2) causes • If Nathan Radley wasn’t hardhearted and anti-social, Scout and Jem would not have learned the importance of treating others with compassion and respect. • If (your character) wasn’t (trait 1)and(trait 2), this (event[s] in the novel) would(not) have happened.

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