Theme: Essay tests

Come up with a thesis statement. The thesis statement is a sentence or two that summarizes the claim you will make in your paper. It tells the reader what your essay will be about.[2]Don’t: write a vague or obvious thesis such as “Revenge is a central theme in Beowulf.”

Come up with a thesis statement. The thesis statement is a sentence or two that summarizes the claim you will make in your paper. It tells the reader what your essay will be about.[2]Don’t: write a vague or obvious thesis such as “Revenge is a central theme in Beowulf.”

Do: make a specific argument such as “Beowulf explores different styles of vengeance in the Anglo-Saxon age, contrasting the dragon’s honorable retribution with the response of Grendel’s mother.”

This is an analytical thesis because it examines a text and makes a particular claim.

• The claim is “arguable,” meaning it’s not a statement of pure fact that nobody could contest. An analytical essay takes a side and makes an argument.

The claim is “arguable,” meaning it’s not a statement of pure fact that nobody could contest. An analytical essay takes a side and makes an argument.

The claim is “arguable,” meaning it’s not a statement of pure fact that nobody could contest. An analytical essay takes a side and makes an argument.

Make sure your thesis is narrow enough to fit the scope of your assignment. “Revenge in Beowulf could be a PhD dissertation, it’s so broad. It’s probably much too big for a student essay. However, arguing that one character’s revenge is more honorable than another’s is manageable within a shorter student essay.[3]

• Unless instructed to write one, avoid the “three-prong” thesis that presents three points to be discussed later. These thesis statements usually limit your analysis too much and give your argument a formulaic feel.

Find supporting evidence. Depending on your assignment, you may need to work only with your primary sources (the text or texts you’re analyzing) or with primary and secondary sources, such as other books or journal articles. The assignment should tell you what types of sources are required. Good evidence supports your claim and makes your argument more convincing. List out the supporting evidence, noting where you found it, and how it supports your claim.