what is a good thesis statement for into the wild

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• 168,891 literary resources
• 172 content providers
• 53,470 books

Into the Wild by John Krakauer Thesis Statements and Essay Topics

Below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “Into the Wild” by John Krakauer that can be used as essay starters. All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in “Into the Wild” and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of “Into the Wild” in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of important quotes from  “Into the Wild”  on our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay.

Thesis Statement #1: The Allure of the Wilderness

To many people the wilderness has a certain allure as a pristine place free of the evils of modern society, a place where one can be free and get in touch with his soul. However, the reality of living in the wilderness can be quite different from the romantic notions harbored by those who see it as an escape. How does Chris McCandless handle this conflict between appearance and reality as he journeys into the wilderness alone? Is he deluded by a romantic view of the wilderness, or does he actually find what he is looking for there? Write an essay with textual support in which you explore this conflict and how McCandless deals with it.

Thesis Statement #2: Isolation

Chris McCandless isolates himself from the other students at Emory, from his friends, and from his family, resulting in his decision to make a solitary trek into the wilderness, where his isolation will be complete. Yet, at one point in the story, he pleads, “Mom, mom, help me.” Does McCandless really wish to be isolated? If so, why? If not, why does he behave as he does, pushing away the people who care about him the most and going headlong into a potentially dangerous situation? Write an essay using solid textual evidence in which you explain McCandless’s behavior as you understand it, keeping in mind his journal entries and reflections.

Thesis Statement #3: Forgiveness

Chris McCandless is a study in contradictions. On the one hand, he is a compassionate person, who feels a responsibility for the many people who are poor and hungry. On the other hand, his actions toward his family and friends are selfish and hurtful. His inability to forgive what he perceives as his parents’ greed and materialism affects his entire life, contributing to his decision to isolate himself at Emory and to his disgust with society, which prompts him to go alone into the wilderness. If he had found a way to forgive his parents for their mistakes, would he have gone to such extremes in his search to find himself? Write an essay using evidence from the text in which you explain how McCandless’s attitude toward his family and society and his inability to forgive contribute to his ultimate demise.

Thesis Statement #4: The Search for Identity

Many books about young people focus on the main character’s quest for identity. Chris McCandless, at nineteen, is no exception, as evidenced by his rejection of everything his parents stand for. Desperate to separate himself from them in every way possible to explore his very soul, he isolates himself physically and emotionally, hoping to find freedom and peace within. He will go to any lengths to avoid being like his parents, even, out of a sense of moral certitude, rejecting the gift giving he and his friends once enjoyed, oblivious to the fact that he is hurting his friends as a result. How could someone so kind, compassionate, and intelligent heartlessly reject his parents and friends, with no thought to their feelings? Is his kindness merely a charade by which he fools himself into thinking he is different from the others? Does his cruel behavior reflect the person he really is? Who is the real Chris McCandless? How does his identity struggle affect the decisions he makes for the rest of his all-too-brief life? Write a persuasive essay with textual support in which you explain who Chris McCandless really is and how you have come to that conclusion.

Into The Wild - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Into The Wild is a non-fiction book by Jon Krakauer that was later adapted into a film, chronicling the journey of Christopher McCandless into the Alaskan wilderness. Essays could explore themes like the quest for identity, the allure of adventure, and the critique of materialism presented in the narrative, as well as the broader societal reflections it offers. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Into The Wild you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Why did Chris Mccandless Go into the Wild

Chris McCandless was an outside kinda individual and appreciated the life as one. Many viewed him as an untouchable, trap or blundering individual, anyway that was not the circumstance. McCandless was searching for another kind of big business and this drove him to Alaska and into nature to investigate and get another span on life. He surrendered everything finally including: cash, property, and needs. To him none of this was the best approach to ecstasy as his key was life […]

Into the Wild about Society

Transcendentalism is the era that "transcends" the limits of intellect, reason, and society, allowing emotions and the soul to aid in creating a relationship with the universe or nature to achieve perfection. This era occurred in the 1800s and was made from the start of controversial debates between "New Light" theologians and the "Old Light" opponents. The "New Light" members believed religion should focus on the people's personal experience, unlike the "Old Light" members who valued to have reason in […]

