Thesis Statements

A Thesis Statement IS NOT  The subject Mortality in Jamie Weisman’s As I Live and Breathe: Notes of a Patient-Doctor In Pursuit of Happiness

A Thesis Statement IS NOT  Too broad In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman faces a life-long battle with an unknown disease. In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman chooses to live a full life.

A Thesis Statement IS NOT AAn assertion, statement of fact or an observation In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman is uncertain about bringing a child into the world. In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman admires Dr. Gussack who is the ultimate doctor.

A Thesis Statement  Takes a stance rather than announces subject. In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman’s battle with a life-long rare disease prepares her for her battle with disease as a doctor, physically, mentally and emotionally. In As I Live and Breathe, Jamie Weisman has two mentors, one who is expert in the arts and one who is expert in medicine. The two mentors prepare her to become a specially adept doctor.

A Thesis Statement MMust be narrow, rather than broad, in order to sufficiently argue your thesis. MMust be specific rather than vague or general Jamie Weisman is not sure what she wants. Jamie Weisman portrays her life as a journey through a land of wizardry and art. As a doctor she is able to meld the two into a higher standard of medicine. x

Consists of two parts 1. Your topic 2. The analysis, explanation, or assertions you are making about the topic. (The So What of your argument) Jamie Weisman portrays her life as a journey through a land of wizardry and art. As a doctor she is able to meld the two into a higher standard of medicine. 1 2

A Thesis Statement  Is a map or guide both for yourself and your audience.

A Thesis Statement  Has one main point rather than several main points.

The Main Point  Is supported by reasoning or evidence from the text

The Evidence IIs organized into paragraphs with one topic per paragraph

Remember YYour thesis is a working thesis. If you find yourself straying from your original argument, one alternative is to rewrite your thesis statement.

 Your thesis is making a claim That your must sufficiently prove with reasons and evidence. That could be an opinion, an evaluation, a cause- and-effect statement, or an interpretation. With which people could possibly disagree.

Remember  Your thesis is not an expression of what you think or feel.  Do not summarize the plot. Analyze the plot.  Focus on how your argument develops or changes in the story.

Checklist  Must be in introduction  Must be specific and narrow  Must be arguable  Must answer “So what?”