3. Sample Introduction All members of the human race desire freedom. In particular, people everywhere believe America to be the land of the free; consequently,, many immigrants move to the United States for religious, political, and social liberties. However, this country does not guarantee complete independence. Some communities and cultures, such as those that are traditionally patriarchal, still oppress certain members, namely their women. In Sandra Cisneros’ novel The House on Mango Street, Esperanza is one such girl who men exploit due to her gender and age. The author symbolizes Esperanza’s repression and desire for autonomy through the images of a red balloon tied to an anchor, clouds, and trees; thus, readers realize the importance of self-rule and are taught to have faith in its achievement.

5. Conclusions Continued Re-state the thesis. Sum up the main points that you made in your body paragraphs. Universalize/broaden your argument, extending your scope beyond the text to address the bigger picture. Leave the reader of your essay with something to think about/consider/do.

6. Cisneros draws on the symbols of the balloon attached to an anchor, clouds, and trees to demonstrate Esperanza’s exploitation, from which she wishes to escape. For example, the crimson inflatable represents Esperanza’s free spirit, while the weight to which it is attached signifies the established gender role that keeps her from being emancipated. Moreover, the sky also reveals her longing for freedom, although the shapes that the mists take indicate her conforming to society’s expectations instead of her own. Lastly, the trees in the protagonist’s neighborhood show that she is reaching towards liberty through her education and writing, although she is currently rooted to her community due to her age. Through these representations, the author gives demoralized readers everywhere the motivation to surmount that which holds them back from having free will. In order to attain freedom, one must educate himself, discover his strengths, and actively use these skills; if a person waits passively for opportunity to present itself, it may never arrive. Sample Conclusion

8. Elements of a Thesis Topic/Subject Assertion/Commentary - very important and often left out - theses without commentary usually lead to essays lacking in commentary Direction of essay/proof you plan to use to prove your thesis - body paragraph topics are clear Scope - discusses the significance/importance of your thesis - answers the “So what? What is the bigger picture?” questions - may address the author’s message/critique/point/purpose/philosophy - may address what the reader should learn from or do with this information

9. Sample Thesis The author symbolizes Esperanza’s repression and desire for autonomy through the images of a red balloon tied to an anchor, clouds, and trees; thus, readers realize the importance of self-rule and are taught to have faith in its achievement.

10. Flawed Thesis Example: In his novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck’s characters are extremely lonely. - does not go beyond stating the obvious - lacks strong opinion & purpose (& most likely will lead to a paper that lacks commentary/opinion and leans heavily on summary) -lacks significance/importance - lacks direction/proof/body paragraph topics