Creating a thesis statement
Definition
• Informs the reader what the essay will be
about.
• Thesis statement = Topic plus Opinion
• Remember: you can share your opinion
without saying “I” or “the reader”
Basic Formula – Three prong
• Transition + subject + opinion + points 1, 2,
and 3
• However, Sinclair Ross successfully develops
the women’s characters through his
description of prairie life, the harsh realities of
their marriages and the experiences they
have.
But what if you want more than 5
paragraphs?
• You can still use the three prong formula, but
have more than one paragraph per point.
• Generally, you wouldn’t make a four prong
statement – you would make a larger
statement instead.
• Sinclair Ross creates realistic portraits of
prairie women in his short stories.
Other formulas
• In (title of work), (author) (illustrates, shows)
(aspect) (adjective).
• In The Snow Walker, Charles Martin Smith
shows the characters Charlie and Kanalaaq
struggling for their identity.
• In (title of work), (author) uses (one aspect) to
(define, strengthen, illustrate) the (element of
work).
• In “The Painted Door,” Sinclair Ross uses the
prairie environment to strengthen the plot.
• In (title of work), (author) uses (an important
part of work) as a unifying device for (one
element), (another element), and (another
element).
• In “The Lamp at Noon,” Sinclair Ross uses the
prairie as a unifying device for setting,
structure and theme.
• (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.
• Smith Martin develops the character of
Charlie in The Snow Walker through his
actions, his words and the behaviours of the
fellow pilots.
• In (title of work), (author) uses (literary
device) to (accomplish, develop, illustrate,
strengthen) (element of work).
• In “The Painted Door”, Ross uses the
symbolism of the winter storm to develop the
theme of isolation.
• (Author) (shows, develops, illustrates) the
theme of __________ in the (play, poem,
story).
• Sinclair Ross illustrates the theme of the effect
of isolation in “The Lamp at Noon”.
• (Author) develops his character(s) in (title of
work) through his/her use of language.
• Sinclair Ross develops his characters in “The
Painted Door” through his use of figurative
language.