Identifying a Thesis

From The Longman WriterChapter 3, pages 36-44

What Is a Thesis?

• The essay’s hub–The central point•What the essay revolves around

Why Use a Thesis?

• Helps the writer:–What does and does not belong

• Helps the reader:–Focus on the central point

How Do I Create a Thesis?

• Revisit your prewriting and ask:

–What statement does all this support?–What aspects are covered in most

detail?–What is the focus of the most

provocative material?

Work in Progress

• You may find that you need to refocus your thesis as you move through the stages of the writing process–See page 38 in The Longman Writer

2 Parts to an Effective Thesis

• The paper’s limited subject• Your point of view or attitude• What are you writing about AND

what do you have to say about it•See The Longman Writer page 38 for examples

Structure

• May point the way to a pattern of development– i.e. comparison-contrast, cause-effect,

argument-persuasion• May include a plan of development:–A concise overview of the essay’s main

points in the exact order they will be discussed– Example: Baseball’s inflated salaries hurt the

fans, the sport, and most of all, the athletes.

Tip 1: Don’t write a highly opinionated statement

• With characteristic clumsiness, campus officials bumbled their way through the recent budget crisis

• Improved: Campus officials had trouble managing the recent budget crisis effectively

Tip 2: Don’t make an announcement

• Handgun legislation will be the subject of my paper.

• Improved: Banning handguns is the first step toward controlling crime in America

Tip 3: Don’t make a factual statement

• America’s population is growing older• Improved: The aging of the American

population will eventually create a crisis in the delivery of health-care services

Tip 4: Don’t make a broad statement

• Nowadays, high school education is often meaningless

• Improved: High school diplomas have been devalued by grade inflation

Practice

• In a small group, complete practice activities 1 and 4 on pages 42 and 43 of The Longman Writer

Supporting a Thesis with Evidence

From The Longman WriterChapter 4, pages 45-53

What Is Evidence?

• Examples– Facts• Details–Statistics»Personal observation• Personal experience• Anecdotes• Expert opinions• Quotations

Make Sure Evidence Is:

• Relevant and Unified–Specific•Adequate–Dramatic»Accurate•Representative•Documented

Practice

• In a small group, complete practice activity 1 on page 52 of The Longman Writer

Outlining: Organizing the Evidence

From The Longman WriterChapter 5, pages 54-63

Use the Patterns of Development

• Volunteer to read aloud the bottom of 54 and page 55 in The Longman Writer

Select an Organizational Approach

• Chronological–Spatial• Emphatic–Simple-to-Complex

Prepare an Outline

• Helps you:– Organize your thoughts– Guide your writing– Determine what comes first

• How to:– 1: reread and evaluate your prewriting and thesis– 2: decide upon a pattern of development– 3: decide upon an organizational approach– 4: identify and sequence your main and supporting

points

Outlining Tips

• Outlining is individualized– Yours doesn’t have to look like anybody else’s– Unless it is a formal essay to be submitted

• The amount of detail will vary according to the paper’s length and assignment

• Do NOT just create an outline afterwards; – Creating an outline actually SAVES time and frustration

• Tables of Content are usually outlines (look at examples)

Practice

• In a small group, complete practice activities 1, 2, & 4 on pages 61-63 of The Longman Writer