Thesis Workshop for Research Check each thesis statement for the criteria listed. Statement No. 1 2 3 4 5 Active verb _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Arguable _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Specific _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Scope _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Significant _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ 1. William Shakespeare, the master playwright, set the standard for all modern literature. 2. The Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare, set the standard for the modern play and provided universal themes that audiences have enjoyed from Elizabethan Era theatre to the adaptations of the present day. 3. One can call Charles Schultz’s character Charlie Brown a stock, sympathetic character who serves as a pattern for many characters in literature and pop culture. 4. Charles Schultz’s Charlie Brown is a character who deserves sympathy. 5. Charles Schultz’s Charlie Brown inspires many writers and directors to base book and movie characters on his everyday hero characteristics. Statement No. 6 7 8 9 10 Active verb _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Arguable _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Specific _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Scope _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Significant _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ 6. The American Civil War brought to light many conflicts existing beneath the surface of our nation; themes of racism, unity, and national values still pervade American art, particularly film, and literature today. 7. Because of the American Civil War, conflicts are clearer to us as a society. 8. The philosophies of Ben Franklin are respected by many writers throughout American history. 9. The independent creativity of Ben Franklin not only inspired him to create literary works; the spirit of his philosophy still characterizes much of American literature today. 10. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom.
Statement No. 11 Active verb _____ Arguable _____ Specific _____ Scope _____ Significant _____ 11. The Statue of Liberty stands for the crux of freedom in many examples of American literature and art: its violation often shows a threat to freedom; its glorification shows the strength of liberty; and its realistic depiction reminds viewers of everyday liberties. Your Thesis Statement Revise your preliminary thesis to guide the rest of your research and write it here: Check / rank, and have two other people check / rank your preliminary and final thesis statements for being: Evaluator’s Name:___________________________________ Active _____ Arguable _____ Specific _____ Appropriate in Scope _____ Significant _____ Evaluator’s Name:___________________________________ Active _____ Arguable _____ Specific _____ Appropriate in Scope _____ Significant _____ Evaluator’s Name:___________________________________ Active _____ Arguable _____ Specific _____ Appropriate in Scope _____ Significant _____