(8/3) Writing Your Thesis

Writing Your Thesis

Your thesis is the overarching statement that you are making in relation to the prompt.

Because we are writing a comparative essay this needs to relate to both studied texts in some way.

Thus you need identify a theme from the prompt that links both texts and make a single statement that outlines how the texts are connected in relation to that theme.

Simple Outline

}  In relation to the prompt find a strong central link, between the texts (this can be a similarity or difference)

}  Outline this relationship, referring to both texts and explicitly outlining the relationship between the texts and the prompt

}  Essentially THE THESIS links the key message of each text in relation to the prompt

 

Samples

}  Prompt 1: When confronting challenging situations human relationships are essential. How do both texts represent this?

Key Link 1: Family provides hope.

Thesis: Both ‘The Boat’ and ‘The Happiest Refugee’ make the suggestion that the hope generated through human relationships is the key to persevering through adversity.

Key Link 2: Family are willing to sacrifice to protect each other.

Thesis: Within both ‘The Boat’ and ‘The Happiest Refugee’ the characters are willing to sacrifice themselves in order to protect each other.

 

}  Prompt 2: To be a refugee means fear has a significant impact on who you are. How do both texts highlight this?

Key Link 1: Fear is the key to perseverance 

Thesis: Both the Happiest Refugee and The Boat encourages the notion that fear is the key to persevering through hardship.

Key Link 2: Experiencing fear makes you realise who you are

Thesis: Both the Happiest Refugee and The Boat make the suggestion that fear is central to the human experience. However where ‘The Happiest Refugee’ creates the allusion that fear is central to self-identity, ‘The Boat’ makes the suggestion that it has a paralysing effect that makes self-actualisation difficult.

In Summary

}  When writing your thesis

1. Link: Identify the central theme that links the texts in relation to the prompt.

2. Message: Outline how each text relates to this theme (the central message).

3. Construct: Construct a prompt that concisely links both texts through the designated theme.

 

}  These are the questions to ask

1. Link: What is the central theme?

2. Message: What does each text say about the central theme?

3. Construct: How can I construct a single sentence that links both messages?