Comparing Chris McCandless, Everett Ruess and Jon Krakauer

Many people decide to live their lives alone. Though, only a few choose to live in the wild. In the book, Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer vividly depicts the adventuresome trek Chris McCandless left. From the friends and colleagues he made to the hardships he went through, McCandless is defined as a warm, sociable and friendly person despite the fact that he was a traveler. Other than McCandless, there are even more people that have decided the risks to live […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Perspectives of into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Jon Krakauer is an American writer and a mountain climber. He was born April 12, 1954 in the State of Massachusetts. Jon Krakauer is well- known for his writing about the outdoors; one of the main topics that he writes about is mountain climbing. Into The Wild is a nonfiction novel, written by Jon Krakauer. It was told in third person omniscient. The story takes place in the Alaskan wilderness. The protagonists named Chris changes his name/identity to Alex because […]

Literary and Rhetorical Devices in into the Wild

In the story Into the Wild you follow a man by the name of Chris McCandless and his questionable thoughts. The author of a novel always plays an essential role in portraying the purpose to the audience. The story was written by a man with the name Jon Krakauer. Krakauer is an American writer and mountaineer, who is primarily known for writing stories about the outdoors, mostly mountain climbing. Jon Krakauer utilizes vivid imagery, specific details from Chris' journal, and […]

What Kind of Person was Chris McCandless?

Into The Wild is a novel by John Krakauer, that tells the story of Chris McCandless. Chris McCandless was a hiker and internet traveler from El Segundo, CA who was also known by the name of Alexander Supertramp. He came from a well to do upper-middle class family in Virginia, and was set to live well to do life. But Chris McCandless didn't want to live a life of materialism and decided to become a nomad and go into the […]

Into the Wild Freedom

In the book Into the Wild Christopher McCandless went to Alaska to live in nature with very little supplies. He was inexperienced and uneducated but he had his reasons to be out there, emotional reasons. Chris was searching for Answers, he wanted to explore the unknown, and get away from society. Chris also wanted to live a life without responsibility and he didn’t need to rely on other people for his survival, he was an independent man and he wanted […]

Into the Wild: the Quest for Adventure, Freedom, and Solace

In the novel Into The Wild, by Jon Krakauer, advances to catalog the life of an intelligent graduate student and former athlete, Chris McCandless. As well as how he suddenly decided to drop everything such as his possessions, all of his money, and a possible career. After realizing he didn’t need a wealthy lifestyle, he sets out on a massive hitchhiking journey from the east coast, all the way towards the outdoor freezing portions of Alaska. Only after a short […]

Is Chris McCandless a Hero?

Chris McCandless said, “The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure.” Chris McCandless was an adventuristic tramp who enjoyed the glories of nature and the wild, traveling all over North America by foot. McCandless lived out Transcendentalist philosophies by showing that nature is reliable in all aspects of life. McCandless’ journey was quite courageous and inspiring. Chris McCandless, also known as Alex Supertramp, was an adventurous man who sought the joy of freedom that […]

Into the Wild Materialism

“What is the purpose of life?” This simple question intimidates many who refuse to confront the reality of life. Living in a fast paced world consumed by technology and materialism, it is difficult for one to examine what is truly important to live life wholly. Because of this struggle, many settle with unhappy lives, wallowing in fear, regret and dissatisfaction. In John Krakauer’s novel Into the Wild, he examines the short life of Christopher McCandless, a courageous man who detached […]

Into the Wild Nature

There is no doubt that nature has given back to mankind. Everything individuals have anticipated that would continue was given by the ordinary world around us: food, water, medicine, materials for shelter, ect. Individuals, on the other hand, have caused issues that will keep on influencing the nature around us, for example, contamination through the improvement and advancement of technology. So, the real question is do we need nature or does nature need us, because as it seems that nature […]

What was Chris Mccandless Seeking in the Wilderness?

In April 1992, Christopher McCandless lands at the remote zone only North of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Seeing Chris' ineptness, the newcomer who drops him off gives him a pair of boots. Chris goes into the wild and sets up an campfire at the relinquished automobile, which he calls "the Magic car". At first, McCandless is happy with the separation, the excellence of world in him, and the energy of living off the earth. He carries with […]

Seeking the Raw Essence of Existence: a Deep Dive into “Into the Wild”

The pursuit of authenticity, a life unencumbered by society's trappings, and a quest for raw, unfiltered experiences – these themes course through the veins of Jon Krakauer's compelling narrative, "Into the Wild". Chronicling the real-life journey of Christopher McCandless, who adopted the moniker "Alexander Supertramp", the book stands as a haunting exploration of the lengths a person might go to find genuine meaning in life. McCandless, a young man freshly graduated from Emory University, chose to leave behind a life […]

