Thesis Statements

Identify the weak thesis statement:

1) Weak Thesis Statement (A): I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns with evolution in The Origin of the Species. This thesis statement is too general. It contains no specific argument or claim.

2) Weak Thesis Statement (A): An important part of one’s college education is learning to better understand others’ points of view. This thesis statement is an overly broad claim. It is almost cliché, and restating conventional wisdom.

3) Weak Thesis Statement (B): The jeans industry targets its advertisements to appeal to young adults. Again this thesis statement is overly broad and cliché. It is a statement of fact.

4) Weak Thesis Statement (A): Othello is a play about love and jealousy. This thesis statement is making no claim or argument. It is also too general and a statement of fact.

5) Weak Thesis Statement(A): The songs of the punk rock group Minor Threat relate to the Feelings of individuals who dare to be different. Their songs are just composed of pure emotion. Pure emotion is very important in music, because it serves as a vehicle to convey the important message of individuality. Minor Threat’s songs are meaningful to me because I can identify with them. This thesis statement offers only a personal point of view. There is nothing and no reason to argue this thesis.


What is the significance of the color red?

In The Handmaid’s Tale, the symbolism contained by the color red shows evidence of the hypocrisy displayed by the Gilead theocracy.

The color red shows up continuously throughout the story. From the “Red center” to the red smile on the masks of the executed men, and, especially, the red that is worn by the handmaids themselves the color seems to have some significance. In a government that is supposedly ruled by religious principles, they condone a married man having sex with a partner who is not his wife. The color red shows the lie that is Gilead.

This thesis statement makes a very specific claim that can be argued with evidence taken from the book. There are enough instances of the color red that it shows that there is some significance, and provides ample evidence to elicit speculation as to its meaning.