Thesis and Outline, Whichever literature topic you desire

Assignment Description:

PART ONE:

You will be required to submit a thesis statement that meets the criteria of the following checklist:

Responds to a research question/concern related to the primary source
Takes a position (does not simply describe the topic)
Scope is focused (only mentions topics that are developed in the body paragraphs)
Not self-evident (extends beyond the obvious or what the reader already knows about the primary source)
Can be supported by textual evidence in order to make the reader understand the argument on a deeper level
Specific and precise (avoids using terms that are confusing, vague, or subjective)
Concise (communicates the argument in the shortest, simplest way possible)
Roadmap of supporting claims is provided in the thesis or in a separate sentence
Passes the “so what?” test by asserting the broader significance of its observations

For each point on the checklist, provide a brief reflection on how the thesis statement meets this criteria.

PART TWO:

After going over the thesis checklist to ensure that your thesis statement meets this criteria, you must provide an outline of the paper that includes the following:

Introduction to the paper’s argument, such as a definition of a key term, relevant historical context, and/or an acknowledgement of a central assumption informing the paper’s argument.
At least 3 supporting claims that will structure the body paragraphs.
At least 3 textual examples to prove each of the supporting claims.
A preliminary response to the “so what?” question.

You will not be required to incorporate secondary sources yet, so focus on using the primary source (Soucouyant) to support the argument.

Assignment Format:

3-4 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, and page numbers/header, formatted according to MLA style.

This assignment should be presented in full sentences but can make use of bullet points and sub-headings to organize the information.

The submission should include:

Your thesis statement and the thesis statement checklist, with a rationale for how your thesis meets each criterion.
Introductory framework (where you can brainstorm your topic in a paragraph or point form notes)
Outline of supporting claims of each body paragraph in topic sentences
List of supporting evidence for each body paragraph (2-3 examples/points per paragraph)
Preliminary discussion of the “so what?” element of your thesis
Sample Thesis Statements
Sample #1:

“Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides has created an image of American suburbia through the depiction of American ideologies in comparison to the outlooks of other cultures, and the role women seem to play according to the male narrators. How they interact with the novel’s overarching issue of suicide, as both aspects of small-town living deal with social norms which impact the way the characters live, ultimately leads to their demise.”

Sample #2:

“Human beings employ a vast array of methods to help them endure distressing times. The mind has a penchant for nimbly conjuring escapes from life’s agonies. Waiting for Godot captures this condition. Vladimir and Estragon inhabit a life of never-ending anguish. To protect themselves from brutal living conditions and overcoming pangs of boredom, they cling to their routines. Furthermore, they take delight in the most miniscule of pleasures, becoming appreciative of luxury in any form. Vladimir and Estragon also indulge in lengthy conversations, relying on human discourse as a diversion from their tedium and pain. Through these methods, Waiting for Godot proposes that the ideal way to survive the misery of existence is to submerge oneself in distractions.”

Sample #3:

“M. G. Vassanji’s novel No New Land (1991) is a novel about the immigrant experience, wherein migrants from East Africa come to Canada with hopes to escape the political and social turmoil of their homeland. As Benedict Anderson states, Canada is shown to be a nation that derives its identity from the concept of an ‘imagined community’ in which citizens unite under a common history, ethical attributes, and political ideas. Many scholars from a wide variety of disciplines agree that the foundation of such a society rests on the illustrious North American dream. Prosperity, therefore, in the North American sphere is synonymous with individual endeavours over communal support and excessive material gain over modesty.”