Skip to main content

How can I write a thesis statement for "Ex-Basketball Player" by John Updike?

Thesis statements are hard. You have so many thoughts and ideas, but you have to boil it down to a single statement.  With "Ex-Basketball Player" a thesis could go a variety of ways. On one hand, the poem is depressing. Flick was once a great, well-known player. Now he is only able to bounce inner tubes around. On the other hand, the poem shows readers that Flick is apparently making the best of things. I...

Thesis statements are hard. You have so many thoughts and ideas, but you have to boil it down to a single statement.  With "Ex-Basketball Player" a thesis could go a variety of ways. On one hand, the poem is depressing. Flick was once a great, well-known player. Now he is only able to bounce inner tubes around. On the other hand, the poem shows readers that Flick is apparently making the best of things. I think that is a bit of a stretch though. I would focus your thesis on the depressing themes of the poem. 


I recommend a thesis that begins with an incomplete clause about one idea and finishes with another idea, because it forces you to write about both topics. For example:



Although many gifted athletes assume that their abilities ensure lifetime greatness, "Ex-Basketball Player" shows readers that the fall from greatness is a long and common fall.



That particular thesis even allows you to use real life examples of famed athletes that didn't quite live up to the hype. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more