1. What is a thesis? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

2. A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.

3. The thesis statement is the single most important aspect of your paper... it is the justification for its very existence.

4. A thesis...... is a road map for the paper. It tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

5. A thesis...... is an interpretation of a subject, not the subject itself. For example, the subject or topic of your paper might be World War II or Of Mice and Men; a thesis offers the reader a way to understand the war or the novel.

6. The thesis statement is typically located at the ______ of your opening paragraph.

7. Usually at the end The thesis is a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument or interpretation to the reader.

8. A thesis...... directly answers the question asked of you. So, what is being asked of you?

9. How does my author use literary elements to develop the theme of the story? Research Question

10. Specific Question How does Joseph Conrad use foreshadowing in his short story “Youth”?

11. Working Thesis In his short story “Youth,” Joseph Conrad uses foreshadowing to strengthen the plot.

12. Research Question How does the story reflect the environment (historical / social / cultural context) in which the author wrote it?

13. Specific Question How does John Steinbeck use the characters in his novel Of Mice and Men to reflect the hardships of the Great Depression era?

14. Working Thesis In his novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck poignantly portrays the alienation and loneliness of migrant workers in the 1930s through the characters George, Crooks and Curly’s wife.

15. Blueprint for your thesis In [Title of Work], [Author] uses [Literary Element(s)] to show/reveal [Theme, historical context, cultural value or tradition]. In "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson uses irony to show the insidious nature of society's need to find a scapegoat.

16. In other words... illustrate present disclose explain demonstrate exhibit expound divulge point out make clear verify guide confirm

17. Now what? Investigate and analyze... –the life of the author –rules about society found within the short story –the way the text reveals an historical situation –the ways the short story reflects the environment in which it was written –the ways in which other texts can help us understand the short story

18. Use the graphic organizer to help you get started...

19. Author uses in the novel, “title,” to show/reveal Theme Historical / Cultural Context Element Literary Elements Theme / Historical Context / Cultural values example evidence proof example evidence proof example evidence proof example