Thesis
Which of these three examples embraces the “spoon” philosophy?
A. In Kate Chopin's, The Awakening, the themes of freedom and
isolation are pervasive throughout the book.
B. In Kate Chopin's The Awakening, the themes of freedom and
isolation are pervasive throughout the book, as demonstrated
through Edna's attire, her decision to move to the "pigeonhouse", and her ultimate suicide.
C. 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.
“Students [should]
think of the thesis
statement as a spoon
rather than as a fork
with three prongs…
As a reader, I don't
need to know at the
end of the opening
paragraph how many
paragraphs will
follow; I just need to
know that the student
will have something
interesting to reveal. ”
(Hope Brand, AP
Reader)
Keep in mind that an effective thesis statement might require more than one sentence. “In fact, the
complexity of the literature in the AP course often requires that articulation of meaning mirror that
complexity” (Brand).
Ways of Looking at a Thesis1
1. A thesis says something a little strange.
Consider the following examples:
A. By telling the story of Westley and Buttercup's triumph over evil, The Princess Bride affirms the
power of true love.
B. Although the main plot of The Princess Bride rests on the natural power of true love, an
examination of the way that fighting sticks--baseball bats, tree branches, and swords--link the
frame story to the romance plot suggests that the grandson is being trained in true love, that
love is not natural but socialized.
“Good papers go out on a limb. They avoid ugly falls by reinforcing the limb with carefully chosen
evidence and rigorous argumentation” (Simpson).
Both say something true. Which says something weird? Remember, weird is good!
1
Simpson, Erik. "Connections: Writing: Thesis: Five Ways (1)." Connections: A Hypertext Resource for Literature
2. A thesis creates an argument that builds from one point to the next,
giving the paper a direction that your reader can follow as the paper
develops.
A. The Rules and Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey both tell women how to act.
B. By looking at The Rules, a modern conduct book for women, we can see how Jane Austen's
Northanger Abbey is itself like a conduct book, questioning the rules for social success in her
society and offering a new model.
Which of the above examples gives the essay a direction that will not lead to either plot summary
(with comments) or a list of information?
**Pause for this public service announcement about transitions**
“Pile of information” transitions will look a lot like this:
Another character who exhibits these traits is blah, blah, blah…
“Plot summary with comments” transitions will look a lot like this:
In the next scene, the color blue also figures prominently yadda, yadda, yadda…
“My paper actually has a direction” transitions may look something like this:
This “reference to something specific that reflects the thesis” is evident through “a specific
example from the text”
Austen’s displeasure with society’s rules for social success is embodied by her protagonist.
“The best papers…will develop…according to the writer’s own logic,” not necessarily the chronology of the
plot (Simpson).
**we now return you to our regularly scheduled programming**
3. A thesis says something about the text(s) you discuss exclusively.
If your thesis could describe many works equally well, it needs to be more specific.
By telling the story of Westley and Buttercup's triumph over evil, The Princess Bride affirms the
power of true love.
By telling the story of Darcy and Elizabeth’s triumph over evil, Pride and Prejudice affirms the
power of true love.
By telling the story of Peter and M.J.’s triumph over evil, Spiderman affirms the power of true
love.
If the substitutions make sense, that’s a bad sign.
4. A thesis makes a lot of information irrelevant.
Your thesis should make a point that focuses on only a small part of the text you are analyzing, which
will then be applied—as you develop your essay—to the work as a whole.
A good way to spot a problem with your thesis is to note whether or not a simple plot summary
would support it:
By telling the story of Westley and Buttercup's triumph over evil, The Princess Bride affirms the
power of true love.
“If you find that your paper leads you to mark relevant passages on virtually every page of a long
work, you need to find a thesis that helps you focus on a smaller portion of the text” (Simpson).