What should I put in a good thesis?

For an essay on a piece of literature, a good approach is to choose a unifying main theme to discuss, and to do so via a three-pronged thesis. The three prongs of the thesis will ideally each get one paragraph's worth of discussion, to be wrapped up in a conclusion. These three prongs should somehow express the main theme chosen, e.g. literary devices, specific characters, or historic background. An example of a good thesis might be, "In Othello, Shakespeare develops the theme of good vs evil through the relationship between Othello and Iago, through the symbolism of color, and through tone." Then each of the three prongs gets one paragraph explaining, with supporting evidence, how e.g. the tone is used to develop the theme of good vs evil.

LW
Answered by Liora W. English tutor

1427 Views

See similar English A Level tutors

Related English A Level answers

All answers ▸

Should I only revise subject knowledge directly relevant to the mark scheme?


How do I compare different authors to each if their works are about different things?


How do I approach bigger, more intimidating texts?


Explain how Jay Gatsby personifies the American Dream


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning