Need help with an essential question and thesis which can be used to write a synthesis essay regarding works from three literary movements?Literary...

As you think about writing this essay, before you get to
the essential question and thesis statement, you are going to have to make some
decisions and do some brainstorming.

First, decide from the
provided list, which three movements you want to focus on in your essay.  My best advice
is to choose the three you are the most familiar with, or like the best.  This will make
the essay seem easier.

Once you've decided on the three
movements, you can compose a list of possible essential
questions.  The essential question is going to be the
open-ended question that guides your thesis statement, and
ultimately, your essay.  Considering the assignment is to
synthesize the three movements the first thing I would start with
is to compare and contrast [the three literary movements you
choose].

Then, it is time to brainstorm.  Make a long list
of similarities and differences between the three movements.  This should be lengthy
enough to write a more detailed essential question.  Look for categories or ways to
group the similarities and differences.  Keep in mind, your EQ should remain open-ended,
but should probably be more specific than
"compare/contrast."

Notice that all of these movements can
be related to American Literature.  You might want to examine the impact each made on
American Literature.  You could also look at each movement from an historical
perspective and ask a question like, "What impact did historical context have on [each
of the movements you choose]?"

This essay prompt has been
left wide open for multiple approaches.  It will be very important for you to narrow
down your focus through a specific question that allows you to examine each movement
through the same lens, but show how each is a separate entity.  Your thesis, then, will
be the overall answer to your essential question.  You will go into detail and prove
this in each body paragraph.