Christopher Mccandless: a Transcendental Philosopher

Into the wild is a biographical drama and it is based on true story, telling us about an adventurer called Christopher McCandless. This is a cinematic masterpiece, where the main character denies himself of the luxury of an upper middle class family and dives into a lifestyle of nature and self discovery. This movie offers us an insight on how we construct nature, especially wilderness,as a place for self discovery, transcendence and an escape from society. Chris, the main character, […]

Chris McCandless’s Extreme Ethics

Once in everyone’s life time people start to realize they can make their own decisions. We become independent and self sufficient. Chris McCandless in the non-fiction book “Into The Wild” was a person who was separated from everyone, didn’t have many friends, And was known for being a weird person by his classmates. His family was together, but broken. Chris had never really been independent in his life. This is what motivated him to take the trip to Alaska to […]

Additional Example Essays

• Gender Roles in the Great Gatsby
• The short story "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Jane Eyre - Insider and Outsider in Society
• Who is the Real Monster in Frankenstein
• Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles
• The Yellow Wallpaper Feminism
• To Kill a Mockingbird Loss of Innocence
• Who is a Better Leader Jack or Ralph?
• How the Roles of Women and Men Were Portrayed in "A Doll's House"
• Positive Effects of Social Media
• Importance Of Accountability
• Oedipus is a Tragic Hero

How To Write an Essay About Into The Wild

Understanding 'into the wild'.

Before starting an essay about Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild,' it's important to understand the book thoroughly. 'Into the Wild' is a non-fiction book that explores the life and death of Christopher McCandless, a young man who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness in search of a more authentic existence, away from societal constraints. Begin by analyzing the main themes of the book, such as the allure of wilderness, the critique of materialism, and the search for meaning in life. Familiarizing yourself with McCandless's journey, Krakauer's narrative style, and the book's structure will provide a solid foundation for your essay.

Formulating a Thesis Statement

Your essay should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This could be an argument about the book's central themes, Krakauer's portrayal of McCandless, or the broader implications of McCandless's journey for understanding the relationship between humanity and nature. Whatever your focus, your thesis should guide the direction of your essay and provide a unique perspective on 'Into the Wild.'

Gathering Supporting Evidence

To build a strong argument, gather evidence from the book to support your thesis. This might involve analyzing specific events in McCandless's journey, Krakauer's use of other adventurers' stories, or the way he incorporates his own experiences into the narrative. Select quotes and instances from the book that align with your thesis, and use them to support your argument effectively.

Analyzing Krakauer's Narrative and Themes

In your essay, analyze how Krakauer narrates McCandless's story and the themes he explores. Discuss Krakauer's narrative technique, including his use of flashbacks, letters, and interviews. Examine how Krakauer develops the themes of adventure, idealism, and the harsh realities of nature, and how these themes contribute to our understanding of McCandless's character and motivations.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points of your analysis and restating your thesis. Your conclusion should tie together your interpretation of 'Into the Wild' and reflect on the broader significance of the story. You might also want to consider the impact of McCandless's story on contemporary society or how it fits into the genre of adventure and wilderness literature.

Reviewing and Refining the Essay

After completing your essay, take time to review and refine it. Check for coherence in your argument and clarity in your writing. Ensure that your essay is well-structured and free from grammatical errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors to further improve your essay. A well-crafted essay on 'Into the Wild' should not only convey your understanding of the book but also demonstrate your ability to engage critically with literary texts.

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Into The Wild — Into The Wild Jon Krakauer Analysis

Into The Wild Jon Krakauer Analysis

• Categories: Into The Wild

About this sample

Words: 760 |

Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 760 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1037 words

1 pages / 642 words

2 pages / 1019 words

3 pages / 1428 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Into The Wild

"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of the life and death of Christopher McCandless, a young man who rejected societal norms in pursuit of a more authentic existence in the [...]

Jon Krakauer's non-fiction book "Into the Wild" tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who left his comfortable life to live off the land in the Alaskan wilderness. Throughout the book, Krakauer explores [...]

Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, is a non-fiction book that follows the journey of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gives up his possessions and money to live a life of solitude in the Alaskan wilderness. The book [...]

Into the Wild is a non-fiction book written by Jon Krakauer, which tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness with little equipment and no plan for survival. McCandless's [...]

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is an interpretation of one devoted man's unwavering hunger for meaning in the world. In 1990, 24-year-old Emory graduate Christopher McCandless leaves society to venture into the wilderness [...]

Jon Krakauer wrote a biography, Into The Wild (1996), describing a man’s, Chris McCandless, life before and during his journey to Alaska to be able to discover himself and a new life while leaving his family with worry and pain. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

Essays on Into The Wild

Table of Contents

About into the wild book.

