The comparative thesis
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Question
The shape of a comparative thesis?
Answer
‘Both works do X; but whereas A does Y, B does Z.’
Question
How many works does the thesis name?
Answer
Both — one claim about the pair.
Question
Must it be arguable?
Answer
Yes — provable and disputable, not a fact or summary.
Question
What must the thesis answer?
Answer
The actual general question's idea, not a topic you'd prefer.
Question
Two theses or one?
Answer
One — not ‘Work A shows… Work B shows…’ separately.
Question
What does the thesis set up?
Answer
Criterion B2 (comparison) and C (focus) from the first line.
Question
A weak thesis looks like…
Answer
‘This essay is about power in both works’ — a topic, not an argument.
Question
What proves the thesis?
Answer
Every body paragraph, each about both works.
Question
Why include a difference in the thesis?
Answer
So the essay is a comparison, not a list of shared themes.
Question
Connective often used in the thesis?
Answer
‘but whereas’ — to mark the key difference.
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The comparative thesis
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