I’m working on research paper on Linden Hills; I guess I need help developing a strong thesis for my paper. Right now I’m thinking about...

If you are going to write a paper on the class system's
negative effects on the characters of Linden Hill, I believe that
you have chosen a strong topic; the story will provide you with numerous examples to
support your thesis statement, which is absolutely
necessary.

As an example for your paper, while the original
Luther Needed seems to have had some business savvy, and provided future generations
with the ability to build a strong African American community that would thrive
indefinitely (for a thousand years and a day, at least), the present Luther Needed has
completely lost sight of this goal. What he owns and controls has become more important
than the needs of his fellow man, most especially those of his wife Willa and their
newborn son.

Ultimately, it is his loss of touch with
humanity that takes everything he has from him, including his wife, in the fire at the
end of the story.

Based upon what you have listed as the
theme you plan to follow in your paper, I would provide a thesis statement similar
to:

While
being the member of a specific class can make one's life difficult, that connection is
central to survival within one's community. Losing the human connection with others,
regardless of the class status accompanying that position, robs the individual of
essential elements necessary to ground one within the society of which he is a part.
Life holds the most meaning and opportunity for personal satisfaction in the connections
people make with one another, and without these connections, as seen in Linden
Hills, the missing human element will ultimately destroy the individuals that
choose to turn their backs on society, and therefore, humanity
itself.

I hope this reflects
your topic clearly.  Make sure that for each character you list in
your paper, you provide specific examples from the text to indicate the survival or
"destruction" of that individual, based on your thesis. After every
body paragraph, revisit the thesis and make sure you have not lost
focus, and that you have provided accurate examples to support it.
 Good luck.