hl essay thesis statement

Higher Level Essay

Whether you are an HL Literature student or HL Lang/Lit student, the HLE requires some special attention.  The good thing about this assessment is that it’s a processed – rather than on-demand – piece of writing.  This means you can take your time, put in the work, and produce something that you love and makes you proud.  Our students crush this assessment!  Use the same resources they do and enjoy your success.

HLE Writing Guide

Writing this assessment doesn’t have to be challenging.  In fact, we think it can be fun and rewarding!  Let us guide you through the entire writing process, from line of inquiry to the last word of your conclusion.  Our students do well on this assessment, and so can you.

Part of our  IBDP English A Student Toolkit , this resource includes:

• 100-page course book with guidance on films, photos, cartoons, and many other non-literary BOWs
• 5 sample papers across genres
• Examiner scores and comments
• Line of Inquiry guidance
• Step-by-step approach to building the HLE in small and manageable chunks
• Complete set of graphic organizers to guide students from start to finish

Developing a Line of Inquiry and Thesis

The Line of Inquiry (LOI) and thesis are the cornerstone of the assessment, so don’t proceed until these are under control.  Sadly, many students get off to a poor start with this step, and this means they end up writing either a shallow essay or one that doesn’t really satisfy the requirements of the task.  These videos should help you unlock the task.

Start with a text you love and work toward developing a literary or linguistic perspective. Watch this video and start your pathway to success.

How To Write the Line of Inquiry

If the first method didn't work for you, please try another approach.

How to Write the Line of Inquiry (part 2)

Turn that LoI into a clear, precise, and insightful thesis statement that will drive the essay.

HLE Sample Thesis Statements and Writing

The HLE Complete Course from Start to Finish

We feel this is some of our best work.  Teachers and students around the world have commented that this HLE series gets the job done and results in some powerful writing that makes students proud.  Please take the time and work through the videos sequentially.  Work along side with us.  Let us guide you to HLE success!

Choose your text and write the LOI.

Student planning doc

Model Student planning doc

Time for brainstorming and outlining.

Student Organizer

Completed Sample Organizer

Master the intro and conclusion.

Sample Intro and Conclusion

Learn how to write strong HLE body paragraphs.

Sample Body Paragraphs

Learn to revise, edit, and polish the final product.

Final instructions before submission

Dave’s complete sample HLE

Some Sample Papers

Sometimes it’s easier to just look at a final product, break it down, and see how other students have approached the HLE.  That’s why Dave and Andrew selected some strong papers, highlighted them, and discussed their strengths and weaknesses.  We’ve examined tons of these things, so listen carefully.  Lots of tips and tricks in these videos to help you pick up some extra points and crack into that mark band you want and deserve.  Understand the task.  Work hard.  Defeat the HLE and allow yourself to beam with pride.  Go ahead, you’ve earned it.

You’ve probably noticed that Andrew and Dave love drama. Dialogue, stage directions, props…they’re amazing! Watch our student crush this HLE on Death and the Maiden by Dorfman. What can you steal from this essay in terms of ideas, organization, and overall approach? Document: HLE Student Sample – Drama

Poetry anyone? Andrew and Dave love poetry for the HLE. They are complete “mini works” with a clear beginning, middle, and end. They are rich in techniques. They are complex and have deep meaning. In short, they rock. Just remember that for the HLE, “short texts need friends.” Document: HLE Student Sample – Poetry

Looking For More Support?

Hey, nobody said this thing would be easy.  No worries.  We’ve got you covered.  Perhaps you want to see some more student writing?  Check.  We’ve got that.  Perhaps you want to know some key points to include?  Check.  We got that too.  You’re almost there!  Finish these last two videos, add some finishing touches to your work, and submit that baby in with pride and confidence.

So you watched the videos above but are still concerned about “showing deep thinking” on the HLE? It’s ok – we know this is tough. Check out this video to see several samples of how to build big thinking into your writing. Document: Showing Deep Thinking in the HLE

We know, we know. The content is overwhelming and it’s just too much at times. You just want the top ten tips for success? Fine. Here you go. But don’t forget to go back and watch the rest of these videos when you’re feeling more energy. They’re a set. Watch them all and ace the HLE.

7 Tips to Achieve a Level 7 on the IB HL English Essay

What is the IB English HL Essay?

The IB English HL Essay is usually written at the end of the first year of IB English in international schools and constitutes 25% of the IB English grade. For IB HL English Language & Literature, the source for the 1200-1500 word essay will be a non-literary or literary text studied in the course; for HL English Literature, this will be a literary text studied in the course.

As an International Baccalaureate Higher Level English student, one of the most daunting tasks is achieving a level 7 on the essay. However, with the right approach and mindset, it’s definitely achievable. Here are the top tips to help you achieve a level 7 on your IB HL English essay.

