Complexity

In AP essays, always introduce complexity in your thesis statement.

Terms to Describe Complexity

circuitous - longer than most direct way confused - unable to think clearly contrasting - differing strikingly convoluted - twisted; coiled; complicated; intricately involved elaborate - involving many carefully arranged parts or details entangled - cause to become twisted together with or caught in; complicated circumstances from which it is difficult to escape inconsistent - not staying the same throughout; not compatible or in keeping with interwoven - blend closely What is complexity? It has many parts. It can be complicated. It can be multifaceted. It can be intricate. It can clash with something else It can be nuanced It can be contradictory but true (paradoxical) It can be layered (different as things go deeper) It can simply be contrasting emotions, responses, or situations It can be ambivalence (feeling conflicted)	intricate - very complicated or detailed involved - difficult to comprehend mingled - mix or cause to mix together; move freely around a place or at a social function mixed - consisting of different qualities or elements; composed of different varieties of the same thing multifaceted - having many aspects or sides multiform - existing in many forms or kinds nuanced - having or characterized by subtle and often appealing complex qualities, aspects, or distinctions paradoxical - seemingly absurd or self-contradictory variegated - marked by variety; alter in appearance, especially by adding different colors How To Spot Complexity in Characters Inconsistent behaviors, competing or conflicting choices that call the character’s values and beliefs into question Contradiction in thoughts, speech, or actions Shifts in thoughts, speech, or actions Contrasts with literary foils, contrasting environments Changes in a character’s circumstances, perspectives, motives, relationships, choices, actions, or speech