Macbeth
Thesis Sentence Characteristics of a thesis sentence It is a sentence It names the topic of your paper and contains an interpretive assertion about your topicin other words, you are saying something about the topic that is an opinion-based statement about the meaning of the work It is debatableit is not merely factual or obvious but requires convincing proof of its validity. A factual statement is verified by data or merely reflects the facts of the work (such as plot). An obvious statement is an idea that anyone who reads the work would agree with its validity has been established by general consensus and requires no additional proof. It is specificit is expressed in language that focuses on one or more particular aspects of the work rather than a generality It controls everything that goes into your paper (the assertion is also known as the controlling idea. The thesis of an essay is expressed in a declarative sentence NOT Who is the protagonist of The Crucible BUT The real protagonist of Arthur Millers The Crucible is not an individual but the town of Salem. The thesis of a literary essay makes an assertion (an opinion-based interpretive statement) about the topic of the essay. NOT The Crucible is a great play. BUT The greatness of The Crucible lies in its incisive exploration of the forces that combine to destroy a community. The thesis of a literary essay is debatable rather than factual NOT The Crucible is a play about the Salem witchcraft trials. BUT The Crucible uses the Salem witchcraft trials to explore the conflict between conscience and conformity. The thesis of a literary essay targets a specific rather than a general aspect of its topic. NOT The Crucible is a play about hidden sin. BUT The Crucible demonstrates the effects of hidden sin on John Proctors character, on his family, and on his community. Patterns for Thesis Statements of Literary Essays Analysis What it does separates a topic into its