Into the Wild is a nonfiction story written in 1996 by Jon Krakauer. Jon Krakauer had written a long article on the character of Chris McCandless called, Death of an Innocent . After the article was published in 1993 in the issue of the outside publication, it was eventually published into a book in 1996, and in 2007, it was adapted into a movie that bore the same name. Into the Wild is one of the most popular books in the 90s, with over one hundred and seventy editions and thirty languages adaptation.

Into the Wild has long been included in America’s high school and colleges’ reading curriculum. Into the Wild has attracted several reviews and critics, and essays. However, many claims have risen over the decades that the acclaimed nonfiction was far from being one. 

  Into the Wild Summary

Into the Wild narrates the story of a young man called Chris McCandless, an Emory graduate whose lifeless body was found in the wilderness of Alaska in 1992. According to the book, McCandless was only twenty-four years old, a silver-spoon born from the Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. McCandless is described as an intelligent young man, passionate and morally upright.

After his high school graduation, he goes on a road trip where he discovers that his father had a second family.

During his senior year, he was already living a solitary life, driving away from his friends and never keeping in touch with his parents. He lies to his parents about his interest in studying law. The hook comes when after his graduation, he gives out his savings of $24,000 to charity.

After his anonymous donation, he goes into the wilderness, hitchhiking, reading, and exploring nature alone. McCandless realizes he will die after eating a poisonous mold seed.

Into the Wild Quotes

“He was unheeded, happy, and near to the wild heart of life. He was alone and young and wilful and wild-hearted, alone amid a waste of wild air and brackish waters and the sea harvest of shells and tangle and veiled grey sunlight.” the Author

“I now walk into the wild.” Christopher McCandless.

“The desert sharpened the sweet ache of his longing, amplified it, gave shape to it in sere geology and clean slant of light.” – Christopher McCandless

“He was unheeded, happy, and near to the wild heart of life. He was alone and young and wilful and wild-hearted amid a waste of wild air and brackish waters and the sea harvest of shells and tangle and veiled grey sunlight.” Jon Krakauer

“The desert sharpened the sweet ache of his longing, amplified it, gave shape to it in sere geology and clean slant of light. Christopher McCandless.

Essay Structure on Into the Wild

Introduction.

The introduction is the most critical part of your essay. It is where your thesis is briefly presented, and it is where your readers get to know your arguments and position on the book. A good introduction is also a prompt to reading more of your essay.

For a good introduction, you need to catch your reader’s attention and make them want to read more. McCandless’ statement, I now walk into the wild, is a great start for an introductory reference. It gives an insight into the book itself. By doing this, students can include a phrase from the book or an instance that depicts both the book and our everyday life.  McCandless’ urge to draw away from human relations can be associated with depression, a phase almost everyone feels at a period.

Once your first few sentences have caught the attention of your reader, you can then move on to stating your thesis. Students have to stick with their thesis. Now, you can move to the next paragraph, the body of your essay.

The Body Paragraphs

After choosing your argument, conducting your research, and stating your thesis, the body of your paragraph is meant to explain in detail your supported arguments. It is vital to start your body paragraph with a strong and unique statement. Then, other paragraphs can include your supporting ideas or instances that support your points.

Also, while writing your body paragraphs, avoid writing in vague language. Always explain your arguments in simple and plain language. You can pick up an example from the book and explain in detail why the instance is relevant to your argument. 

Contrary to people’s position on what a conclusion should be, the conclusion for your essay should be your final paragraph and not the summary of your essay. Take time to analyze the book alongside with your thesis, at the end, you should then make your closing a chance to solidify your argument. 

Finally, your conclusion should also remind your readers about the moral lesson from the book. Let there be a call to action to uphold the moral standard you preach in your essay.

  Tips to Consider While Writing An essay About Into the Wild

Read the book thoroughly.

A good Into The Wild essay cannot be written if you haven’t read the book. You need to read the story properly and write from your understanding of the book. While reading the book, you should underline and take note of quotes, questions, and aspects of the texts that are relevant to your essay. Quoting words from the few conversations between McCandless and his family will help you understand the characters, the plots, and the moral lesson.

Also, through the conversation between the characters, you will discover how the writer tries to discourage particular vices and encourage virtues. You cannot find a compelling topic without reading the book thoroughly.

Find a compelling topic

Your essay topic is very crucial. Remember that your readers tend to read the topic first, which prompts them to continue or stop reading. However, you can’t find a compelling topic if you haven’t read the book.

