Thesis Statements Literary Essay Writing Ms Gilpin Thesis

Thesis Statements Literary Essay Writing Ms. Gilpin

Thesis Statements

Thesis Statement Practice How does Orwell develop theme of power in Animal Farm? Index card With a partner Time to find partner: 60 sec

All thesis statements should include three main components • WHAT • HOW • SO WHAT

All thesis statements should include three main components • WHAT • Argument • Must be debatable • Must be able to be supported with FACTS/QUOTES • What’s going on? What do you see?

All thesis statements should include three main components • HOW • Specific Argument Detail • Literary devices, techniques… • How do you see that What inside? How is it shown to the reader? How does the author do it?

HOW • Needs to be Techniques • What could we write about? • We brainstormed in class • Which make the most sense for this essay? • Characterization is a big one!

All thesis statements should include three main components • SO WHAT • Argument depth • Connection to history, to the work as a whole, to the author’s worldview… • So what? Why does this matter?

SO WHAT? • Theme Statements • Use these to connect theme concept (one word) into the So What • What is Orwell trying to say? • Hint: He’s not trying to just say “power”

What a “text” is really about is called it’s theme We talk about theme in two ways: 1. Theme Concept: the topic the text is really about– sometimes this is hidden through figurative language 2. Theme Statement: the author’s specific message about that topic, this is created by how the author writes about the subject

Examples! • Hands and sleep in Shakespeare's Macbeth symbolize Lady Macbeth's corruption illustrating that power obtained through corrupt means ultimately leads to destruction.

Examples! • In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses fire imagery to allude to the myth of Prometheus, demonstrating the unanticipated detriments of enlightenment.

Essay Prompts • 1. How does Orwell develop one of the following themes? • ○ Power • ○ Ignorance • ○ Education • ○ Corruption • 2. What is the function of propaganda and language in political and social oppression?

Homework for 9. 3 • Choose a prompt and write a (first draft) thesis statement on an index card. Due tomorrow