Writing About Literature: Thesis Development and Support
A thesis statement states the main idea of an essay; usually appears toward the end of the introductory paragraph
A strong argumentative thesis should:
1. clearly state your topic as well as the argument that you wish to make about that topic
2. justify or necessitate further discussion/argument (i.e. make a claim, as opposed to stating a fact)
3. be specific
To formulate a strong argumentative thesis:
1. use specific language
2. make an assertion based on clearly stated support
Sample essay assignment:
Kate Chopin, in “The Story of an Hour,” makes a statement regarding the unpleasantness of life for wives in a
patriarchal culture. Discuss Chopin’s characterization of Louise Mallard as a means to illustrate the oppression
inherent in domestic life for married women.
In order to make your thesis concise, ask yourself the following questions:
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How is Mrs. Mallard characterized? Describe her in a few words.
Examine the passages which lend to the characterization of Mrs. Mallard: do they invoke sympathy for her?
What elements in the story lead us to sympathize with Mrs. Mallard?
Does Mrs. Mallard experience a transformation as the story progresses?
What conclusion do we draw about marriage in the early 20th century from the characterization of Mrs.
Mallard?
What is the point Chopin seeks to make about marriage?
A good thesis statement is specific, concise, and assertive. Your thesis should indicate very clearly what
you will argue, and it should give your reader some idea of how you will make your argument.
Example #1: In “The Story of An Hour,” Louise Mallard’s husband dies and she is finally free from feeling
oppressed.
Example #2:
Chopin efficiently illustrates the breadth of Louise Mallard’s emotions in the wake of the news of her husband’s
death, from her initial pangs of grief, to her bewildering sense of joy, and finally to her exhilarated awareness of
sudden freedom. Through Louise Mallard’s transformation from repressed wife to liberated widow, Chopin
critiques the oppression inherent in marriage for wives at the turn of the century.
To determine whether or not your thesis is truly an argumentative one, ask yourself:
1. Is the topic clearly stated, and is the argument you wish to make about it also clearly stated?
Example #1
Topic:
Argument/Claim:
Example #2:
Topic:
Argument/Claim:
2. Does my thesis statement justify or necessitate further discussion or argument? Why or why not?
Example #1:
Example #2:
3. Is my thesis statement specific? Why or why not?
Example #1:
Example #2:
Developing your essay:
In beginning to develop your essay, you must always bear in mind your thesis statement; it should be the road map
for your paper. Ask yourself:
1. What point am I arguing with my thesis statement?
2. How can I support my argument? Where in the text is there evidence to support my argument?
Thesis statement: Chopin effectively illustrates the breadth of Louise Mallard’s emotions in the wake of the news
of her husband’s death, from her initial pangs of grief, to her bewildering sense of joy, and finally to her exhilarated
awareness of sudden freedom. Through Louise Mallard’s transformation from repressed wife to liberated widow,
Chopin critiques the oppression inherent in marriage for wives at the turn of the century.
Where might you begin in planning your argument? How might you structure your supporting
arguments?
*Choose those moments in the text that best illustrate/exemplify each stage of Louise’s characterization.
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Remember, too, the necessary to explicate or analyze the supporting evidence that you use; explain why or
how these moments in the story work to prove your argument. Always bear in mind your thesis statement,
and remember that your ultimate goal is to successfully prove/illustrate that thesis.
1. What is the first “stage” of Louise Mallard’s characterization? (Refer back to your thesis statement if
you need clarification.)
a. What moments in the story best emphasize/illustrate her characterization as such?
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
b. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
c. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
2. What is the next “phase” of Louise Mallard’s characterization that we will argue? (Again, refer back to
your thesis if you need to do so.)
a. What moments in the story best emphasize/illustrate her characterization as such?
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
b. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
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c. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
3. What is the final phase of Louise Mallard’s characterization?
a. What moments in the story best emphasize/illustrate her characterization as such?
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
b. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
c. List another moment/example in the text that supports this characterization of Louise.
Explication/Analysis: Why is this significant? What does it illustrate?
*Note: You do not have to list three examples from the text for each point – and in fact, you most likely won’t have
the time to do that in a 3-4 paged essay. It’s up to you to decide how many supporting quotes to include; just
remember that you need to include enough support to successfully illustrate your argument.
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Topic sentences
Each of your paragraphs should include a topic sentence, which usually appears at the very beginning of the
paragraph (though it may occasionally appear at the end of the previous paragraph, also functioning as a transition
statement). A topic sentence announces the main point of the paragraph (i.e. what, specifically, you will argue in
the paragraph) and usually appears at the beginning of the paragraph. Remember: Your topic sentences should
be specific, indicating what issue/idea/topic you will address in your paragraph.
Thesis statement:
Chopin effectively illustrates the breadth of Louise Mallard’s emotions in the wake of the news of her husband’s
death, from her initial pangs of grief, to her bewildering sense of joy, and finally to her exhilarated awareness of
sudden freedom. Through Louise Mallard’s transformation from repressed wife to liberated widow, Chopin
critiques the oppression inherent in marriage for wives at the turn of the century.
What will be our first point in arguing this thesis statement?
1. Louise Mallard’s characterization as a grieving widow.
How might we formulate a topic sentence that effectively indicates this point/subject/idea/topic?
Topic sentence: In the early scenes of the story, Chopin emphasizes Louise Mallard’s position as a grieving
widow.
Thus this paragraph will focus only on Chopin’s characterization of Louise Mallard as a grieving widow. Let the
subpoint be your guide in this case; if you start to move into the next subpoint in your argument, then you need to
start a new paragraph and write a new topic sentence.
2. Louise Mallard’s monstrous joy
Topic sentence: Louise’s grief soon turns to “monstrous joy” as she struggles to reconcile her bewildering sense
of relief intermingled with the devastation of her loss; Chopin expresses these contradictory emotions through using
language resonant of rebirth to describe the setting, while at the same time noting Louise’s resistance to such new
emotions.
3. Louise Mallard as a liberated woman
Topic sentence: Finally, Louise’s transformation is complete, as she consciously welcomes the years to come, in
which she will “live for herself” (78), as opposed to living under the oppression of her husband.
Note:
When constructing topic sentences, hold yourself to the same standards as those dictating your thesis:
1. Have you clearly stated your topic, indicating the argument that you will make about that topic?
2. Does your topic sentence justify or necessitate further discussion/argument? (Topic sentences
should not be statements of fact.)
3. Is your topic sentence specific enough to indicate exactly what subpoint you will argue in the
paragraph(s)?
F/C: thesis development and support – student copy
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