A compelling topic can be gotten from asking relevant questions about the book. These questions are most likely on the mind of everyone who has also read the book. Also, know what the story is about, what the social problems of the stories are, and the proposed solution to them. The answers to these questions can give you the right topic for your essay.

Write the thesis statement

Your thesis is the center of your essay. It is then important to have a strong and detailed thesis statement. Have all your arguments into several points, at least three points, and include supportive points. Your supportive points should come directly from the book. It can be an event in the book, a character, or a brief story from the book.

Create the outline

Now that you have a thesis. The next step is to organize your thesis. Decide which of your arguments comes first and which one comes last. An outline will help you create a solid structure for your essay, and it will give you a framework on which your essay will be built. Your outline should have three parts: the introductory part, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. You can create an outline with the structure of the book; how the plot is arranged.

Include a lesson or moral

Every work of art is not without a moral lesson. The morals of the story are often found in the themes of your essay. Your essay should carry your opinions, argument, point of view, and position on the story’s main theme.  McCandless’ determination to run away from humans leads him to his untimely death. However, considering that he keeps meeting people the further he goes, signifies that death could be his only option. However, you can not find a moral lesson without first having your thesis ready or first maintaining a position on the book. 

Conclusion: Proofread your work

Lastly, read through your essay. While you read through, make sure you are not in haste while you do it. Reading through will help you discover errors and points that should be removed or included. The purpose of proofreading is to reorganize your thoughts, your language, and your grammar.

Writing an essay on Into the Wild is easy. However, if you need professional assistance with your essay, our writers are available to give you the perfect piece.

What Is the Main Message Of Into the Wild?

Into the Wild centers on betrayal from people you love as Chris finds it difficult to believe that his father has another family outside their home. He holds a huge grudge against them for this and he starts to see human relations as futile. Chris then goes into isolation where he finds his death.

What is a Good Thesis Statement for Into the Wild?

A good thesis statement is the “endearing nature of the wilderness.” McCandless finds the wilderness as the only place he can find solace as he feels betrayed by people. However, the wilderness, like people, is not free from evil.

What is the Summary of Into the Wild?

Into the Wild is a story of a young man, Christopher McCandless, who struggles with the betrayal from his family. He is a brilliant young man, passionate and hardworking. He starts to withdraw from things and the people he loves as he discovers secret stuff about his parents.

What is the Conclusion of Into the Wild

Into the wild ends with McCandless’s death after months of isolation. In his search for food, he had eaten a poisonous fruit that later killed him. However, his death comes after he goes deeper into the wilderness because he keeps meeting humans. This could mean that death is the only isolation he could get.

Save to my list

Remove from my list

FAQ about Into The Wild

Into The Wild

75 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Author’s Note-Chapter 3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-15

Chapter 16-Epilogue

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Many Alaskans feel that McCandless brought death upon himself due to his own ignorance. After reading Into the Wild , do you agree with them?

McCandless refused gifts of food and advice throughout his travels. Why do you think he did this?

After graduating college, McCandless cut off all contact with his parents. Do you think he was justified in doing so? Or was this unnecessary for his freedom?

Related Titles

By Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air

Under the Banner of Heaven

Where Men Win Glory

Featured Collections

Action & Adventure

View Collection

American Literature

Audio Study Guides

Inspiring Biographies

Pardon Our Interruption

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

• You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser.
• You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed.
• You've disabled cookies in your web browser.
• A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article .

To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Summary of the Novel

Main characters and theme, commentary on the central theme of the novel.

Rural nature has always been a source of inspiration for many American writers. Jon Krakauer is not an exception. Extreme weather and challenging conditions are the perfect backgrounds for exploring people’s psyche. In his famous book Into the Wild , Krakauer studies a story of “a well-educated young man with an above-average intellect and remarkable spiritual ambitions” (Vera, 2015, p. 43). The book explores many topics, such as difficulties in family relationships, the meaning of reaching manhood, materialism, and capitalism. This paper focuses on covering the characters of the book, especially Christopher McCandless, and studying the central theme — the search for personal freedom in times of modernity.

The book describes the details of real-life Christopher McCandless, a young man who decides to abandon past life. Shortly after graduating from a prestigious college, Christopher “cuts himself off both from his family and from the values and symbolic roles expected of him” (Hook, 2018, p. 5). Before taking off, he gives up his real name and takes a moniker Alexander Supertramp . McCandless starts a journey to the West and then into the Alaskan wilderness, looking for solitude and escape from societal norms. He spends his time hitchhiking, exploring nature on foot, and a canoe. At some point, Alex applies for a job in Los Angeles but then returns to his original plan (Krakauer, 2011). McCandless tests his limits by hunting, foraging, and camping alone. Eventually, he dies of starvation in an abandoned bus, where locals find his body.

