Thesis Statement
As you already know, a thesis statement clearly states the
topic of a composition and your position. It not only helps
focus the main point of the essay by stating what you will
PROVE in your paper, but it gives the reader an exact
understanding of what will be covered.
*A thesis statement declares your OWN unique
perspective, your “take”, on the subject.
EX: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characters’
actions to show that courage can be seen in unlikely
people.
Theme Statements vs. Topics
• Theme= a lesson the reader learns from the
text; a universal truth; always written as a
statement.
Ex: Life decisions can be hard.
Life has many roads
Regret can stifle a life.
Courage can be seen in unlikely people.
• Topics= one or two broad words
Ex: Choices, regret, journeys, adventure, love,
happiness, empathy, isolation, courage
Character Analysis
• Characterization can be direct or indirect and
your analysis of characterization should include
the impact the author’s methods of
characterization have on the conflict, or theme
in a story.
Example Thesis: In her novel, To Kill a
Mockingbird, set in the deep south in an era of
segregation, Harper Lee pulls her protagonist into
the conflict of racial injustice by revealing Scout’s
personality to be inquisitive, confrontational, and
dynamic.
Thematic Analysis Intro. Paragraph
When you write your introductory paragraph of your
essay:
1. Include relevant background info. on setting, specific
characters, plot summary, etc.
2. The last sentence of this paragraph should be your
thesis statement.
3. Just a reminder:
H(hook ) R(restate the topic ) A(author) T (title) S(setting)
C(character/conflict/concept) A(action) T(thesis)
Example Intro. Paragraph for Thematic
Analysis Essay
Empathy is a virtue that not all people have. To be
able to understand other people’s feelings, motives, or
situations takes a lot of effort since we live in such a
judgmental society. Anne Frank, who was a young Jewish
girl, went into hiding for three years trying to escape being
killed by the Nazis during World War II. Under dire
circumstances, Anne showed empathy in her many diary
entries. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne
Frank shows that empathy can exist in horrific conditions.
H(hook ) R(restate the topic ) A(author) T (title) S(setting) C(character/conflict/concept)
A(action) T(thesis)
Example Intro. Paragraph for Character Analysis
Essay
According to the website maintained by The Innocence Project,
Bobby Ray Dixon served three decades in Mississippi prisons for a murder
and rape he didn’t commit before DNA tests obtained by Innocence
Project New Orleans led to his exoneration in 2010. Sadly, he died just
five weeks before he was officially exonerated. Also sadly, the website
describes 311 cases where people convicted of capital crimes have sat on
death row and later been found innocent. Racial injustice is part of
American history. Harper Lee published her classic novel of a young girl
called Scout who serves as a witness to her father’s unsuccessful attempt
to bring justice to a falsely accused black man set in the deep south
during the depression years of the early 20th century. In her novel, To Kill
a Mockingbird, set in the deep south in an era of segregation, Harper Lee
pulls her protagonist into the conflict of racial injustice by revealing
Scout’s personality to be inquisitive, confrontational, and dynamic.
H(hook ) R(restate the topic ) A(author) T (title) S(setting) C(character/conflict/concept)
A(action) T(thesis)
Assertions/Arguments (topic sentences of
body paragraphs)
1.
2.
3.
Harper Lee reveals a very curious little girl in her
protagonist, Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout.
As circumstances and conflicts begin to develop, Lee’s
Scout shows herself to be somewhat confrontational,
displaying a courage that at times may border on
recklessness.
Because the protagonist is confronted throughout the
story with many controversial situations, Lee provides
her character the opportunity to grow and mature as a
truly dynamic character.
***These are your reasons that will prove your thesis statement to be
true. Each assertion will be developed into a well-written body
paragraph using text evidence to support your claim.
Your Theme Analysis Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
A. Intro. paragraph (catch interest & provide any relevant
background info.)
B. State your thesis statement
A. Assertion #1
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
A. Assertion #2
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
A. Assertion #3
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
Conclusion (wrap up your essay by showing your theme in our
society today & restate your thesis in a different way)
MLA Documentation
• You need to place the lines that you use from the
book in “quotation marks” and write the (author’s last
name and pg. # ) in parenthesis with the period after.
• My Example:
• Atticus is the epitome of courage in this novel. “I wanted you to
see what real courage is… it’s when you know you’re licked before
you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter
what” (Lee 112). He selflessly defends Tom even though he
knows the whole town will hate him and his family. He knows that
he would not win Tom’s case, but he has the moral integrity to do
what is right.
