Recap
A thesis statement expresses an interpretation of a literary text that requires defence with textual evidence and a line of reasoning. It answers the prompt, is defensible and specific, and may preview the reasoning without listing points, literary elements or evidence. A topic, fact, summary or list of devices is not a thesis.
Key relationships
| Rung | What it is | Example of what to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Topic | A subject | “Freedom in the story” |
| Fact | Needs no defence | “Mrs. Mallard is told her husband has died” |
| Summary | A retelling | “She goes upstairs and then returns” |
| Device list | Names features | “Chopin uses imagery and irony” |
| Claim | An interpretive statement | Needs a “so what” |
| Thesis | Interpretation answering the prompt | The target |
What you may assume
- A thesis may be one or two sentences.
- You may revise your thesis as your plan develops.
- A thesis may preview a line of reasoning, but it does not have to.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing a topic or a summary and calling it a thesis.
- Listing devices (“through imagery and symbolism”).
- Ignoring the prompt’s focus.
- Writing a thesis nobody could dispute.
- Making the thesis so broad that no evidence can defend it.
Key terms
- Thesis statement: a defensible interpretation that answers the prompt and needs evidence and a line of reasoning.
- Defensible: arguable from the text and open to disagreement.
- Line of reasoning: the logical sequence of claims that defends the thesis.
- So what: the step from observation to meaning.
Sentence frames
- “By [what the text does], [writer or narrator] shows that …, so that ….”
- “Although …, the text shows ….”
- “[Text] presents … as …, and the shift from … to … shows ….”
Mini-example
Observation: Moss returns the hat. Claim: Moss treats Pryce with care. So what: manners bind the drivers. Thesis: manners bind the drivers more closely than their grievance does.
How questions ask about this
- “Which of the following is the best thesis for the prompt?”: choose the defensible interpretation that answers the prompt, not a summary or list.
- “Which is a topic and not a thesis?”: look for a subject with no claim.
- “Which revision best adds a line of reasoning?”: look for movement without a list of devices.
- Constructed response: write a one-sentence thesis, test it against the prompt, and revise if it only names elements.
Quick self-check
- Is “Chopin uses setting and irony” a thesis? Why or why not?
- What question turns a claim into a thesis?
- What does it mean for a thesis to preview a line of reasoning?
Answers.
- No. It lists devices and gives no interpretation.
- “So what?”: what does it show about the whole text?
- It signals the movement of the argument (for example, from an expected feeling to a different one) without listing points or evidence.
Full explanations are in the study guide. Try the practice questions next.