WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT
Read the sample thesis statements below, and circle the THREE best thesis
statements for the following prompt.
PROMPT:
Explain and analyze the message of Marge Piercy’s poem “Barbie Doll” by
referring to the literary elements used in the poem.
1. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to show that
people shouldn’t change.
2. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to convey the
message that despite the judgments society places on girls, they should not give up
their identities just to conform to what others believe is beautiful.
3. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to prove that
internal beauty is not as important as external beauty.
4. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to convey the
power of people’s judgmental words about appearance and how these judgments can
cause girls to change into something different from their true selves.
5. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to prove that
as girls grow up, society pressures them to look and act a certain way, but when girls
give in to this pressure, they lose their identities.
6. In her poem “Barbie Doll,” Marge Piercy uses several literary elements to prove that
young girls are persuaded to be housewives and look perfect which will lead to their
doom.
REFLECT: What are the SIMILARITIES between the three thesis statements that you
believe do the best job answering the prompt?