thesis statement for human nature, good or evil, end of innocence/youth, belief in God/goodness, survival, savagery vs civilization
Once you write your thesis statement, please post it and someone here will critique it for you.
Here are some sites to help with thesis statements:
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html
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People are born innocent and human nature is to be good.
That's pretty broad. It would be good for a first sentence in your introduction, but your thesis (which should be the LAST sentence in the introduction) should be more specific so that it leads directly into your paper. Please read over the examples and corrections in the leo.stcloudstate.edu link above.
Do you have the rest of your paper planned? Perhaps an outline? If you don't have that done, you need to do so. Remember to follow the writing process completely, or you'll most likely end up with a very disjointed paper.
http://esl.about.com/cs/writing/ht/ht_essay.htm
This is a fairly good listing of the steps in the writing process. The one thing they have left out, though, is that you'll probably need to revise your thesis statement once you have the outline done.
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When crafting a thesis statement on topics like human nature, good or evil, the end of innocence/youth, belief in God/goodness, survival, and savagery vs civilization, it is essential to consider the main ideas or themes that you want to explore in your essay. Here is an example of a comprehensive thesis statement that touches upon these concepts:
"In [literary work], the portrayal of human nature oscillates between the notions of inherent goodness and inherent evil, as innocence and youth gradually give way to the realization of the complexity of the world. Through the contrast of belief in God/goodness and the instinctual drive for survival, the characters navigate a thin line between savagery and civilization, highlighting the fragile balance between morality and the inherent human inclination towards darkness."
To develop this thesis statement, you can follow these steps:
1. Select a specific literary work: Choose a book or a play that tackles the mentioned themes. For example, you could analyze "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.
2. Identify the portrayal of human nature: Explore how the book presents characters' actions and behaviors in relation to their innate nature. Consider whether the characters are depicted as fundamentally good or evil in their essence.
3. Discuss the end of innocence/youth: Examine how the narrative depicts the loss of innocence or the transition from youth to adulthood. Look for specific events or character transformations that symbolize this loss of innocence.
4. Analyze belief in God/goodness: Pay attention to how the characters' belief in a higher power or in innate goodness affects their decisions and actions throughout the story. Consider the conflicts or crises of faith that they experience.
5. Explore survival and savagery vs civilization: Investigate how the characters' struggle for survival shapes their behavior and relationships. Examine the contrast between their instinctual urges and their adherence to societal norms and structures.
By thoroughly analyzing these elements within the chosen literary work, you can develop a compelling and coherent thesis statement that guides your essay. Remember to provide evidence and examples from the text to support your arguments.