THESIS STATEMENTS

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.

is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

THESIS STATEMENTS

A thesis statement:

directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Animal Farm; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novella.

makes a claim that others might dispute.

THESIS STATEMENTS

A thesis statement:

is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.

The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

THESIS STATEMENTS

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

Ask yourself the following: Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.

Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.

THESIS STATEMENTS

Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" or "successful," see if you could be more specific: why is something "good"; what specifically makes something "successful"?

Does my thesis pass the "So what?" test? If a reader's first response is, "So what?" then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.

THESIS STATEMENTS

Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It's o.k. to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always revise your writing as necessary.

Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test? If a reader's first response is "how?" or "why?" your thesis may be too open-ended. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

THESIS STATEMENTS

Essay question:

Does the outcome of Animal Farm suggest power corrupts good intentions?

THESIS STATEMENTS

EXAMPLE:

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a good novel.

Claim: Animal Farm is a good novel.Reason: ?????

WEAK THESIS STATEMENT, does not answer the question.

THESIS STATEMENTS

EXAMPLE:

In Animal Farm, George Orwell contrasts between life before the revolution and life after the revolution.

Claim: Orwell contrasts life before and after the revolution.Reason: ?????

Better thesis statement, but still no reason

THESIS STATEMENTSEXAMPLE:

By comparing and contrasting the lives of the animals before and after the revolution, the outcome of George Orwell’s Animal Farm suggests that power will eventually corrupt good intentions.

Claim: Animal Farm suggest power corruptsReason: Because Orwell contrasts the lives of the animals before and after the revolution.

Strong thesis statement

THESIS STATEMENTS

Essay question 2:

Would Snowball have made a better leader than Napoleon? Why or why not?

THESIS STATEMENTS

EXAMPLE:

Snowball is a good leader.

Claim: Snowball is a good leader.Reason: ?????

WEAK THESIS STATEMENT, does not answer the question, no reason given.

THESIS STATEMENTS

EXAMPLE:

Snowball would have made a better leader than Napoleon.

Claim: Snowball is a better leader than NapoleonReason: ?????

Better thesis statement because question is answered, but still no reason given.

THESIS STATEMENTSEXAMPLE:

Due to his abilities as a military general and his commitment to the ideas of animalism, Snowball would have been a better leader of Animal Farm than Napoleon.

Claim: Snowball is the better leader…Reason: …because of his military strategies and his proven belief in animalism.

Strong thesis statement

THESIS STATEMENTS

ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. In chapter 1, Old Major expresses his vision of a society free of human influence and control. Compare and contrast this against what eventually plays out on Manor Farm once the animals have taken over. What, if any, concepts or goals remain the same?

2. Can you explain how the pigs were able to gain power over all other animals so quickly? What key steps did they take, or more specifically, which elements did they make certain to control?

3. Among the various characters in the novel, whom do you feel is the noblest or most worthy? Which animal would be best suited to lead a group against Napoleon and the pigs? Why?