DEVELOPING A THESIS
For your creative projects and your critical analysis papers you must develop a clear, strong, interesting thesis. Here are a few tips:

Select a piece of literature that you understand (writing the papers and creating the art projects will help solidify your understanding).

Avoid using "how," "about," "seems," and "of" when generating your main idea; these words in your thesis often lead to ambiguity, confusion, or frustration.

Avoid cliches. What goes around comes around; don’t judge a book by its cover.

DON’TS:
Avoid the following kinds of starts:

The author talks about how love conquers all.
The author discusses how bravery plays into the characters' lives.
This is a story of courage.
Cupid and Psyche is a myth of love.
Charlotte's Web seems to be about life and death.
In the fable "....." the moral of the story is about life and how you can't ever judge a book
by its cover.
The overall theme here is the unfulfilled hero.
The message is what goes around comes around.
The thesis is about the theme of valor in the face of glory.
Once we discover the theme concerned with war, we know about how the hero conquers the enemy and gains power.
NOTICE IN THE ABOVE STATEMENTS, THERE IS NO CLEAR VIEW.

DO’S
The following thesis statements are clear, divisible, provocative, and profound.

E.B. White, in Charlotte's Web, demonstrates that life is a cycle dependent on many factors; without the death of a spider, another creature may not survive. The interdependence of species is part of the biodynamic nature of the world in which we live. Using animals gently leads children to these realizations.

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Rowling's main character, Harry, gains knowledge and understanding of the world around him through learning to balance his magical powers with common sense, through relying on his intuition, and through not following the crowd. His ingenuity, wit, and physical skills are often more reliable than a magic wand, an invisibility cloak, or a wise wizard-mentor. Children learn from Harry's trials and his actions that they too can learn to depend on their own wit, intuition, and skills.

Babbitt, in Tuck Everlasting, brings home the perplexing idea that everlasting life is not all that people expect it to be; children learn, through a young girl's experiences, that the natural cycle of living and dying is something all living creatures face. Surprisingly, readers come to truly value these natural cycles.

Myths instruct. The lessons children learn from myth, though not always the only "truth," shed light on consequences of a particular action. If one doesn't heed stern warnings of those in the know, she may unleash irreversible consequences as witnessed in the myth of Pandora's box.

NOTICE IN THE ABOVE STATEMENTS, THERE IS A CLEAR VIEW. THE WRITER TAKES A POSITION, HAS AN INTERPRETATION, PROFESSES THAT “THIS” IS THE TRUTH. USE CLEAR STRONG STATEMENTS IN THESIS SET UP. A GOOD WAY TO START THINKING IN TERMS OF A STRONG DIVISIBLE THESIS IS TO BEGIN….THE AUTHOR BRINGS HOME THE IDEA THAT….WE LEARN THAT…..THE MAIN CHARACTER COMES TO UNDERSTAND THAT….NOW WRITE A CLEAR STATEMENT. I CAN HELP HERE.

WRITING A UNIFIED, POWERFUL PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a UNIT of thought, a supporting idea that DEVELOPS a MAIN IDEA, a THESIS. To write a good paragraph you must do some of the following:

• expand thesis support main idea/thesis
• use clear transitions generate interest
• give clear, provocative examples describe
• explain support
• take the reader to the moment, to the place relate explicit detail
• imply meaning explore issues
• relate emotion, feelings appeal to the reader’s senses

Another essential part of my success is time management. To accomplish numerous tasks in school and in everyday life, I must have a clear picture of my days. If I don’t, I get lost, get disorganized, get off track. To stay focused during my busy week, I have certain routines that keep me on track. A helpful tool is a calendar or day planner. Some people use a palm computer to keep important dates and appointments. I like to make lists because when I cross an item out, I feel like I have accomplished something. Then I can take on my next task. If I have conflicts and two or three people are demanding my time, I diplomatically decide which is most important and tend to those meetings that are most important. I put items on my calendar in an order that takes into consideration my priorities. For example, if my family wants me to have dinner on Wednesday night, but I have a club meeting, I call my folks, tell them about my other commitments, and then arrange a good time for both of us. That way I meet my commitments and tend to my relationships. If I have two very important assignments due at the same time, I try to get ahead so I can meet both deadlines. In English I have an essay due on September 26th and a physics lab report due the same day. I have done my lab experiment, worked with my classmate, and finished the lab report early. Now I can concentrate on my essay. If I get stressed about all of the juggling I must do, I take an hour out of my schedule- planned, of course, to go for a run with a friend. This relieves the stress and makes me feel good about myself; then I go forward and get back to my chores. Keeping my daily routine organized is essential. Even though I don’t write everything down in my day planner, I know that I must eat a good breakfast, make time for kicking back, as well as setting aside specific times for studies. I haven’t even mentioned work! That too I plan for. Working 20 hours a week is no easy task given my school schedule, but I like having the extra cash for personal items I need. I make sure to get to bed early and I take care of myself during the weekend rather than drain my energy by drinking and letting myself get worn down. My weekends are my revitalizing days. Time management is paramount to making progress as is having a healthy lifestyle.
Having a healthy routine also contributes to my success. Eating nourishing food, maintaining a regular exercise regime, and paying attention to my mental health certainly are factors in getting ahead......

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