• Analyze the question carefully: Before diving into writing, read the prompt carefully and identify the key themes and ideas. Make sure you understand what the question is asking for. This will help you to stay focused and on-topic throughout the essay.
• Develop a strong thesis statement: Your thesis statement should reflect the main argument of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and specific. Remember, a strong thesis statement is the foundation of a successful essay.
• Use evidence effectively: Include specific quotes and examples from the text to support your arguments. Make sure to explain how the evidence relates to your thesis statement.
• Analyze literary techniques: IB exams often require students to analyze literary techniques such as symbolism, imagery, and metaphors. Make sure to identify these techniques in the text and explain how they contribute to the overall meaning.
• Plan your essay: Before writing, take some time to plan out your essay. Create an outline or a rough draft to organize your thoughts and ideas. This will help you to structure your essay effectively and ensure that you cover all the necessary points.
• Edit and revise: After finishing your essay, take some time to edit and revise. Check for grammar and spelling errors, and make sure that your sentences are clear and concise. Also, ask someone else to read your essay and provide feedback.
• Stay calm and focused: Finally, stay calm and focused throughout the exam. Remember to manage your time effectively, and don’t panic if you encounter a difficult question. Take a deep breath and approach the question logically and systematically.

In conclusion, achieving a level 7 on your IB HL English essay requires careful planning, effective use of evidence, and a clear and concise writing style. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to success.

Are you ready to improve your exam performance?

Previous post tips to achieve a level 7 on the ib mathematics ia, next post top study tips to succeed in your upcoming igcse exams.

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HL essay – the process

Check the Subject Guide and with your teacher for official information about the HL essay.

There are a number of different ways to develop an HL essay. Consider the following outline; it isn’t 100% comprehensive but it covers the key elements.

Preparing for the HL essay

• Carefully read through the HL essay requirements and criteria.
• Analyze HL essay samples. Make sure you understand how a particular HL essay sample addresses the requirements and criteria.
• Work very hard on your schoolwork and school assessments. Although you may not realize it early on, these are designed to build the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful on your HL essay.
• You will probably start working on your individual oral before your HL essay. The bodies of work and works you use on your individual oral CANNOT be used on your HL essay.
• As you work through bodies of work and works in your class, put a list together of ones you are considering using for your HL essay. Keep adding notes / details about the works and bodies of works on your list as you go through the course.
• Consider a few different topics (e.g. one of the course’s concepts) for your HL essay. Keep adding notes / details about the topics on your list as you go through the course.
• Once you narrow down your list of possible bodies of work and work for your HL essay, go through them and annotate them specifically for the HL essay. Your HL essay will need evidence to support your arguments – start collecting it early on.

Creating your HL essay

• Evaluate your different options, consult with your teacher and then choose a final work OR body of work that will be the focus of your HL essay. Remember that the work or body of work that you choose cannot be used for another IB assessment.
• If you are considering using a short literary text (e.g. a short story) for the HL essay check the requirements on page 43 of the Subject Guide.
• Evaluate your different options, consult with your teacher and then choose a final topic for your HL essay. The Subject Guide states that the topic you choose, “should enable a broad literary or linguistic focus for the essay. In achieving this, the course’s seven central concepts may be a helpful starting point for students in generating or determining a topic for the essay” (43).  
• Create an outline of your essay. The basic outline can start with a clear thesis statement and topic sentences.
• Early in the development process make sure your ideas / arguments / evidence meet the requirements and criteria for the HL essay.
• Periodically re-read review sample HL essays.
• As you put together your first draft, make absolutely sure that all of your sources are cited properly. If you wait too long to do this properly you will drastically increase the chances of making a mistake.
• You must put together the best possible first draft. Better first draft = better feedback from your teacher.
• Your teacher will give you feedback on your first draft but the feedback is somewhat limited. Page 44 of the Subject Guide provides additional information.
• As you get closer to finishing the final draft, double check that your HL essay follows all of the IB requirements and addresses the terms in the criteria.
• Before submitting your final essay make absolutely sure that all of your sources are cited properly.
• Submit your final draft to your teacher / IB according to the instructions you have been given. Each school has a slightly different process.

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• Feb 19, 2023

Creating the English HL Essay: Turning Analysis into a Thesis Masterpiece

Updated: Jul 7, 2023

The English HL essay is undoubtedly the flagship assessment of Higher-Level English. At its core, the HL essay depends on the same analytical skills as any other piece of English assessment. However, the HL essay sets itself apart by requiring a more specific and conceptual line of inquiry, and overall greater depth of analysis. With these requirements, the HL essay is often the single most daunting assessment in the HL English calendar. So, to help you on your HL essay journey, this blog will detail some useful tips and considerations to get you heading on the right track.

1) The Line of Inquiry

The line of inquiry is the central question around which the entire HL essay rests. A good line of inquiry will set you up for a terrific analysis, while a bad line of inquiry will leave your essay stuck and directionless. But what actually makes a good line of inquiry?

The trick is to allow the line of inquiry to focus your analysis. Take this hypothetical line of inquiry: “ How and why does J.R.R. Tolkien use the race of Men as a philosophical discussion of agency and its relationship with mortality in books within the Lord of the Rings? ”.

Starting with the imperatives “how” and “why”, this line of inquiry immediately constrains your analysis to keep you focused on technique (the how) and purpose (the why). This protects you from straying off track; so long as you keep talking about the hows and the whys, you guarantee yourself those marks that are for focus and relevancy.

