Freshman Lit & Comp Honors
Thesis Statements
Thesis Statements
According to Writers INC, a thesis statement identifies the focus for your writing. It usually highlights a
special condition or feature of the subject, expresses a specific feeling, or takes a stand. The thesis
statement expresses what you believe your research (and your paper) will prove.
Think of your thesis statement as a road map to your paper. It should guide me through your paper
(explain to me what your paper is about – what you are going to prove in your paper).
In most cases, a thesis statement must contain three main elements:

The “what” – the basis of the argument: Odysseus is not a natural hero…

The “why” or “how” – (because, through, by): …because of the help he receives from the
Greek gods.

The “so what?” – and so what does that mean? This illustrates that his life is controlled
more by fate than by his own free will.
Example thesis statement: During his ten-year journey home, Odysseus needs much assistance from
the Greek gods to conquer heroic feats; therefore, it is clear that his life is controlled more by fate than
by his own free will and personal accomplishments.
To make this thesis even stronger, you could connect the “so what?” part of the statement to
Homer’s depiction of the values of ancient Greek culture.
More example thesis statements:

Throughout the story Epic of Gilgamesh, the main character develops a greater understanding of
the mysteries of life and death and comes to realize that even the most glorious of heroes
cannot escape the eventual fate of mankind, creating for Gilgamesh a new sense of selfawareness and prospect that had been previously non-existent.

Atticus Finch’s moral codes establish an ethical approach to parenting and civic responsibility in
To Kill a Mockingbird, thus demonstrating that even in times of harsh social conflict, morality
prevails.
Another example from The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel:
Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain's novel Huckleberry Finn. "This will be easy," you think.
"I loved Huckleberry Finn!" You grab a pad of paper and write:
Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.
1/ 3
Freshman Lit & Comp Honors
Thesis Statements
Why is this thesis weak? Think about what the reader would expect from the essay that follows: you will
most likely provide a general, appreciative summary of Twain's novel. The question did not ask you to
summarize; it asked you to analyze. Your professor is probably not interested in your opinion of the
novel; instead, she wants you to think about why it's such a great novel—what do Huck's adventures tell
us about life, about America, about coming of age, about race relations, etc.? First, the question asks
you to pick an aspect of the novel that you think is important to its structure or meaning—for example,
the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships
between adults and children. Now you write:
In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the
shore.
Here's a working thesis with potential: you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for
investigation; however, it's still not clear what your analysis will reveal. Your reader is intrigued, but is
still thinking, "So what? What's the point of this contrast? What does it signify?" Perhaps you are not
sure yet, either. That's fine—begin to work on comparing scenes from the book and see what you
discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck's actions and reactions. Eventually you will be able to
clarify for yourself, and then for the reader, why this contrast matters. After examining the evidence and
considering your own insights, you write:
Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find
the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go
back to nature.
This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its
content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel
that will convince the reader of your interpretation.
Source: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html
When writing thesis statements:
DO:
 Organize your thoughts into the “what,” the “why/how” and the “so what”.
 Make your thesis statement one-two sentences. If you need more than once sentence,
consider using a semicolon or a colon to create more order.
 Place your thesis at the end of your introduction.
 Always adhere to your thesis statement by relating to it throughout your entire paper.
 Think about your body paragraphs before you write your thesis; perhaps, outline your
body paragraphs first.
2/ 3
Freshman Lit & Comp Honors
Thesis Statements
 Revise your thesis statement throughout the writing process; you should not be afraid
to rework it.
 Include the title of the text.
 Make sure you fully answer the prompt.
 Make your thesis statement profound, intellectual, and meaningful. Do not write a
thesis statement about a feature of the text that is obvious.
DON’T:
 Write a thesis that is too general or that doesn’t take a stance. It needs to assert
something that needs proving.
 Write one draft of a thesis and stick with it. You will always need to revise and revisit
your thesis.
 Write body paragraphs that do not work to prove your thesis.
 Use first-person (“I”) or second-person (“you”) point of view.
 Lose focus throughout your paper.
3/ 3