Question 1 Read the following thesis statement and determine whether or not it is effective and the reason for its effectiveness or lack thereof.

Ernest Hemmingway's novella, The Old Man and the Sea, depicts not only Santiago's solitary struggle against the unforgiving ocean, but also the healing value of friendship and loyalty, as illustrated through Manolin's unwavering devotion to the old man.

A. Effective, because it includes the title of the novella, the author, and a brief description of their friendship.
B. Effective, because it is arguable and will require evidence and commentary to support the claim.
C. Not effective, because it does not explain who Manolin is or why he is so devoted to the old man.
D. Not effective, because it fails to explain or describe how Manolin supports the old man in his time of need.
E. Not effective, because while it identifies the friendship between the man and boy, it does not describe it in enough depth.

Question 2
What, if anything, makes the following thesis statement weak?

When the protagonist of Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady, Isabel Archer, finds herself confronting swindlers eager to scam her out of her fortune, the plot reveals the author's mistrust of "new world" values over "old world" traditions, raising questions about the future of society.

A. It does not address meaning, or the "so what?"
B. It fails to provide a rationale for the position.
C. It is not arguable or defensible.
D. It is not specific.
E. Nothing; this thesis statement is effective.

Question 3
What revision, if any, is needed to make this thesis statement more effective?

In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses Ralph, with his leadership, initial optimism, and naivete, as a symbol for order and civilization.

A. It needs to address meaning, or the "so what?"
B. It needs to be arguable or defensible.
C. It should provide evidence for the position.
D. It should provide the last names of characters.
E. No revision is needed; the thesis is effective.

Question 4
Read the following thesis statement and determine whether or not it is effective and the reason for its effectiveness or lack thereof.

The dinner scene in Pride and Prejudice is a really important scene in the book. In this scene, the various guests speak extensively about the roles of women during the time period, and the main characters are developed more fully.

A. Effective, because it explains what is discussed during this important scene and what the scene accomplishes.
B. Effective, because it includes the claim that the dinner scene is "important," which could be argued by someone who believes it is not.
C. Effective, because it includes the title of the book and describes what happens during this event.
D. Not effective, because it does not address why the topic of conversation is important or how the character development contributes to meaning.
E. Not effective, because it does not provide detailed evidence of the historical context that would allow readers to understand the position taken.