This line of inquiry further keeps on task by explicitly stating the feature of your text that speaks to some real literary concept. In this case, we can see that the student using this line of inquiry is arguing that the race of Men is a tool that Tolkien has used to talk about agency and morality. Agency and morality are the literary concepts, the race of Men is the feature. By connecting them in the line of inquiry, you make it significantly easier to keep making that connection all the way throughout the entire HL essay. Not only this, but by connecting in-text features with a concept, it becomes significantly easier to produce the kinds of insightful arguments that push you into the top band of Criterion A.

The line of inquiry makes or breaks your HL essay (no pressure). That said, the HL essay is an ongoing journey. It is both common and perfectly okay to change or even completely scrap a line of inquiry partway through the drafting process.

2) The Analysis Itself

The analysis in the HL essay itself takes a very similar shape to analyses elsewhere in English assessments: technique, implications, authorial purpose, text type, audience positioning, evaluation, link to paragraph thesis, and so on. These avenues of analysis are the backbone of English in general and so it should come as no surprise that they are the backbone of the HL essay as well.

Where the HL essay can diverge from the other assessments is the points that you are arguing within the body paragraphs. Body paragraphs in the paper 1, for example, often cover how individual categories (say, visual techniques) contribute to the overall meaning of the text. The HL essay body paragraphs are considerably more related to the concept that you are arguing.

Taking the Lord of the Rings example above, you could have one paragraph about the race of Men and how Tolkien portrays their culture as a means of questioning the futility of having agency in light of definitive mortality. Then, you could have a second paragraph about how the race of Men is made distinct against other races in the Lord of the Rings as a tool of evaluating the role of mortality in driving personal choice, and so on for further paragraphs.

As you can see, rather than targeting specific groups of techniques, the HL essay paragraphs first address the conceptual discussions created within the text, and then the techniques are brought in to explain how these discussions emerge and what commentary the author is trying to make.

3) Structure and Terminology

There is no definitive go-to structure for the HL Essay. So long as there is an introduction and a conclusion framing a series of body paragraphs that each contain a thesis point, analysis, evidence and connections to the line of inquiry, then you are fulfilling the requirements of formal essay structure mandated by Criterion C.

Similarly, there is no required number of body paragraphs. Given the word count, 3-4 paragraphs is a good number to ensure that you are creating detailed points without repeating ideas. But, you are free to add more or less paragraphs and there are sometimes situations or texts where that may be necessary.

Criterion C and D are somewhat more check-boxy than A and B. How you fulfil Criterions A and B can be more variable depending on your text, as individual text types have defining features that lend themselves to potentially different directions of analysis. A short story, for example, would contain dialogue and so an analysis of speech and language takes on a completely different form than it would in a poem. But Criterion C and D are relatively consistent.

As long as you have a cohesive and formal essay structure as said above, combined with clear, analytical, and explicit vocabulary and tone, Criterion C and D are as good as guaranteed to you. Key things to consider when ensuring that these criteria are fulfilled include your tone (academic and unemotive), punctuation, and sentence variety (mixture of simple, compound, and complex sentences).

Closing Remarks

The HL essay is a task aimed to allow students to demonstrate the extent of their literary skills that they have learnt over their time in the diploma program. It can be daunting, and absolutely must be difficult in order to provoke insightful analysis, but it is just as possible to get a 7 on it as on any other assessment in any other subject. My final recommendation? Draft, redraft, redraft, and redraft again. Even if you’re just rewriting the same ideas every time, constant revision and review builds a crucial familiarity with the concepts and theses that you are arguing.

Good luck on your HL essay journey!

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• HL Essay: Exemplar 3 (George Monbiot)
• Higher level essay
• HLE sample work

Sample HL Essay

Sample hl essay with teacher's comments.

HL External Assessments, first examinations 2021

HL Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. (30 marks) 25%

SL Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. Students are required to answer one question only.(30 marks) 35%

The only difference between HL and SL is that HL Paper 2 is weighted less at 25% while SL Paper 2 is weighted at 25%.

Comparative essay on literary texts

Paper Two Explained

Paper Two Rubric

High Exemplar and Comments

Mid Range Exemplar and Comments

Producing a Paper Two: Compare and Contrast Two Texts Analysis, IB External Assessment (May of Senior Year)

Compare and Contrast Two Texts, Similarities and Differences

Compare and Contrast Two Texts, Point by Point Method

Compare and Contrast Two Texts, Block Method

Developing a Thesis

TWO WORKS: Writing the thesis statement for a compare/contrast essay

In (Name of Work), (Full Name of Author) (uses, employs, utilizes), (device/strategy/technique), and (device/strategy/technique) to (show, reveal, emphasize, argue, insist, point out) that (effect/purpose/theme), while in (Name of Work), (Full Name of Author) (uses, employs, utilizes), (device/strategy/technique), and (device/strategy/technique) to (show, reveal, emphasize, argue, insist, point out) that (effect/purpose/theme).

In (Name of Work) and (Name of Work), both (Full Name of First Author) and (Full Name of Second Author) (use, employ, utilize, rely on) (device/strategy/technique) to (show, reveal, emphasize, argue, insist, point out) that (effect/purpose/theme)

• Support Sites

English A: Language and Literature Support Site

Hle assessment criteria, criterion a: knowledge, understanding and interpretation.

