1. The Thesis Statement

2. What is a thesis statement?
2-3 sentences in your introduction that concisely state your
answer to the question and map how you are going to
prove your point of view.
Example
Q: Explain which novel is the best choice for adolescent
readers.
Thesis: A effective novel for adolescent readers is engaging,
original and age-appropriate. Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger
Games, with its unpredictable plotline, relatable characters
and age-appropriate language, is the best choice for
adolescent readers

3. Elements of a Thesis Statement
Identifies your point of view
Is specific and sticks to the topic
Demonstrates how you will support your point of
view by indicating your main arguments.

4. The Thesis Will NOT
waffle.
introduce examples, quotes or techniques.
include any rhetorical questions.
re-tell the plot or life story of the composer.
plagarise anything!

5. Q: The journey itself is more
important than the destination.
To what extent is this statement
reflected in The Secret River?

6. Step One:
Decide your position on the topic. Remember that you can edit your thesis
statement late if you find that your evidence doesn’t quite support it.
Step Two: List and sort the ideas you want to use to support your argument.
Step Three: Ask yourself - can I support my point of view? Look at your evidence.
Is there enough to support your point of view? If not, you can edit your thesis.
Step Four: Use the ideas to write 2-3 sentences that indicate:
a) the topic
b) your point of view on the topic
c) how you will support your point of view.

7. Obstacles allow people to For the persona in “The
learn a lot during their Pilgrimage,” the physical
journeys about their own journey of the war and
identity. Thornhill learns returning to Vietnam is
his place in the world over, but the inner
Thornhill became a better
while the persona in the journey of healing isn’t
man by overcoming
article learns to reflect on over.
obstacles such as poverty,
his experiences.
the class system and how
to deal with the
Indigenous people.
Journeys can have positive
When Thornhill’s Dad and negative experiences.
died, he started a new The destination might not
journey as the patriarch of show this.
his family.
William’s journey For the persona in “The
was shaped by Pilgrimage,” experiences
experiences he had during the journey shaped
along the way. the outcome

8. Experiences Obstacles Consequences
Obstacles allow people to Thornhill became a better
learn a lot during their man by overcoming
journeys about their own For the persona in “The obstacles such as poverty,
identity. Thornhill learns Pilgrimage,” the physical the class system and how
his place in the world journey of the war and to deal with the
while the persona in the returning to Vietnam is Indigenous people.
article learns to reflect on over, but the inner
his experiences. journey of healing isn’t
over.
When Thornhill’s Dad
died, he started a new Journeys can have positive
journey as the patriarch of and negative experiences.
his family. The destination might not
William’s journey show this. For the persona in “The
was shaped by Pilgrimage,” experiences
experiences he had during the journey haped
along the way. the outcome

9. Experiences during a Obstacles Consequences
journey shape the outcome
and a person’s identity.
Journeys can have positive Thornhill became a better When Thornhill’s Dad
and negative experiences. man by overcoming died, he started a new
The destination might not obstacles such as poverty, journey as the patriarch of
show this. the class system and how his family.
to deal with the
William’s journey Indigenous people.
was shaped by For the persona in “The
experiences he had Pilgrimage,” the physical
along the way. journey of the war and
Obstacles allow people to
returning to Vietnam is
learn a lot during their
over, but the inner
For the persona in “The journeys about their own
journey of healing isn’t
Pilgrimage,” experiences identity. Thornhill learns
over.
during the journey haped his place in the world
the outcome while the persona in the
article learns to reflect on
his experiences.

10. Experiences during a Overcoming obstacles Consequences
journey shape the outcome during a journey allow
and a person’s identity. people to grow and
change.
Journeys can have positive Thornhill became a better When Thornhill’s Dad
and negative experiences. man by overcoming died, he started a new
The destination might not obstacles such as poverty, journey as the patriarch of
show this. the class system and how his family.
to deal with the
William’s journey Indigenous people.
was shaped by For the persona in “The
experiences he had Pilgrimage,” the physical
along the way. journey of the war and
Obstacles allow people to
returning to Vietnam is
learn a lot during their
over, but the inner
For the persona in “The journeys about their own
journey of healing isn’t
Pilgrimage,” experiences identity. Thornhill learns
over.
during the journey haped his place in the world
the outcome while the persona in the
article learns to reflect on
his experiences.

11. Experiences during a Overcoming obstacles There is no real destination.
journey shape the outcome during a journey allow Journeys can be
and a person’s identity. people to grow and concurrent, or the end of
change. one marks the beginning of
another.
Journeys can have positive Thornhill became a better When Thornhill’s Dad
and negative experiences. man by overcoming died, he started a new
The destination might not obstacles such as poverty, journey as the patriarch of
show this. the class system and how his family.
to deal with the
William’s journey Indigenous people.
was shaped by For the persona in “The
experiences he had Pilgrimage,” the physical
along the way. journey of the war and
Obstacles allow people to
returning to Vietnam is
learn a lot during their
over, but the inner
For the persona in “The journeys about their own
journey of healing isn’t
Pilgrimage,” experiences identity. Thornhill learns
over.
during the journey haped his place in the world
the outcome while the persona in the
article learns to reflect on
his experiences.

12. Thesis Statement
Although the destination is significant, the journey itself
is far more formative as a person’s identity is shaped by
the experiences and obstacles they encounter during
their journey. These experiences and obstacles are
essential to a journey whereas the destination is not
because journeys often occur concurrently and the
destination may not exist.

13. Introduction
The importance of the journey over the destination is
demonstrated throughout Kate Grenville’s novel The
Secret River and Mark Dapin’s article “The Pilgrimage.”
Although the destination is significant, the journey itself
is far more formative as a person’s identity is shaped by
the experiences and obstacles they encounter during
their journey. These experiences and obstacles are
essential to a journey whereas the destination is not
because journeys often occur concurrently and the
destination may not exist.

14. Thesis Statement Bungles
The Secret River is really good book. It is about William
Thornhill, a man who is transported to Australia in 1806
with his family. He does it tough for awhile but then
make loads of money on the Hawkesbury and builds a
massive house.

15. All journeys are caused by the influence of others.
To what extent is this statement reflected in The Secret
River and The Little Refugee?