Thesis Examples

Robert Frost's "acquainted with the night" is a very short and sweet poem in which the title says it all. The poem follows ome of Frost's similar works in which he writes about simple things or actions to symbolize a highter theme. In "acquainted with the night," Frost uses strong symbolism, words choice, and structure to correlatethe simple things of the night with one's personal journey through life, and in doing so, Frost suggests notjoy, but indifferenceand moral insecurity to life's experiences.


Alice Elliot Dark captures the emotional turmoil of a mother losing a son in her short story "In the Gloaming." The "gloaming" is an hour in Scotland where everything looks enchanged and purple; a twilight hour that holds a special meaning to Dark's characters. Although the denotation of this term has positive interpretations, the connotation relays something entirely different. Dark plays with the connotation of words throughout the text to help illustrate the heaviness and sadness that both Janet and Laird are experiencing. Using a limited third person point of view also aids in the overarching tone of the sotry. Dark also continually overlays memories of Laird as a helpless child to reinforce the relationship between mother and son.

Robert Frost

Here is the list of poems you need to read for next class (Nov 24). Please click on the link to read each poem.

A mini-essay - one page, single spaced - is due next class (unless you were one of the three people who turned in an essay on Nov 17). For the mini-essay, analyze one or more of the Frost poems. Be sure to have a thesis, with the poem's theme, and clear mapping. Then follow-through with your mapped-out organization in your essay. For poetry analysis, some elements to pay attention to are: repetition, imagery, word choice, punctuation, and symbolism.

Tuft of Flowers

Mending Wall

The Wood-Pile

Acquainted with the Night

Come In

Yellow Wallpaper

Hemingway and Chopin

Opinion vs. Argument

Muddy Road Text

Two monks, Tanzan and Ekido, were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"

Schedule Fall 2009

CLASS SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

9/22 Lecture 1: Argument vs. Opinion and Why read Literature?
Homework due next class:
Read from Readings Packet: #1 “Cat in the Rain” by Hemingway and #2 “Story of an Hour” by Chopin
Read “Film Music” p.390 in Arguing Across the Disciplines (AAD)
Write 1 page Mini-Essay. You may write on one story, or you may compare the stories. Be sure to include a clear thesis, evidence, and conclusion.

9/29 Lecture 2: Symbolism, Theme, and Intro to the Toulmin Model
Mini Essay #1 Due
Homework due next class:
Read from Readings Packet: #3 Shiloh by Bobbie Ann Mason
Read “The Business World as a Hunting Ground” p.268 AAD
Review Chapter 2 p.34-58 in AAD
Write 1 page Mini Essay #2. You may write on Shiloh or you may use Esther Vilar’s essay “Business World” to analyze Shiloh or you may refute Esther Vilar’s essay.

10/6 Lecture 3: What’s Love Got to Do with it?
Mini Essay #2 Due
Homework due 10/20:
Read from Readings Packet # 4 “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner
Read “The Stanford Prison Experiment” p.473 in AAD
Read p.72-104 in AAD (Evidence and Warrents)
Write Mini Essay #3

10/13 NO CLASS

10/20 Lecture 4: Perpetuating Violence
Mini Essay #3 Due
Homework due next class:
Read from Readings Packet: #5 “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
Read “Shishmaref, Alaska” p. 513 in AAD

Read p.223-240 in AAD (Writing an Argument)
Write Rough Draft of Essay #1

10/27 Lecture5: The Cold Truth (or is it hot?)
Essay #1 Rough Draft Due
Homework due next class:
Read from Readings Packet: #6 “Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman and #7 “Desiree’s Baby
Read “To Make them Stand in Fear” p. 137 in AAD “The Perils of Obedience” p.459 in AAD

11/3 Lecture 6: Instilling Fear
Homework due next class:
Read “Great Movies” p.20 in AAD
Write Final Draft of Essay #1

11/10 Lecture 7: Great Movies
Essay #1 Final Draft Due
Homework:
Read from Readings Packet #8 “In the Gloaming” by Dark
Read “An Incident in Hong Kong” p.531 in AAD
Read p.165-167 in AAD (Logical Fallacies)
Write Mini Essay #4

11/17 Lecture 8: Biological Threats
Mini Essay #4 Due
Homework:
Read from Readings Packet: #9 “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan
Read “Little Emperors” p.444 in AAD

11/24 Lecture 9: Laziness or Cultural Phenomenon?
Essay #2 Rough Draft Due
Library Visit
Homework:
Read from Readings Packet: #10 Robert Frost

12/1 Lecture 10: The Road Not Traveled
Homework:
Write Final Draft of Essay #2

12/8 Lecture 11
Essay #2 Final Draft Due
Homework:
Final Research Project

12/15 LAST LECTURE - TURN IN FINAL PROJECTS