• To what extent does the essay show knowledge and understanding of the work or body of work?
• To what extent are interpretations drawn from the work or body of work to explore the topic?
• To what extent are interpretations supported by relevant references to the work or body of work?

Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

• To what extent does the essay show analysis and evaluation of how the author uses stylistic and structural features to construct meaning on the topic?

Criterion C: Coherence, focus and organisation

• To what extent does the essay show coherence, focus and organisation?

Criterion D: Language

• To what extent is the student’s use of vocabulary, tone, syntax, style and terminology accurate, varied and effective?

Exam guide, practice papers, past paper solutions.

How to Write a Bullet-proof Thesis for Paper 1

Learn the two main ingredients that make or break a thesis statement for IB English Paper 1.

If you have deconstructed a text successfully, as explained step-by-step in the previous lesson, you will now have three things:

• several main ideas
• annotations of techniques
• the writer's overall purpose

Now we need to summarise these three things in a single sentence called the thesis. At this point, we still haven't started writing the essay yet. We are still in the planning phase. By doing all of this planning, the writing process will be much easier.

• What is a thesis?

The thesis is a single sentence in the introduction of the essay that states how the writer achieves his overall purpose. (Also make sure your thesis answers the guiding question and uses the same keywords to show the examiner you're answering the guiding question.)

This sentence—this thesis—is also the main argument that you are trying to prove in your essay. The examiner can usually judge the strength of your analytical skills just from your thesis alone, so it needs to be well-written.

• How to write a strong thesis

A good thesis must tick two boxes:

• clear and concise
• conveys writer's intention

Be clear and concise

Students often write a long, winding sentence for their thesis. This is bad because the marker cannot easily distinguish your thesis from the rest of your introduction. This is particularly bad when you realise that a marker spends only a couple of minutes reading through each essay (ain't nobody got time for dat).

As such, you should always write a clear and concise thesis that is no longer than ~30 words.

“In the story, the author looks at how the main character is sad and how he always fights with his parents when he returns home from school.” (27 words)

This is a bad thesis:

• The language isn't clear. In particular, the verb “looks” is too vague and informal. The word “how” is also informal.
• The sentence isn't concise. The thesis should focus only on the main ideas: sadness and familial conflict. The contextual detail of “coming home from school” is distracting. Avoid excess information in the thesis.

A better thesis looks like this:

“In the prose extract, the author conveys the sadness of the protagonist through the portrayal of his frequent conflict with his parents.” (21 words)

• The language is clearer and more sophisticated. Notice how instead of writing “In the story”, we can write “In the prose extract”.
• The sentence is also more concise. The language in “conveys” is much better than “looks at”.

Another great thesis might look like this:

“In the prose extract, the author characterises the protagonist as a sad teenager who suffers frequent conflict with his parents.”

• Here, the thesis is explicit about the literary focus of the essay by including the term “characterization.”
• In the poem/prose extract/article, (author X) explores/ criticizes/ ridicules/ portrays/ highlights/ illustrates the (subject) in order to (purpose).

In general, use this formula for clear and concise thesiss.

In the poem / play / prose extract / article ( genre ), the writer explores / criticises / ridicules/ portrays / highlights / illustrates ( some verb ) _________ ( idea, effect, or meaning ).

Our thesis is now clear and concise, but there's one problem. It feels too simplistic. There's no depth. The reason is because we're missing something essential.

Sprinkle the writer's purpose

At the moment, our thesis is simply saying: “In the text, the writer does this.” But that's only half the picture. We need to add the writer's purpose. The thesis needs to say:

“The writer does this, this and that in order to achieve a purpose.”

By explaining not just what  the writer does but also why  the writer does it, the thesis immediately becomes deeper and more complete.

For example:

“In the prose extract, the author characterises the protagonist as a sad teenager who experiences frequent conflict with his parents in order to highlight the harsh estrangement of adolescence .”

where the bolded part of the thesis expresses the intention (why) behind the writer's use of characterisation (what).

The thesis sounds even better if we move the author's intention to the beginning of the sentence:

“ In order to highlight the harsh estrangement of adolescence , the author characterizes the protagonist as a sad teenager who suffers frequent conflict with his parents.”

Or, we can be a little less explicit about the purpose by expressing it as a theme: .

“In the prose extract, the author explores the distressed emotional landscape of adolescence through the portrayal of the teenage protagonist's constant melancholy and familial conflict.”

• Here the writer's message is expressed instead as a central theme: the distressed emotional landscape of adolescence.

We now have a new template for writing strong thesiss that have both clarity and depth.

In the poem / play / prose extract / article ( some genre ), the writer explores / criticises / ridicules/ portrays / highlights / illustrates ( some verb ) _________ ( idea, effect, or meaning ) in order to __________ ( some purpose ).

After you get used to using this template, it will start to feel formulaic and boring. At that stage, feel free to do away with the training wheels and express your thesis however you like, as long as it is clear, concise and conveys the writer's intention.

