Insights: Thesis Building
This week's work will demonstrate how to build an effective
thesis, starting with enhancing your understanding of a
literary thesis. You may recall lessons from other writing
classes about how to construct a thesis, but a thesis for a
literary analysis is a special case: It makes an argument about
your interpretation of the literary work. Then, the body of your
paper builds a case for your interpretation using evidence
from the text.
Role of the Thesis in Literary Analysis
A literary analysis is your interpretation of a literary work. It is
not just an explication (or explanation) of what the
work says; rather, it advances an argument about what the
work means. An effective thesis statement should make a
claim that others might dispute, or that is not overly obvious.
In other words, the thesis puts forth a case, and the strength
of that case depends on how compelling your evidence is to
your readers.
Your argument should improve readers’ understanding of the
work and help them to see it in new and different ways. There
is no "right answer" in a literary analysis, only a strong case,
and that starts with an effective thesis statement. Your thesis
statement will be the product of your careful examination and
analysis of the literary work.
Thesis Placement
The best place for the thesis of a literary analysis is at the end
of the introductory paragraph. This paragraph
provides background or context, such as a brief summary of
the story that leads up to the thesis statement. Placing the
thesis at the end of the paragraph signals to the reader that
the statement sums up your argument. In other words, your
, thesis functions as a roadmap, or blueprint, for your
paper. (Writing@CSU)
Following is an example of a thesis that serves as a blueprint
for a literary analysis of the short poem "Résumé" by Dorothy
Parker, as well as an explanation of what makes it effective:
In "Résumé," Dorothy Parker subverts the idea of what a
résumé is—accomplishments and experiences—with an ironic
tone, silly images of suicide, and witty rhymes to point out the
banality of life for those who remain too disengaged from it.
What makes this thesis effective is that it does not just state
that the poem’s “poetic devices” exist—it makes a strong
argument about “how and why” those devices are used.
(Carbone)
For homework this week, you will map out the parts of your
thesis blueprint. The blueprint will consist of a claim (main
argument) and three warrants (reasons or subpoints). You will
revise and refine it until you arrive at a well-crafted thesis
statement.
This handout on thesis statements provides more explanation
of the thesis statement in a literary analysis.
Applying the Writing Process to Thesis
Development
As this handout on brainstorming explains, the writing process
takes place in several stages, beginning with various forms
of prewriting, such as brainstorming, freewriting,
clustering/mapping, etc. As you move into drafting your paper,
you may find yourself returning to your prewriting techniques
to refine or round out parts of the paper. When you finish a
first draft, you are not done. The writing process continues
into the stage of rewriting, where you focus on revision to
improve the rough draft. Revision may cause you to return to
your thesis to refine it and make it stronger.
This week's work will demonstrate how to build an effective
thesis, starting with enhancing your understanding of a
literary thesis. You may recall lessons from other writing
classes about how to construct a thesis, but a thesis for a
literary analysis is a special case: It makes an argument about
your interpretation of the literary work. Then, the body of your
paper builds a case for your interpretation using evidence
from the text.
Role of the Thesis in Literary Analysis
A literary analysis is your interpretation of a literary work. It is
not just an explication (or explanation) of what the
work says; rather, it advances an argument about what the
work means. An effective thesis statement should make a
claim that others might dispute, or that is not overly obvious.
In other words, the thesis puts forth a case, and the strength
of that case depends on how compelling your evidence is to
your readers.
Your argument should improve readers’ understanding of the
work and help them to see it in new and different ways. There
is no "right answer" in a literary analysis, only a strong case,
and that starts with an effective thesis statement. Your thesis
statement will be the product of your careful examination and
analysis of the literary work.
Thesis Placement
The best place for the thesis of a literary analysis is at the end
of the introductory paragraph. This paragraph
provides background or context, such as a brief summary of
the story that leads up to the thesis statement. Placing the
thesis at the end of the paragraph signals to the reader that
the statement sums up your argument. In other words, your
, thesis functions as a roadmap, or blueprint, for your
paper. (Writing@CSU)
Following is an example of a thesis that serves as a blueprint
for a literary analysis of the short poem "Résumé" by Dorothy
Parker, as well as an explanation of what makes it effective:
In "Résumé," Dorothy Parker subverts the idea of what a
résumé is—accomplishments and experiences—with an ironic
tone, silly images of suicide, and witty rhymes to point out the
banality of life for those who remain too disengaged from it.
What makes this thesis effective is that it does not just state
that the poem’s “poetic devices” exist—it makes a strong
argument about “how and why” those devices are used.
(Carbone)
For homework this week, you will map out the parts of your
thesis blueprint. The blueprint will consist of a claim (main
argument) and three warrants (reasons or subpoints). You will
revise and refine it until you arrive at a well-crafted thesis
statement.
This handout on thesis statements provides more explanation
of the thesis statement in a literary analysis.
Applying the Writing Process to Thesis
Development
As this handout on brainstorming explains, the writing process
takes place in several stages, beginning with various forms
of prewriting, such as brainstorming, freewriting,
clustering/mapping, etc. As you move into drafting your paper,
you may find yourself returning to your prewriting techniques
to refine or round out parts of the paper. When you finish a
first draft, you are not done. The writing process continues
into the stage of rewriting, where you focus on revision to
improve the rough draft. Revision may cause you to return to
your thesis to refine it and make it stronger.
