THESIS STATEMENTS
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement:

tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the
subject matter under discussion.

is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the
reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
THESIS STATEMENTS
A thesis statement:

directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an
interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or
Animal Farm; a thesis must then offer a way to understand
the war or the novella.

makes a claim that others might dispute.
THESIS STATEMENTS
A thesis statement:
 is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first
paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
 The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and
organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic
of your interpretation.
THESIS STATEMENTS
How do I know if my thesis is strong?
Ask yourself the following:
 Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question
prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you
fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.

Have I taken a position that others might challenge or
oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one
would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that
you are simply providing a summary, rather than
making an argument.
THESIS STATEMENTS

Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis
statements that are too vague often do not have a
strong argument. If your thesis contains words like
"good" or "successful," see if you could be more
specific: why is something "good"; what specifically
makes something "successful"?

Does my thesis pass the "So what?" test? If a reader's
first response is, "So what?" then you need to clarify, to
forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
THESIS STATEMENTS

Does my essay support my thesis specifically and
without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your
essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to
change. It's o.k. to change your working thesis to reflect
things you have figured out in the course of writing
your paper. Remember, always revise your writing as
necessary.

Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test? If a
reader's first response is "how?" or "why?" your thesis
may be too open-ended. See what you can add to give
the reader a better take on your position right from the
beginning.
THESIS STATEMENTS
Essay question:
Does the outcome of Animal Farm suggest power corrupts
good intentions?
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a good novel.
Claim: Animal Farm is a good novel.
Reason: ?????
WEAK THESIS STATEMENT, does not answer the
question.
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
In Animal Farm, George Orwell contrasts between life
before the revolution and life after the revolution.
Claim: Orwell contrasts life before and after the revolution.
Reason: ?????
Better thesis statement, but still no reason
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
By comparing and contrasting the lives of the animals
before and after the revolution, the outcome of George
Orwell’s Animal Farm suggests that power will
eventually corrupt good intentions.
Claim: Animal Farm suggest power corrupts
Reason: Because Orwell contrasts the lives of the animals
before and after the revolution.
Strong thesis statement
THESIS STATEMENTS
Essay question 2:
Would Snowball have made a better leader than
Napoleon? Why or why not?
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
Snowball is a good leader.
Claim: Snowball is a good leader.
Reason: ?????
WEAK THESIS STATEMENT, does not answer the
question, no reason given.
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
Snowball would have made a better leader than
Napoleon.
Claim: Snowball is a better leader than Napoleon
Reason: ?????
Better thesis statement because question is answered, but
still no reason given.
THESIS STATEMENTS
EXAMPLE:
Due to his abilities as a military general and his
commitment to the ideas of animalism, Snowball would
have been a better leader of Animal Farm than
Napoleon.
Claim: Snowball is the better leader…
Reason: …because of his military strategies and his
proven belief in animalism.
Strong thesis statement
THESIS STATEMENTS
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1.
In chapter 1, Old Major expresses his vision of a society free of
human influence and control. Compare and contrast this
against what eventually plays out on Manor Farm once the
animals have taken over. What, if any, concepts or goals remain
the same?
2.
Can you explain how the pigs were able to gain power over all
other animals so quickly? What key steps did they take, or more
specifically, which elements did they make certain to control?
3.
Among the various characters in the novel, whom do you feel is
the noblest or most worthy? Which animal would be best suited
to lead a group against Napoleon and the pigs? Why?