• Improving a real thesis by a real student

Student's version “Banville utilises situational irony created by the characterisation of the parents, and the situational irony of the narrator's depressing holiday to express a bittersweet tone by the narrator.” ( 28 words )

One of my lovely students (in real life) wrote this thesis for a Higher Level Paper 1 essay. We are going to identify what's wrong with it, and then we will improve on it.

• First, the thesis is not concise . Situational irony is mentioned too many times, and the overall idea of the narrator's depressing memories can be conveyed more succinctly.
• Second, there's an issue with the purpose . The student has made the bittersweet tone the writer's core purpose. But tone is never the purpose. Ever. Tone is a technique used as a means, a vehicle, a way to achieve a purpose. So the purpose needs to change.

Fixed version “Banville ironically constructs the narrator's depressing memories of her childhood holidays in order to portray the fractured relationships within her family.” (21 words)

• This version is clearer and more concise. It's seven words shorter. The two uses of situational irony have been replaced by just one use of “ironically”. The reason for doing so is because situational irony is distracting detail that is irrelevant in the thesis but can be mentioned later in the introduction or in the points of the essay.
• Also, the purpose is now an actual purpose. The message of the story was really about the horrible relationship between the narrator and her parents, and this purpose is now adequately summarised in the phrase, “fractured relationships within her family.” Notice how an accurate understanding of the writer's purpose is starting to become important just in the introduction; make sure you've deconstructed a text well before you even attempt to write the thesis, because otherwise your interpretation will be wrong and your Knowledge and Understanding Criterion will go down.
• Also, I removed the reference to tone from the thesis. The reason why tone is removed entirely from the thesis is because, like situational irony, tone is a distracting detail that is not important at the Big Picture level and should instead be mentioned later in the introduction and body paragraphs.
• Depth can kill

A common question that students ask me is this, and you might have wondered about it many times before. The question is this: “Does the thesis (or thesis, or argument) have to be  really deep ?”

In other words, does the writer's purpose need to be highly philosophical message about things like, “What is the meaning of life?”

The answer is a definite “No.” Don't try to make up some deep message that doesn't exist in the text. It might sound impressive, but it won't help you at all. In your thesis, simply write down what the writer's purpose is, and as accurately as you can. If you have genuinely interpreted the writer's purpose to be a deep message, like “the meaning of life”, then great. But if the writer's purpose is clearly just characterisation, then simply use that as the purpose and don't make up some corny, cheesy message that doesn't even represent the text at all.

Accuracy is what you should be worrying about, and you should not be worrying about whether the purpose in your thesis sounds intellectual or philosophical.

Composition I - ENGL 1301

• Getting started
• Research plan
• a. Technical rules
• b. Audience
• c. Source types
• d. Writing style
• a. Primary & secondary sources
• b. Scholarly, trade, & popular publications
• c. Scholarly & peer-reviewed journals
• d. Grey literature
• a. Brainstorming
• b. Exploring the internet
• c. Exploring background information
• d. Narrowing/broadening your topic
• a. Evidence
• b. Reading a scholarly article
• c. Notetaking
• d. Evaluating information
• e. Citation style
• a. Article keywords & subject terms
• b. Cited references
• c. Search within publication
• d. Database alerts & RSS feeds
• e. Personal database accounts
• f. Persistent URLs
• a. Introduction
• b. Abstract & executive summary
• c. Thesis statement
• d. Supporting paragraphs
• e. Transitions
• f. Conclusion
• a. Using evidence
• b. Revision process
• c1. In-text citation - APA
• c2. In-text citation - Chicago/CMOS
• c3. In-text citation - MLA
• d. Bias free language
• a. References - APA
• b. Bibliography - Chicago/CMOS
• c. Works Cited - MLA
• Research & writing resources

Chat with a librarian

What is a thesis statement.

A thesis statement is a sentence that directly states the central idea of your written assignment. In essays, a thesis statement is usually included in the introduction. In longer pieces of writing, it may appear further along, but still near the beginning.

A successful thesis has the following characteristics:

• it is  interesting  to the readers
• it is  specific
• it narrows down the scope of the topic to "make it  manageable "

What are some examples of a thesis statement?

Your thesis is generally one of the harder sentences to write, especially for those new to writing research papers.  You want the reader to know with this one statement what your stance on the topic is and what you intend to prove with your research.  Some good examples of a thesis statement would be:

• While cake and pie are both desserts, the structure, ingredients, and ease of transportation sets pie apart from its main competitor.
• An analysis of video game profit margins reveals one challenge facing game developers: the success of AAA games and the popularity of independent titles.
• In the movies  Shaun of the Dead  and  28 Days Later , the opening sequence establishes the tone and theme of the film through non-diegetic sound, methodical pacing, and striking visuals.

I don't know what my thesis is yet!

That's ok! As you develop your essay or research paper, your thesis may change. Revise it to reflect the scope and the central idea of your writing.

Writing evolves in stages; sometimes, you may not know what your thesis will be until you start to write. The concept of a  working thesis  is important here.

What is a working thesis?

A working thesis  should have two parts: a topic part, which states the topic, and a comment part, which makes an important point about the topic. 

