Download Analyzing Thesis Statements

Analyzing Thesis
Statements
From our Much Ado essays
As a reminder…This is the
prompt:
 The function of deceit: A central theme in
Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing revolves
around trickery or deceit, whether for good or evil
purposes…
Who hides and what is hidden? How
does deceit function in the world of the
play, and how does it help the play
comment on life in general?
What’s good? Bad?
Missing?
1. The most influential example of deceit in the play is Don’
John’s. His and other’s deceit help bring out the theme.
2. The truth of Hero’s virginity is hidden with the lie of not being a
virgin which demonstrates the deceitfulness in Don John’s
accusations and ruins Hero’s reputation.
3. Despite the fictional elements of the play, as Shakespeare’s
contrasts the positive and negative functions of deceit, he
presents the authentic human nature to gossip and/or
embrace denial, both of which often evade the truth in order
to pleasure oneself.
What’s good? Bad?
Missing?
4. As proven in the play, trickery and deceit always has a dramatic
and irreversible outcome. Whether the intentions are innocent or
devious, deceit always has a major impact on the lives of the
affected because trust, admiration, love, identity, etc. is torn apart
by trickery and the concealing of information revealing how easily
one can be mislead with deceit.
5. Through deceit, the true nature and feelings of characters are
revealed demonstrating how deceit exist in many forms in the
world people live in today.
6. Their friends hide the truth, and trick Benedick and Beatrice into at
the end loving each other, the friends had no idea that the play
they were doing was going to be an outcome of love.
What’s good? Bad?
Missing?
7. Deceit’s function in the play made everybody’s ideas, about each
other, change causing reader’s to understand that deceit harms
the people they are doing it to.
8.Benedicks and Beatrices friends’ were able to use trickery in order
for love to transpire between them because it started out as a joke
and what can seem funny at one point can turn very serious.
9. In the play, the theme of deceit and trickery plays a huge role
amongst the characters due to the fact that it deceives them into
believing what is not truly there.
And last but not least…
10. Deception plays a crucial role in the play and
demonstrates how in life, lying is not beneficial.
11.Many of the characters try to deceit their feelings
which it is not being helpfull to them at all.
12. The characters often display some form of trickery
or secrecy. Through that theme, Shakespeare
shows his readers that secrecy and deceit have two
sides: disaster and happiness, which depicts that
hiding and lying is a crucial part in life.
Let me take a stab at it. I
will give myself no more
than 2 minutes to draft this:
 Shakespeare uses deceit to create both comedy and drama in
Much Ado about Nothing. While characters such as Beatrice’s
and Benedick’s friends engage in playful trickery intended for
harmless fun, Don John deceives to cause pain and chaos.
Ultimately, the reader understands that deceit is neither good
nor evil: it is the intention behind it that determines its outcome.
 Okay: Did I answer the prompt? (How does deceit function in
the world of the play and how does it comment on life in
general).
 Is it contestable? Have I given my reader a guide to my essay?
Does my house have a foundation?
 Is there a “how” and “why”? Is there a “So What”?
When given a limited
amount of time…
 We are NOT looking for perfection in a timed essay. Neither are
the AP readers. We are looking for an identifiable thesis that
responds to the prompt and serves as a guide to the argument
you’ll make in your paper.
 My thesis had to be written quickly, just like yours (actually, you
had an entire night to write your thesis, but that’s not the point
right now) and as such is far from perfect – but it gives the
reader what he/she needs to see where I’m going with my
essay.
 You must keep working on developing this skill. With practice
and reflection you will improve.