Thesis statement help
THESIS STATEMENT HELP If the theme of the piece will be the focus of your analysis. (Theme is basically what the author wants the reader to understand.)
Like the essay itself, the thesis can be either simplistic or sophisticated. It is important to remember that the thesis statement controls the entire composition. If an idea is not stated in the thesis—either directly or indirectly—then it does not belong in that essay. A focused and concise thesis statement will give you a greater chance of producing writing that clearly communicates your argument.
A formula for the most basic analysis thesis could look something like this:
In (title of poem/novel/play), (author’s name) uses (1st literary device), (2nd literary device), and (3rd literary device) to (show/criticize/explain/etc.) (some aspect of human nature).
(Continued) Notice that the second part of such a thesis (beginning with “to“) identifies the theme of the passage, which will be the focus of the analysis. An example of this type of simple thesis is:
In “If you Were Coming in the Fall,” Emily Dickinson uses simile, diction, and syntax to describe how people wait, hoping to fall in love.