• 2nd paragraph requirements: Assertion (topic sentence), relevant
“text evidence”, and insightful explanation/ analysis.
Conclusion Example
As you can see, courage is a quality that is evident
is many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. This quality
is not just important in a famous novel written in the
1930s, but is seen everyday in our world today. The
soldiers who have fought for our country through all the
wars in history have shown a great amount of courage.
They choose to put their life in danger for all Americans
who are total strangers to them. Courage is within
everybody, and it can appear at the most unlikely time.
Literary Analysis Paper
• Must be typed in MLA format with all in-text citations and
Works Cited including your novel as a work.
• Must be more than 3 pages long and less than 5 pages long.
• Must contain either an analysis of theme or character.
• Every assertion/argument must include evidence from your
novel, typically two or three different bits of evidence.
• “Nearly perfect & complete” draft is due November 15th
and final copy is due November 22nd.
• The draft is to be typed in MLA format with all appropriate
in-text citations and works cited.
• If you quote any source outside of your book, those sources
must also be cited.
Rubric
Skilled (-2)
Proficient (-4)
Developing (-5)
Unsatisfactory (Varies)
1. Sources & *citations (*failure to
provide accurate in-text,
parenthetical citations, as well as an
accurate works cited page for all
sources will result in a score no
higher than 69%)
The paper includes an appropriate and
assigned amount of credible and
relevant sources from a variety of media,
and they are combined into a single
unified understanding of the author’s
point. Both in-text citations and a works
cited page are used. All required
information is provided and is formatted
properly.
Exemplary
The paper includes all credible
and relevant sources, in the
assigned number, and all
sources are cited correctly. All
sources have both in-text
citations and a works cited page
formatted correctly.
The paper includes all credible and
relevant sources, in the assigned
number, and all sources are cited
correctly. All sources have both intext citations and a works cited page,
but the format may have minor errors.
The paper provides some
sources but not the required
amount. Some sources are
NOT credible and relevant. All
sources have both in-text
citations and a works cited
page, but improperly
formatted.
The paper includes no outside
sources, or while sources are
included, they are not cited in the
paper, and/or they are not listed on a
works cited page resulting in
plagiarism. A score here mean that
the highest possible score can be no
higher than a 69% (-31)
2. Claim/Central Idea
The claim presents the topic or issue
clearly, states the writer’s position or
proposal, and provides a signal for each of
the arguments or supporting ideas.
(Blank squares mean that the
writer’s work falls somewhere
between the characteristics
described on either side.)
The thesis includes topic and
proposal/opinion/ position, but has
unclear or missing signals of the
arguments.
The response lacks a thesis
statement or the thesis statement
does not contain the required parts.
(-10)
3. Arguments /Supporting Ideas
The response thoroughly develops the
arguments using credible and relevant
evidence from the source materials and
clearly explains how the evidence
supports the claim/arguments/ideas.
The response develops the
arguments using evidence from the
source material but may not elaborate
or explain how evidence supports
claim/central idea..
The response uses little evidence
from the source materials or
evidence is misinterpreted.. (-10)
4. Organization/ Coherence
The response organizes information
logically. Paragraphs have topic
sentences and focus on specific ideas
supporting thesis. Sentences are clear
and focused. Transitions are appropriate
and used throughout the piece.
The information is presented logically
but sentences and paragraphs
combine ideas that would be better
off separated or left out.
The information is not organized in a
way that responds clearly to the
question. . (-10)
5. Sentence Skills
The response is written in a variety of
sentence structures that are complete and
concise. It flows with a natural rhythm.
Grammatical and mechanical errors are
unnoticeable.
The response is legible but has some
grammatical, mechanical. or spelling
errors that are noticeable but do not
detract from a clear understanding of
the text.
The response is illegible, sloppy or
has so many grammatical or
mechanical errors that it becomes
difficult to understand the meaning
of the papers.. (-10)
6. MLA Formatting
The paper is formatted almost perfectly
according to MLA, with correct margins,
spacing, headings, etc.
The paper is generally formatted
correctly, but errors were made in
font size, line spacing, etc. Student
used extra space in an apparent
attempt to lengthen the paper.
Little or no attempt was made to
format the paper according to MLA
guidelines.. (-10)
Total