Post your THESIS statement

Thinking about what you know needs to be in a thesis statement, as learned in your English classes and certainly practiced last year American Literature, write a thesis statement for one of the topic choices on the green handout.

As I'm reading many of your posted thesis statements, I realize that you all struggle with how to formulate a strong thesis. The ideas are there, but you are not stating your arguments well. Print the following and bring to class on Wed.:

1. This handout helps determine a strong thesis statement from a weak thesis statement: Indiana University handout.

2. This handout explains clearly what a thesis statement is, how to write it (giving an easy-to-remember formula), and the purpose of a thesis statement is: North Carolina Wesleyan College handout

Hot Seat Discussion (for those that just couldn't leave their seats in our modified fishbowl discussion!)

Answer ALL of the following questions:

1. Give your understanding of the carnivorous island and the conversations Pi had with Richard Parker and the French-speaking man that tried to eat him. How does this relate to existentialism and what does it explain about Pi OR the book?

2. What story HAS to be true in your mind. Why?

3. Explain the larger meaning of 'choosing the better story'...beyond Pi's suggestion to the Japanese ministers interviewing him. In other words, what is Martel's message to all his readers?