Christopher McCandless, Alexander Supertramp, or simply Alex is the protagonist of the novel, an Emory University graduate who recently finished his education. According to Vera (2015), he disliked “money and mainstream values, despite the fact—or rather because of the fact—that he was “flipping Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s” (p. 46). Alex grew up with his parents and a younger sister, Carine, and had a classic father-son relationship issue. The parents, Billie and Walt, assumed that their son would pursue a career as a lawyer, but instead, he donated all of the money to charity (Krakauer, 2011). Walt, an aerospace engineer, dismissed his son’s decision to travel. Eventually, the family members concluded that they misread Alex and never really knew anything about his intentions.

Wayne Westerberg and Jim Gallien

During the journey, the main character encountered many locals and created strong bonds with several people. One of them was Wayne Westerberg, a thick-shouldered hyperkinetic man (Krakauer, 2011). Westerberg owned a grain elevator in Carthage and gave Alex a job. He appreciated the intelligence and hard-working nature of the young man (Krakauer, 2011). Jim Gallien was a driver who encountered Alex on his way to the Alaskan wilderness. During the two-hour drive, Gallien concluded that McCandless was not another delusional traveler, but a determined and intelligent person, who lived by his choice. However, the driver tried to talk Alex out of the survival quest because this hitchhiker did not have the necessary equipment for the journey. Both Westerberg and Gallien positively changed their opinion about McCandless during the encounter.

Jan Burres and her Boyfriend, Bob

Jan Burres and Bob met McCandless in the summer of 1990 when he was looking for berries alongside the highway. The couple offered him a ride and meal because Alex looked exhausted and extremely malnourished. The young man accepted the offer and camped with Burres and her partner for a week. Jan had a connection with Alex because she missed her son. Bob also had much in common with their new friend, as he too was interested in survivalism. Together they sold books at the local flea market, and Alex demonstrated enthusiasm as a salesman. McCandless kept in touch with the couple by sending them postcards even after two years after their departure.

Ronald Franz

Ronald Franz, another acquaintance of Alex, was an 80-year-old retired army veteran who once had issues with alcohol. Franz was different from other companions: although the old man provided the traveler with meals and necessary equipment, he also gave Alex emotional support and was like a father to him. He urged McCandless to leave a camp as he considered it to be a negative influence for a young man. However, he took McCandless’ advice against a passive lifestyle and waited for the return of his new friend. Franz was worried about the destiny of an ambitious adventurer and even wanted to adopt him. When he found out about McCandless’ death, he resumed drinking and gave up his belief in God.

The theme of the Book

Exploring the life of Christopher McCandless, Krakauer explores a number of topics such as family relationship, maturity, and manhood as well as survival in a capitalist society. However, the main idea of the book is freedom and its importance when a person is trapped inside a system of norms and rules. Sheils and Walsh (2017) state that the main character’s escape “signified precisely this, an attempted escape from—or opposition to—a given societal form of the symbolic order” (p. 136). To Alex, the only way to start a new life and find peace was to abandon the typical order of the life of an affluent American.

One could believe that the main character was actually a spiritually weak rebel, as he did not prepare himself for the journey and died for no purpose. On the surface level, there was not any reason for a well-to-do young man to give up his privileges and possibilities. Nonetheless, it should be noticed that Alex had full determination to change his life, and none of his actions was meaningless. According to Vera (2015), “McCandless created his poverty by artificial means, which might have been inspired by Thoreau’s condemnation of the market economy and materialism” (p. 46). It is possible to agree that the trip to Alaska offered him freedom and meaning. Although the main character of the book could have avoided the unnecessary challenge of wild nature, his decision deserves respect for strong determination and complete devotion to one’s beliefs and ideas.

Into the Wild covers the story of a young man who decided to test his abilities and personal qualities in the harsh conditions of Alaska. The man who considered himself to be impotent to connect with people eventually communicates and bonds with total strangers. The novel examines topics that are traditional for American and European literature, such as interpersonal relationships, psychological maturity, personal struggles in the system of beliefs that traps and diminishes individual desires and choices. The main topic is personal freedom as the real purpose of life, which can only be achieved by means of difficult choices. The book explains that personal decisions should be respected, no matter how different they are in one’s opinion.

Hook, D. (2018). Melancholic psychosis—A Lacanian approach. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 28 (4), 466-480.

