Purdue's Online Writing Lab on writing about Literature .

In the Purdue Owl it covers what makes a good literature topic. When you write about literature there are key topics that need to be presented. In your thesis statement one should present an argument. An argument is your point of interpretation, an evaluative judgment, or a valid point. A thesis statement is something that is supported with examples from the text or secondary sources. You do not just want to use a summary statement but give a point that needs to be supported with evidence throughout the essay. Good examples of a topic are discussion of the characters, a comparison and contractions of different authors, and deconstruction of the particular work.

Then one needs to research support for the topic. You can find it on the internet or in the library. Once you find secondary sources you will need to introduce the evidence either by direct quote or by writing according to…. (102) and explain how it is related to your thesis. At the end of the paper one needs to use MLA format to cite works used. One must be able to explain what creditable sources were used and where to find them.

I have found that it is important not to use a summary thesis for a statement. To simple state something for a fact is something that doesn’t need to be explained and it doesn’t make a good thesis. A thesis statement needs something to support it, it cannot stand alone. After reading this I have realized that I must be able to present something that needs to be supported. I will be able to somehow create an argument and to show support for that argument to provide a good thesis statement.