Thesis Statement

The clear and specific argument you are proving in your paper. The thesis statement must take a specific stance on the work of

literature.

Topic – Violence in movies.

Question: How does violence in movies affect children?

Thesis

The increased commercialization of violence, especially in film and

on television, has a negative effect on children.

Thesis PointsA. Watching violent films causes children

to behave more aggressively with their peers.

B. The increase in ‘cartoon’ violence and gore desensitizes children to ‘real’ violence.

C. Increased popularity of Mixed Martial Arts causes children to be more apt to settle disputes with physical confrontation.

Novel – Slaughter-house Five

by Kurt Vonnegut

Topic – The protagonist’s issues stemming from his participation

in WWII.

Question: How did WWII affect Billy Pilgrim?

In Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter-house Five Billy Pilgrim’s

borderline insanity isn’t caused by witnessing the firebombing in Dresden, but by his inability to assimilate back into normal life.

Thesis PointsA. “So it goes” repeated after someone

dies shows his ultimate struggle to make peace with his part of the war.

B. Flash-backs to the war illustrates his constant focus on what happened

C. Life on Tralfamadore representing his ultimate escape from his world

D. “Remember only good things” represents his inability to forget the past