• Topic:  Cake and pie are both desserts but are very different
• Comment:  pie is the clear winner because its better structured, has a bigger variety of fillings, and is much easier to take with you
• Topic:  Difference in profit margins: AAA games vs Indie titles
• Comment:  indie titles are growing in popularity and may make the smaller teams more money than what programmers get from AAA titles
• Topic:  There were a lot of zombie movies in the 00s but only a handful really stick out as "noteworthy"
• Comment: Its not just about the tone of the movie, but how they pace it.  The sound and visuals have to be unique but not jarring or hokey.  
• << Previous: b. Abstract & executive summary
• Next: d. Supporting paragraphs >>
• Last Updated: May 21, 2024 4:50 PM
• URL: https://tstc.libguides.com/engl1301

• Essay Editor

Harrison Bergeron Essay Topics & Examples

1. introduction.

If you’re a fan of Kurt Vonnegut’s science fiction novel "Harrison Bergeron", I bet that you would like to read some works suitable for your studies. And, of course, you’d appreciate great ideas for your A-level essays. This topic inspired many film adaptations and theatrical productions. Unfortunately, Vonnegut’s short story may seem too short to occur in any other sphere of pop culture. That’s why there are no free adaptations or sequels to it. However, "Harrison Bergeron" essays still surprise readers and give them food for thought. An original story is a good motivator. Short stories’ authors are forced to concentrate on details and give supportive life examples. So, we offer you Harrison Bergeron essay topics to make your studying process super easy! If you ask me about the impact of the story, I answer – it’s huge. Look around, gender inequality, social and racial injustice, wealth poverty gap are typical problems of any society. Nevertheless, Vonnegut’s story should be read anew. The goal of Harrison Bergeron essay questions is to make readers wonder about something more important than health and beauty. Kurt Vonnegut’s messages are always about people. We just need to focus on the problem we know nothing about. Discrimination occurs where we don’t see it. But, it’s not the same as racial, social or gender discrimination.

2. Themes in "Harrison Bergeron"

Themes in "Harrison Bergeron" are important for Orwell's work in general, and "Harrison Bergeron"'s importance is not in its political implication, but rather in its literary implications. Orwell uses "Harrison Bergeron" to sourly mock the idea of multiculturalism and warn of the potential moment when those unworthy of leadership may try to elevate themselves on a dead-end idea. In Brave New World, Huxley shows his fear of those in positions of power. In "Harrison Bergeron", Vonnegut is terrified by those who sit back and do nothing to challenge authority. In the case of the short story, that is not an uncommon theme when it comes to Vonnegut's work. "Harrison Bergeron" is not primarily a political parable, but in Vonnegut's lifetime, it was the politics of his country that seemed to enrage him the most. "Harrison Bergeron" could be considered his most topically political. Another example of how literary implications are important in "Harrison Bergeron" comes from Orwellian signifiers. In the piece, there is a mention of a literary hero named George Bergeron, an intelligent, handsome "Delta-Elite" to Vonnegut, the medieval hero. George and his wife describe their oppositions as masked intruders. Vonnegut's medieval allusion and the intruder's barrier of modifications to George, and Vonnegut's adversary to human romantic connection and the Glass Mask is meant to evoke the glass bead in Orwell's 1984. That story's traitor to the party and his betrayal of the short-lived, communist Winston is a catalyst for the novel's darker second half.

2.1. Equality vs. Individuality

If you’ve read the above, you’re now somewhat familiar with the general concept of the story, its characters, and its main theme: the conflict between individuality and equality. The first step to writing a good essay, whatever the subject or topic, is to decide on a thesis. A thesis is a particular statement or theory that will be argued or proven in the text that follows. For example, in "Harrison Bergeron" we might argue the point that “in order to create a utopian society, the government has robbed its citizens of their individual thoughts and actions”. In their attempts to create a utopian society, the government has taken people such as Harrison and George, who are extremely strong in either mind or body, and psychologically tortured them in a way that leaves them average. Each is claimed to be the best in the country at what he does; however, they are not allowed to use their full ability. Harrison is a genius who was once capable of “juggling 2 or 3 balls or marbles” and whistling tunes with amazing accuracy. Instead of allowing him to use his fantastic skills, the government forced him to wear a handicapping earpiece which releases disorienting noises to prevent him from concentrating for an extended period of time. In Mr. Bergeron’s mind, Harrison should be forced to wear the device in order to prevent him from being “above himself”. Similarly to Harrison, George has amazing strength but is forced to wear ridiculous handicaps to prevent himself from “taking unfair advantage of his brains”. In the land of the free, the Constitution is disregarded as anyone can be forced to rally behind a cause they don’t believe in. Using George’s immense strength, they were forced to wear the 47-pound handicap bag around their neck and shoulders that was filled with dangerous, heavy weights. And while she was above average in beauty, the government did not make her wear anything as their tasks were completed for them. Their daughter, however, was forced to wear a hideous oxford handicapper to hinder her looks. Likewise, this person has been forced upon the idea that they should be average. In conclusion, it is immoral to force citizens to accept equality instead of celebrating and attempting to discover new talents and skills. With the lack of individualism in "Harrison Bergeron", the author, Kurt Vonnegut, makes the point that it is necessary for a society to grow and progress due to the individual talents of every member. If everyone is the same, then it is impossible for such feats to be accomplished or shared among contemporaries.

