Does the thesis statement answer the prompt?Why is life expectancy short in Equality 7-

2125’s society?Life expectancy is short in Equality 7-2125’s

society because of poor public sanitation.Then, add a little style to it:

The lack of proper public sanitation negatively affects every aspect of a members’ life, resulting in a shorter life expectancy.

Question yourself:

TOPIC QUESTION AND THESIS STATEMENT

Character Pearl is an alien to her society until her father acknowledges her, which depicts the misogynistic society she lives in.

Relationships among Characters

Salinger shows that the relationship between Holden and Phoebe acts as a positive force on Holden.

Examples

ExamplesTOPIC QUESTION AND THESIS STATEMENTThemes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a

satire on racism.Steinbeck poignantly expresses the alienation and loneliness of migrant farm workers.

Style: Effective use of imagery, foreshadowing, or symbolism to advance character development, theme or artistic purpose

Through the use of images and symbols, Salinger reveals many subtleties about Holden's sensitive personality.

Examples

TOPIC QUESTION AND THESIS STATEMENTStructure The river journey is used to illustrate Huck's

increasing awareness of the moral hypocrisy in the "civilized" South.

In a 2 ½ -- 3 page paper, having a concise and narrow thesis statement is essential.

Example: Life expectancy is short in Equality 7-2125’s society because of pollution, lack of military power, and a high infant mortality rate.Is this narrow enough to be thoroughly argued

in 2 ½ pages?

Thesis for Scope and Purpose

All three of the points stated in your thesis should already have one larger point in common—like an umbrella all three fit under.

Example: Life expectancy is short due to trash in the streets, dirty public bathrooms, and unclean water reservoirs. Life expectancy is short due to improper

sanitation practices that lead to diseases.

Writing a Concise Thesis

In (title of work), (author) (illustrates, shows) (aspect) (adjective).In “Barn Burning,” William Faulkner shows the

characters Sardie and Abner Snopes struggling for their identity.

In (title of work), (author) uses (one aspect) to (define, strengthen, illustrate) the (element of work).In “Youth,” Joseph Conrad uses foreshadowing

to strengthen the plot.

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

In (title of work), (author) uses (an important part of work) as a unifying device for (one element), (another element), and (another element). NOTE: The number of elements can vary from one to four.In “Youth,” Joseph Conrad uses the sea as a

unifying device for setting, structure and theme.

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

In (title of work), (author) uses (literary device) to (accomplish, develop, illustrate, strengthen) (element of work).In “The Masque of the Red Death,” Poe uses

the symbolism of the stranger, the clock, and the seventh room to develop the theme of death.

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

(Author) develops the character of (character’s name) in (literary work) through what he/she does, what he/she says, what other people say to or about him/her.Langston Hughes develops the character of

Semple in “Ways and Means”…

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

(Author) (shows, develops, illustrates) the theme of __________ in the (play, poem, story).Flannery O’Connor illustrates the theme of the

effect of the selfishness of the grandmother upon the family in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

(Author) (shows, develops, illustrates) the theme of __________ in the (play, poem, story).Flannery O’Connor illustrates the theme of the

effect of the selfishness of the grandmother upon the family in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

(Author) develops his character(s) in (title of work) through his/her use of language.John Updike develops his characters in “A & P”

through his use of figurative language.

Sample Patterns for Literary Thesis Statements

http://www.shmoop.com/video/how-to-write-a-killer-thesis-statement/

Video Clip: A Reminder