Krakauer, J. (2011). Into the wild . London, UK: Pan Macmillan.

Sheils, B., & Walsh, J. (Eds.). (2017). Narcissism, melancholia and the subject of community. London, UK: Pan Macmillan.

Vera, J. S. (2015). Thoreau as an oblique mirror: Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, American Studies in Scandinavia, 47 (1), 40-60.

• George Orwell’s Novel 1984
• Jack London’s The Call of the Wild
• The Concept of Idealism in the Book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
• Life Transformation of Chris McCandless
• The Movie "Into the Wild"
• The Main Characters and Themes of The Bluest Eye
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Moral of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, December 3). Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. https://ivypanda.com/essays/into-the-wild-by-jon-krakauer/

"Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer." IvyPanda , 3 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/into-the-wild-by-jon-krakauer/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer'. 3 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/into-the-wild-by-jon-krakauer/.

1. IvyPanda . "Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/into-the-wild-by-jon-krakauer/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/into-the-wild-by-jon-krakauer/.

Into the Wild

By jon krakauer, into the wild essay questions.

Is it possible for a biography to be truly impartial? Is Into the Wild ?

Biography can never be truly impartial, as, even if the author could include every moment of the subject’s life, rather than choosing which are most important, his method of presentation and his diction, inherently affect how the reader will feel about the subject. There is still a scale of more or less impartial, however, and Into the Wild falls on the less-impartial side, as Krakauer himself admits. For example, because he sees a lot of similarities between Chris and himself, he makes certain assumptions about Chris’s motivations and desires that he might not otherwise make. Yet because Krakauer makes this explicit, and doesn’t try to fool the reader, the reader still has the freedom to make their own interpretation.

Is McCandless truly compassionate, as he is often described?

McCandless’s compassion is the most enigmatic part of his story. It is clearly central to his personality for his whole life—he spends weekend nights in high school bringing burgers to homeless people—and yet he shows almost no compassion in dealing with his parents once he is in college. He willingly and intentionally leaves them in a state of utter unhappiness while he travels, and his disregard for his own safety threatens and ultimately destroys their wellbeing. This does not mean that he is not truly compassionate, but this compassion does have bounds.

In Krakauer’s depiction of McCandless, is he a flat or round character? Static or dynamic?

In Krakauer’s depiction, McCandless is certainly a round character. Although he is largely presented as good, his flaws are illuminated, and even his best qualities sometimes fail him. Krakauer also makes him a dynamic character, although the basis for this is largely conjecture. Krakauer believes that McCandless changed during his Alaska trip, that he may have mellowed and become ready to rejoin society and maybe even his family, although all of this is based on a few small lines Chris wrote, and passages he underlined in his reading.

Explain how McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is inherently selfish.

McCandless’s quest for ultimate freedom is not rooted in selfishness; it, in fact, comes out of largely noble desires. It is still inherently selfish, however, because it means acting for the individual over society, which is designed to protect everybody. Ultimate freedom means being accountable to no one but oneself, and thus, even if McCandless usually intended to act for the greater good, he has only his own limited perspective on what will truly lead to the greater good.

How does Krakauer’s authorial presence affect McCandless’s story?

Krakauer’s own upbringing and experiences as a young man come up throughout Into the Wild . Because there are such strong similarities to McCandless, the biggest difference being that Krakauer survived his odysseys, and so can tell his tale, Krakauer uses his own past to provide insights into McCandless’s actions and motivations. This also probably leads Krakauer to present McCandless in the most forgiving light that he can.

What does Into the Wild posit as the core of the problems between McCandless and his father?

Both Chris and Walt McCandless are strong-willed and independent, and Chris’s resistance to all authority means that he resents the authority his father has over him, even as he tries to please him. Chris specifically detests arbitrary authority, and so once he has proof that his father isn’t perfect, he then considers Walt’s authority over him to be completely arbitrary, and he resists it absolutely. Because of Chris’s intensity and tendency towards extremes, this becomes much more than just a typical adolescent rebellion.

What specific appeal does the wilderness have for all the adventure seekers described in Into the wild ?

The adventure seekers in Into the Wild all seem to be searching for a life with a kind of brute simplicity, which they believe they can find in the wilderness. High-risk living leaves little time for the complicated problems of modern society, and this seems to be much of the appeal for these men. They also seem to believe that there is some core of truth hidden beneath all the layers of modern life, and this can only be found in the wild. Finally, surviving the challenges posed by this way of life provide a feeling of deep accomplishment for these often ambitious or competitive men.

How is McCandless’s difficulty forgiving a driving force in his journeys?