2.2. Power and Control

In the story, the political power exercises total projected control over spreading its means using torture and murder to reach its goal. In the story, George spends his life enduring sounds in his ear to prevent an independent, original thought from taking shape. For instance, "Conversation in his ear was blaring the news and quoting from the beauty contest on the television screen…" (Vonnegut, 2). The political power avoids the detention officials to kill him by aiding him to the required mental level by breaking his legs (Vonnegut, 1). These illustrations continuously depict the different levels of visible intensities used by the political power to maintain equality. In society, the political power maintains equality using gadgets that emit harsh sound to disturb the thinking pattern of their wearers. The speaker in the gadgets would frequently interrupt thoughts by making rude, insensible noises (Vonnegut, 1). The harshness of the noises induces a heightened attention threshold requiring George to concentrate on their inner thoughts. The frequent interruption of thoughts causes the aging victims to be mentally torsive. To enhance the uniformity of the voice of the speakers, with the help of the government, the political power passes a law that required wearing the processing device at all times.

3. Analysis of Characters

Harrison Bergeron, the story’s main character, has strength, beauty, and intelligence. The United States Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, aims to make anyone like Harrison less of a threat to the government. Sandra Bergeron is the mother of Harrison, who will be in perfect classes once George is down in the basement. Diana Moon Glampers is the Handicapper General who works for Hazel and George by handicapping them. Hazel Bergeron is Harrison’s mother. She is quite aware of the situation. George Bergeron is the father of Harrison and the husband of Hazel. He has a mental handicap radio in his ear to keep others from knowing how much smarter he is or was. Another character is the reporter and ballerina. A first-rate example of a major character in the story is Harrison Bergeron. He is the main character, and the plot develops around this character. His agenda is very clear as he tries to downplay Diana’s plans to promote the Handicapper General as its face at the 2nd amendment. Bergeron is an intelligent and glamorous-looking man in his late teenage years, wearing heavy hand and leg handicappers to keep him from taking unfair advantage of being big and strong in society at large. Despite his handicappers, he is an intelligent and crafty man with a manifest agenda to overthrow the society government. Harrison is the very epitome of rebellion against the government.

3.1. Harrison Bergeron

Published in 1961, Harrison Bergeron is one of Vonnegut’s most famous and widely taught short stories. It is a scathing critique of people who would require others to be average in order to be happy. Defying a general and widespread official belief that equality of results is wonderful and people should be forced to be pleased with it, Vonnegut writes a story about a highly unequal world. To do this, as an American, he simply employs the popular technique of contrast, explaining, often in the same sentence, how pervasive certain unfair practices are and what they specifically are. The eponymous character, after evading the government agents in charge of enforcing equality, manages to reach a TV studio and break through the door of the studio, to the shock of the ballet dancers and the musicians of the transmission. Public. The heavy-footed Harrison announces to the world that he will select an Empress for the rest of the dance. He chose a beautiful ballerina and condemned the musicians to play at the top of their potential. Then, he declares himself emperor and empress and begins to dance with her, defying gravity, and to eliminate all his impediments. The dance continues until Harrison and the dancer are killed by gunshots fired by the Handicapper General.

3.2. George and Hazel Bergeron

Although George and Hazel are like any other married couple, they have their differences. First, under the "eye gear" law, George wears vision glasses with appropriately powerful lenses, i.e., spectacles, while Hazel wears none. This makes George mostly insulted by the authorities during broadcasts, while Hazel can barely remember her son's painful struggle with the general handicap. Hazel also has an unusual lack of envy; she doesn't envy her husband when he watches ballet on TV, even though she can hear the music from outside and can go to the kitchen at any time to fetch something that both she and her husband could use to enhance the television images. The Bergerons demonstrate patience and strong love's ties. When Harrison goes to jail for failing to respect the law and attempts to free other ballet performers, they argue about the expected fate of such break-ins, but they all show patience, supreme patience, giving in finally to George's frustration after a while. One more element, inherited from Kurt Vonnegut's book, is embodied in the tension that characterizes the couple regarding the mutual memory they have of the series of pain they have experienced in relation to the government regulations of Sigma. Neither of the two considers how they encountered or reacted to them, while the government still cannot allow its citizens time to face difficult instances and support each other positively. As George declared rental destruction, where he lost his power and became a really brave man, he chose to abandon his achievement and put the material, whose strength is reflected in George, on the floor, offering a bow to the regulators in order not to appear threatening and dangerous to his own life. The penalties for being smart and intelligently handsome show a competition between one's innate brilliance and the tyrannical doctrine of the Congress over man and his rights; they are burdensome, and man must endure the inspiration to argue.

