thesis statement (fourth link)

1. A good thesis statement will make a claim. bad example: Americans are violent. Good example: Americans are violent because they are fearful.

2. A good thesis sentences will control the entire argument. A thesis sentence must reflect the entire paragraph. (main idea)

3. A good thesis will provide a structure for your argument. Example: we shall demonstrate that X expresses itself in 3 ways: A, B and C.

Other points:

A good thesis statement should:

-be clear and avoid vague words
-avoid ­­­''I''
-connect all the subelements of the text. (my point 3)
-pass the ''so what'' test. (be provocative)
-introduce an essay.
-determine the type of paper you write.
-use literary elements. (plot, point of view, metaphor, themes, etc.)
-make use of ''quotations'' as evidence, to support it.

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Three Components :
-What : Claim about the text (interpretation)
-How : the literary elements (figure of speech, symbolism, theme)(you choose support your claim).
-Why : the significance of your claim answers the question : so what?

BAD THESIS STATEMENT :
1. This poem shows the narrator comparing his love to a summer's day. (plot summary)
2. The poem present the power of love to conquer death. (too universal)
3. The poem shows how Narratives cans last while Nature can not. (too general)
4. The poem proves that the penis is mightier than the sword. (cliché)
5. The structure character and dialogue in the poem show us how humans search for knowledge. (List)

GOOD THESIS STATEMENT :
1.Despite it's emphasis on love and physical beauty, the poem reveals the ways in wich humans can triumph over the vagaries of nature.
Qualities : specific / arguable / provides a structure for your argument