Homework

• Work on research at home• Develop thesis statement and start organizing

notecards

Thesis statement will be due on Tuesday, Nov. 11

Warm up

• How would you define the term thesis statement? What do you think makes a good thesis statement?

Objectives

• To understand what makes a good thesis statement• To develop a working thesis statement• To organize note cards into categories

What do we do with our note cards?

Organizing note cards and developing a thesis

Looking for Patterns and Connections

• Start grouping note cards by topic• Evaluate your note cards – What kind of information do you have so far? – Do you notice connections between the story and

facts you have uncovered?– What aspect of your research interests you the

most?

• Eliminate notecards that are not related to your thesis

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Are my sources varied enough?– All of my notecards are about the author, but

none are about interpretation and analysis of the story

• Do I need more information for a certain topic?

• Do I need some background knowledge on a certain topic?

Thesis Statement• Ask yourself what idea you plan to argue and

develop in your paper. Should indicate what idea(s) you will prove

• Thesis should have a clear focus. It does not need to include all of the areas you researched

• Thesis statement should be a complete sentence• Thesis statement for this paper needs to connect to

your short story– How does your research help you understand the

story more completely?

Examples of Good Thesis Statments

• The primary problem of the American steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate outdated plants and equipment.

• The popularity of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is due to the fact that Sir Gawain is a relatable character.

• Hemingway’s innovative stories helped create a new style of writing.

• Knowledge of the autobiographical nature of To Kill a Mockingbird enhances the understanding of Scout’s transformation.

Generate Claims

• List some ideas you might provide to help you prove your thesis statement

• These ideas may change or be adjusted as you outline and write your paper

• Your thesis statement may also need to be adjusted as your work.

Some ideas for connections to your story

The Demon Lover•Evidence of insanity, PTSD•Description of atmosphere (city and house)•Evidence of multiple interpretations•Connections to author’s real life experiencesShooting and Elephant•Symbolism and metaphors•Connections to author’s real life•Opinions/representations of imperialism•Connections to the historical events of British imperialism in BurmaCivil Peace•Connections to historical events of Nigerian Civil War and aftermath•Connections to author’s real life•Repercussions of civil war and living in a country after civil war•Use of dialect, irony