To write a strong, complex thesis statement, you should make a defensible claim about the text that you can support with lots of evidence. A good thesis does not summarize a text but rather makes a focused, unique argument it.

For instance, in the case of “The Adventure of The Speckled Band,” there are several interesting thesis statements one could construct. A thesis about this story could focus on many elements, perhaps arguing that the story has a particular message or that author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses literary devices in a way that creates a particular meaning.

For instance, an interesting thesis about this story might explore Doyle’s use of red herrings to throw off the reader. There are several false clues in this mystery, such as the baboon, that temporarily lead Holmes and the reader away from the truth. One might reflect on why Doyle included false clues and what effect they have on the story.

For example, a thesis might read something like the following.

In "The Adventure of The Speckled Band," Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses the gypsies, the baboon, and the cheetah as red herrings to demonstrate the dangers of jumping to conclusions with insufficient evidence.

A thesis statement like this could be supported with quotes and facts about all three of these red herrings, such as when they were introduced and how they momentarily threw Holmes and the reader off track. The writer could then explore what would have happened if Holmes had continued to follow these false clues and what problems they might have caused. This thesis would be specific in that it focuses on one element of the story and the impact it creates while still leaving room for nuanced analysis.