McCandless, though largely driven by his principals and morals to live a rootless, anti-materialist existence, also seems at least partially driven forward by a desire to punish his parents. He resents their pressure for him to go to law school, their materialism, and what he sees as their attempts to control him, so he tells Carine that he is going to cut them out of his life completely because he cannot forgive them. In not contacting them at all while he is on the road, he turns his odyssey into a tool for punishment, at least on some level.

How can McCandless’s Datsun symbolize his interpersonal relationships?

McCandless is completely committed to his Datsun from the time he buys it until he graduates from college, when he is deeply offended by his parents’ offer to buy him a new car. He tells Carine that he would never trade in his Datsun, which he thinks is perfect. Once he has trouble with the car, though, he deserts it immediately and angrily. Chris loves the Datsun despite its surface flaws, just like he is able to love most of his friends regardless of their looks, money, or way of life, but when he perceives a deeper flaw, he is unforgiving, and cuts it out of his life completely, as he does with his parents.

McCandless’s story, despite its tragic end, has inspired many copycats since the original publication in Into the Wild . Why might this be?

Krakauer presents McCandless’s tale in a forgiving way, yet it is still a cautionary tale—although he believes Chris could have survived, and only died because of a small mistake, he shows just how devastating such behavior can be to McCandless, and to those who loved him. Yet McCandless’s passion for living by his principals, for simplicity and purity, is attractive and to Krakauer, admirable, and the book does show that it may indeed be the wilderness that is the best place to find this. Thus, those who feel unsatisfied by modern life and society may see McCandless’s flight from it as worthy of emulation.

Into the Wild Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Into the Wild is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Remembering that the Latin prefix ir- means "not," use the context clues in the first paragraph of the passage to define the word irrelevant.

I do not know what specific passage you are referring to.

This chapter begins with a quote from Jack London. Who is he and what has he written?

Jack London is a famous author. He wrote The Call of the Wild, White Fang, To Build a Fire , and a variety of other books.

The purpose of ch 4 in into the wild

The purpose of chapter 4 is to show Chris's wish to shed his worldly possessions, even his identity, and make his way unencumbered by societal possessions. In October 1990, McCandless’s Datsun is found abandoned in the Mojave Desert by Bud Walsh,...

Study Guide for Into the Wild

Into the Wild study guide contains a biography of author Jon Krakauer, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Into the Wild
• Into the Wild Summary
• Into the Wild Video
• Character List

Essays for Into the Wild

Into the Wild literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

• Jim Casy and Chris McCandless: Transcendentalism Gone Wrong
• The Many Mistakes of Chris McCandless
• Fatherly Influence in Into the Wild
• Feeding by Starvation
• An Unconventional Genre: Evaluating John Krakauer as a Biographer

Lesson Plan for Into the Wild

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Into the Wild
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Into the Wild Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Into the Wild

• Introduction

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, August 15). How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/thesis-statement/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, academic paragraph structure | step-by-step guide & examples, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

American Lit 2W '08-'09

Thursday, february 26, 2009.

• Thesis Statement for Into The Wild

Blog Archive

• ►  April (1)
• ►  March (1)

Into the Wild Themes

Themes in into the wild, related posts:, post navigation.

Developing a Thesis Statement

Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.

Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement . . .

• Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic.
• Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
• Is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
• Is generally located near the end of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
• Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.

Identify a topic

Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.

Consider what your assignment asks you to do

Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.

Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.

Sample assignment 1

Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.

Identified topic

Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis

This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).

Sample assignment 2

Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.

The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.

This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).

Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information

Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.

Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II

After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.

As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.

For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.

Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Derive a main point from topic

Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.

Look for patterns in your evidence

Compose a purpose statement.

Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.

• Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
• Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis

Possible conclusion:

Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.

Purpose statement

This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.

• The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
• The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.

At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.

This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.

Derive purpose statement from topic

To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.

For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.

Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:

• This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
• I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.

At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Compose a draft thesis statement

If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.

Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.

Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.

Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.

Question-to-Assertion

If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.

Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?

Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”

Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.

Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.

• nature = peaceful
• war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
• need for time and space to mourn the dead
• war is inescapable (competes with 3?)

Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).

• although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
• _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
• phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.

What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement

Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.

As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.

You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.

Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.

Refine and polish the thesis statement

To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.

• Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
• Question each part of your draft thesis
• Clarify vague phrases and assertions
• Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis

Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.

Sample Assignment

Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.

• Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.

Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.

Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.

This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.

Complete the final thesis statement

The bottom line.

As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:

• Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
• As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
• Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
• Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.

In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.

Writing Process and Structure

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing