The thesis statement also includes literary elements, such as characterization or theme, from the pieces that help support your position. Overall, the thesis statement connects the work to the e. For example, you write, In the drama Othello, by William Shakespeare, the development of the characters and the treatment of themes shows. A good thesis would clearly state, in your opinion, the theme or meaning of the story. To be strong, a thesis statement must express an opinion that is both precise and defensible. You could. This is where you could build the roadmap aspect of the thesis: list the elements in the order you will write them, and you suddenly have a clear path for the entire literary analysis. 3. Clear and concise. This may seem obvious, but it's crucial. A clear thesis will play into the idea of a roadmap, but it will also avoid being lengthy.