How to make a thesis Part I. The Thesis Continuum A great thesis is between plot summary and...
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Transcript of How to make a thesis Part I. The Thesis Continuum A great thesis is between plot summary and...
How to make a thesis
Part I
The Thesis Continuum
A great thesis is between plot summary and opinion. Too much of either is BAD!
Zone of Highest Interest“The Sweet Spot”
Outrageous, unsupported thesis
Plot-driven thesis
The perfect balance of insightful textual analysis and personal opinion, a GREAT thesis creates an opportunity to use evidence from the text to arrive at a thoughtful, provocative paper.
The Thesis Continuum
Your essay Prompt
Are Bullies Criminals?
Explain your response usingSpecific examples from your life, literature,
and/or popular/historical culture.Use stylistic features such as proper diction*
and strong verbsProper grammar and usageProper structure
Thesis answers the EQ
YesYes NoNo
“The Sweet Spot”
Are Bullies criminals?
Bullies NOTare criminals because...
“The Sweet Spot”
Answer to the EQLOGICAL reasons supporting your
answerBullies are criminals because…__________ ,
_________ & _________Bullies are not criminals because…__________
, __________ & ________.
You write your thesis
YesYes NoNo
How to make a Sandwich
Ahem, or essay…
Details & Descriptions
Write detailed instructions of how to make a turkey sandwich. Remember, you need to be as specific as possible; pretend as though you are talking to an alien
Now, try again, and remember to start from the very beginning.
An Essay Sandwich
Teaching someone to make a sandwich is LIKE writing an essayYou need a beginning and an endYou need specific details and explanationsYou need structure; without it, everything falls
apart.
Your essay Prompt
Are Bullies Criminals?
Explain your response usingSpecific examples from your life, literature,
and/or popular/historical culture.Use stylistic features such as proper diction*
and strong verbsProper grammar and usageProper structure
Establish the author’s (your) purpose
To informTo persuadeTo teachTo entertain
You are trying to persuade the reader that bullies are or are
not criminals.
Establish a Structure
Page 5 of your writing handbook
Typical Essay Structure
Thesis
Introduction
Body Paragraph 1
Conclusion
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 3
Details Details
Break down the thesis; it all fits together in the sandwich.
I. Reason # 1Bullies (are/are not) criminals because…
A. SPECIFIC Example
Explanation
B. SPECIFIC Example
Explanation
Page 8 writing handbookWhat kind of examples exist? A specific imageA specific quoteBackground information Style choicesDictionRhetorical techniques
The Introduction
1. Hook your readers into the essay with an quote, question, Or SHORT anecdote. Remember, you want them to want to read! 2. discussing the general theme of your essay and how it appears in the text. Be sure to state the title and author of the text.
3. Create a few sentences that specifically lead toward your thesis.
4. Focus in on the purpose of your paper.
As you write yourIntro, get increasinglyspecific, ending with anarrow, argumentative thesis.
Page 6 writing Handbook
Conclusion
Restatement
1. Start with your thesis statement; RestateDon’t REPEAT. Effective rhetoric is key!!!!!!!
2. Now ask yourself “What is the bigger picture of my paper?”. Take the time to guide your reader back through your essay, showing them how all the parts fit together.
3. Reflect on the consequences of your thesis. Try to arrive at a new, or bigger idea, that really drives your point home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Finally, end with a clincher; circle back to your hook. REFER to it, don’t repeat it.