Step 2: Write a Thesis Statement

Now that you have gathered information about the characterization and theme, it’s time to begin narrowing your focus. Whether you are writing a multipage literary analysis essay or a one-paragraph response, you should always have a thesis statement that clearly states your interpretation of how the character’s thoughts, actions, or other details connect to the theme of the work. Your thesis should be a clear distillation of what you plan to say in your response. If you need help getting started, you might use the questions in the Key Questions box on page 652 to guide you.

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A strong thesis statement is usually a sentence or two at the most, and it avoids phrases like “I believe . . .” or “In my opinion . . .” Your reader knows that these are your opinions and expects that you actually believe what you are writing, so these phrases are unnecessary filler. At this point in your development as a writer, you should also avoid introductory phrases such as, “In this essay, I will be discussing . . .” The people in your audience know that it is an essay and that you will be discussing something, so you’re better off just jumping right into what you are going to discuss.

Most important, however, is that your thesis statement must be based on a claim that is debatable in some way. There is no purpose in making a claim about a character and theme that is obvious or does not need much evidence to be proven. A poor example of an analytical claim about characterization would be something like, “Simba in The Lion King is a young lion that will be king one day.”

That is a true statement about Simba, but it is not debatable, so there is nothing left to say. There is no opportunity for an interpretation, no room for insight into the text. A better claim might be, “Simba in The Lion King is rash in his decision making and selfish in his actions, which could lead the viewer to question whether a hereditary monarchy is the best form of government.”

Is this true? Perhaps, but it is debatable and subject to interpretation, though maybe not by the five-year-olds watching the cartoon. By making your claim debatable, you give yourself a case worth making, an opportunity to say something interesting, and your audience an essay worth reading.

ACTIVITY

  1. Look back at the evidence that you gathered from a text you read in this chapter and practice writing a thesis statement about the characterization in the text relates to the theme. Be sure to make a claim that is debatable and needs evidence in order to be proven. This will be the working thesis that you will use throughout the rest of this Workshop. Looking at the following sample prompts might help you to craft a claim for your thesis, but feel free to diverge from these ideas.

    • In In the Hot Zone by Kevin Sites, what does Sites reveal about himself, and how do those aspects of his character illustrate the point he is trying to make about truth in the fog of war?

    • In When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka, what elements of the boy’s characterization does Otsuka use to illustrate the tragic circumstances of the internment camps?

    • In “Dothead” by Amit Majmudar, how do the speaker’s actions and dialogue dramatize a point the poet is making about racial tolerance?

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  2. After you have crafted your thesis, look back at your chart and be sure that you have enough evidence to support the claim you make. If you do not, be sure to revise your thesis until you have one that can be supported.