2. Which of these include proper Thesis Formula? Topic + Debatable Opinion 1.Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to remember events of the past. 2.Huck and Jim’s path toward friendship moves through three stages: the meeting, the challenge to survive, and love. 3.Dickens repeats images of “hands” throughout the novel.

3. Which of these include proper Thesis Formula? Topic + Debatable Opinion 1.Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to remember events of the past. (No debatable opinion) 2.Huck and Jim’s path toward friendship moves through three stages: the meeting, the challenge to survive, and love. 3.Dickens repeats images of “hands” throughout the novel. (No debatable opinion)

4. Which of these include proper Thesis Formula? Topic + Debatable Opinion 4. Huck and Jim experience several conflicts during their travel down the river. 5. There are many symbols in this novel. 6. Matthew Arnold uses a metaphor involving the sea in his poem.

5. Which of these include proper Thesis Formula? Topic + Debatable Opinion 4. Huck and Jim experience several conflicts during their travel down the river. 5. There are many symbols in this novel. 6.Matthew Arnold uses a metaphor involving the sea in his poem. Not one of these includes a debatable opinion.

6. Let’s improve one:Let’s improve one: Incomplete Thesis: Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to remember events of the past. Better Thesis: Scrooge’s encounters with ghosts depict memory’s transformative power and force Scrooge to reflect on his crimes against his fellow man.

7. Let’s improve another:Let’s improve another: Incomplete Thesis: Matthew Arnold uses a metaphor involving the sea in his poem. Better Thesis: Matthew Arnold uses the sea metaphor to develop critical commentary about the Victorian Age, a time in which man is isolated and lacks religious conviction, a situation which can only be rectified with love.

8. Now you try itNow you try it  Incomplete Thesis: Janie goes on a journey in Hurston’s Their Eyes were Watching God.  Incomplete Thesis: Brave New World depicts a dystopian society.

10. Organize the evidence (the details, diction, and imagery)  Look for patterns in the evidence that help you decide how to group your evidence  The typical organizations are as follows:  Time (chronological)  Place or setting in the text  Idea (such as by definition of concept – evil, justice, fatherhood -- or by comparison or relationship)

11. Create Topic SentencesCreate Topic Sentences  Write Topic Sentences to support your thesis statement, that will be backed up by the evidence you gathered.  Topic Sentence (TS) = Organizing Element + Aspect of Thesis  TS ≠ Plot detail only  Ex: Piggy discovers the conch near the lagoon in Chapter One. (Not a topic sentence b/c it is simply a plot detail)

12. Example: Organized by Time (chronology)  Thesis: The conch in Lord of the Flies represents the decay of order and civilization.  TS1: In chapter one, the conch is discovered and revered for its power to organize the community of children.  TS2: In chapter three, the conch shows signs of losing its civilizing power.  TS3: In chapter six,…  Note: Bold words demonstrate the organization style; underlined words are the glue tying the TS to the thesis.

13. Example: Organized by Place (location/setting)  Thesis: In The Scarlett Letter, Hester models the emotional strength uncharacteristic of a stereotypical seventeenth century woman.  TS1: Exiting the prison door, Hester’s demeanor shows the reader her assertiveness.  TS2: At the governor's house, Hester forcefully displays her confidence.  TS3: …(or more)

14. Example: Organized by Idea (Aristotle)  In his play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare examines the dark heart of “fair Verona,” a community whose leaders fail to act in a decisive and forthright manner.  TS1: The political leader of Verona, Prince Escalus, “winks” at the discord in the community rather than acting immediately to resolve the escalating hostilities.  TS2: The spiritual head of Verona, Friar Laurence, concocts a solution to the crisis that requires deception and secrecy, two features ensuring disaster.  TS3…

15. Identify the “Word Glue” (the words that tie the TS to the thesis)  Thesis: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee focuses the attention of the astute reader on Scout’s growth as she transforms from a carefree child into a true lady, one who is a lady at heart, not just a lady in appearance.  TS1: As Scout’s father, Atticus plays a pivotal role in teaching her important values that a true lady must possess.  TS2: In addition to Atticus’ lessons, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Scout’s influential neighbor, helps her grow up to be a true lady.  TS3: Contradictory values of character and appearance confront Scout as she becomes a lady of character.

16. Identify the “Word Glue” (the words that tie the TS to the thesis)  Thesis: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee focuses the attention of the astute reader on Scout’s growth as she transforms from a carefree child into a true lady, one who is a lady at heart, not just a lady in appearance.  TS1: As Scout’s father, Atticus plays a pivotal role in teaching her important values that a true lady must possess.  TS2: In addition to Atticus’ lessons, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Scout’s influential neighbor, helps her grow up to be a true lady.  TS3: Contradictory values of character and appearance confront Scout as she becomes a lady of character.

17. Identify the “Word Glue” (the words that tie the TS to the thesis)  Thesis: In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s skillful use of imagery borrowed from the world of nature paints a vivid portrait of the emotional and physical make up of mankind.  TS1: Various light images taken from nature reveal Juliet’s brilliant beauty and suggest her growing fears.  TS2: Shakespeare’s ingenious utilization of bird imagery creates a lucid picture of man’s physical qualities.  TS3: Shakespeare also uses bird imagery to portray man’s emotional characteristics.  TS4: The use of other animal imagery produces a clear model of the complex emotional nature of man.

18. Identify the “Word Glue” (the words that tie the TS to the thesis)  Thesis: In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s skillful use of imagery borrowed from the world of nature paints a vivid portrait of the emotional and physical make up of mankind.  TS1: Various light images taken from nature reveal Juliet’s brilliant beauty and suggest her growing fears.  TS2: Shakespeare’s ingenious utilization of bird imagery creates a lucid picture of man’s physical qualities.  TS3: Shakespeare also uses bird imagery to portray man’s emotional characteristics.  TS4: The use of other animal imagery produces a clear model of the complex emotional nature of man.

19. How many paragraphs?How many paragraphs?  I cannot answer that for you. I can say that many college instructors are anti 5-paragraph essays, although I have yet to hear one articulate why.  You must decide how many paragraphs are needed to prove or illustrate your argument (thesis).  Each aspect of your thesis will be equivalent to one or more paragraphs