3.3. The Handicapper General

I chose to write about Harrison Bergeron. The most interesting moment in the story is the celebration of equality that is enforced on people. The celebration is actually about the efforts of the ruling regime—or Handicapper General and her assistants—to shake down citizens. If they did, the cash would be shared in such a way that equals would get more than the ones that are graceful enough to earn it. George, who actively respects the regime as he is tortured to an immense headache by the sound-killing radio that’s sort of a prison he carries on without hope of early release, gets another item – a luxury casino painted on him with the help of a helper spectatus. Aimed at hiding beauty and graces from surrounding them losers, hodunkas, the handicaps also help George and Hazel to drop the thought of private property and core Western families’ values. The citizens lost respect for education as well; George and Hazel put the unusual concentration of correct grammar in a book of stories the son has been shot dead for. It is a worthy criticism of egalitarian idea. Kurt Vonnegut might have displayed some respect to a compliment regime that tries to raise some sluggards to a normal level with the smart and hardworking guys. Didn’t the levy in tax and premiums help many of us to pay for the educations of the third grade gangsters, buying their liberties at least on paper—as long as they remain at school?

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How to Establish a Strong Thesis Declaration for Business Essays: Impacting Corporate Method

Introduction.

A strong thesis declaration is vital for any essay, however, its value is magnified in the world of company writing. Imagine the thesis statement as the structure of a structure; without a strong base, the entire structure is unsteady. This analogy is especially pertinent when talking about business essays that focus on business technique. These essays not only require to be well-written but also offer insights that can affect substantial organization decisions. This article aims to assist you through the process of developing a strong thesis declaration for company essays, ultimately affecting corporate methods. If you’re struggling with this process, consider using services that offer to write my essay online for professional guidance.

Understanding the Thesis Declaration

Meaning and value.

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay. It is generally located at the end of the introductory paragraph and works as a roadmap for the whole paper. The value of a thesis statement can not be overemphasized. It sets the instructions and focus of the essay, informing readers what to anticipate and directing the writer in keeping a meaningful argument throughout the paper.

Attributes of a Strong Thesis Statement

A strong thesis declaration has several key qualities:

• Clearness and Precision: It should be clear and specific, leaving no room for ambiguity.
• Debatable and Assertive: It must present a claim that others can dispute, encouraging discussion and analysis.
• Specific and Focused: It should limit the topic to a manageable scope, preventing excessively broad statements.

Examples of Strong vs. Weak Thesis Statements

Consider the copying:

• Weak Thesis : “Business method is very important for company success.”
• Strong Thesis : “Carrying out sustainable practices in business strategy not just improves brand name credibility but likewise increases long-term profitability.”

The weak thesis is too broad and lacks a clear stance, while the strong thesis specifies, arguable, and focused.

The Function of a Thesis Declaration in Company Essays

Linking thesis to corporate method.

In organization essays, the thesis declaration need to align with styles related to business strategy. This alignment makes sure that the essay stays relevant and offers valuable insights into tactical business choices. For example, a thesis statement that checks out the impact of digital improvement on business strategy can direct the essay in taking a look at how organizations adjust to technological improvements.

Influencing Company Decision-Making

A well-crafted thesis declaration can substantially influence service decision-making. By providing a clear and focused argument, the thesis can highlight crucial locations for consideration, guiding leaders in making notified choices. For example, a thesis that argues for the integration of expert system in corporate method can trigger services to explore AI-driven solutions.

Providing Direction for Research Study and Analysis

The thesis declaration works as a compass for the research and analysis phase of writing. It assists in identifying pertinent sources, arranging information, and keeping a clear focus throughout the essay. In the context of service essays, this direction is crucial for producing coherent and impactful arguments.

Actions to Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

Determine the essay subject.

Picking a pertinent and engaging subject is the initial step in developing a strong thesis declaration. The subject must be aligned with existing patterns and challenges in business world, guaranteeing that the essay is both timely and impactful.

Conduct Initial Research Study

Before formulating a thesis declaration, conduct preliminary research to gather background info on the topic. This research study helps in understanding the context and identifying essential concerns that can be attended to in the thesis.

Ask Crucial Concerns

To limit the topic and create a concentrated thesis, ask important questions such as:

• What particular aspect of business technique am I checking out?
• What is my position on this concern?
• How can this topic impact company practices?

Formulate a Working Thesis

Based upon the initial research and crucial concerns, create a working thesis statement. This preliminary thesis serves as a beginning point and can be fine-tuned as you dig much deeper into the research study.

Refine and Limit

Fine-tune the working thesis to make it more particular and impactful. Ensure that it plainly presents your argument and is narrow enough to be thoroughly explored within the scope of the essay.

Ensure Debatability

A strong thesis declaration should provide an argument or claim that can be debated. This characteristic is necessary for engaging readers and motivating critical analysis.

Common Risks to Prevent

Vague or broad thesis statements.

Prevent thesis declarations that are too unclear or broad, as they can dilute the focus of the essay. Make sure that your thesis specifies and offers a clear instructions for the essay.

Lack of Argument or Position

A strong thesis declaration should present a clear argument or position. Avoid statements that merely state facts or offer basic information without taking a position.

Overly Intricate Thesis Statements

While it is necessary to be particular, prevent making the thesis declaration excessively complicated. Strive for simpleness and clarity, guaranteeing that the thesis is quickly understood by the reader.

In summary, developing a strong thesis declaration is crucial for crafting impactful company essays. A well-formulated thesis not only sets the direction and focus of the essay however also supplies valuable insights into business technique.

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