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QLDEnglishQuick questions
Unit 4: Close Study of Literary Texts
Quick questions on Building an analytical thesis for the QCE English EA: Unit 4 Topic 2
15short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the four-step procedure for constructing a thesis from a prompt?Show answer
Step 1. Identify the directive verb of the prompt. Common verbs: "Discuss" (balanced response), "To what extent" (graduated response), "How does" (craft response), "Analyse" (close-reading response), "Evaluate" (critical-judgement response). The verb determines the shape of your response.
What is a reliable thesis-and-signpost template for the EA opening?Show answer
The EA opening (around 100 to 150 words) does the following work:
What is signposting the thesis through the body?Show answer
The thesis should be visible at every body paragraph topic sentence and closing sentence. Not restated word-for-word; restated with new pressure and new facet.
What is complicating the thesis?Show answer
A Band 6 essay does not just defend the thesis; it complicates it. Complication takes one of three forms:
What are common thesis errors?Show answer
Thesis as theme label. "The text is about power" is not a thesis. Refine.
What is not the prompt?Show answer
The prompt asks "how does the text construct X". The thesis is your specific answer to that question.
What is not a theme label?Show answer
"The text explores power" labels a theme. A thesis says something specific about how the text explores power.
What is not a plot summary?Show answer
A thesis is an interpretive claim, not a description of events.
What is not a statement of liking?Show answer
"The text effectively uses symbolism" is an evaluative judgement, not a thesis.
What is thesis as theme label?Show answer
"The text is about power" is not a thesis. Refine.
What is thesis as prompt restatement?Show answer
"This essay will discuss how the text constructs its representation of power" repeats the prompt. State the answer.
What is thesis as plot description?Show answer
"Power passes from character A to character B" describes plot. The thesis is the interpretive claim about that.
What is thesis too broad to defend?Show answer
"The text explores many aspects of power" defends nothing specific. Narrow.
What are multiple competing theses?Show answer
A thesis that says "power is X, but also Y, but also Z" fractures the essay. Choose one. (Or use one as the thesis and the others as the complicating moves in body paragraphs.)
What is thesis abandoned after the opening?Show answer
A body that drifts from the thesis stated in the opening loses analytical traction. Sign-post the thesis through every paragraph.