ThesisThesis

The overriding claim of the The overriding claim of the argument; what your paper argument; what your paper will prove.will prove.

Brief sketch of how you Brief sketch of how you will prove itwill prove it

So-WhatSo-What The So-What should appear first in the The So-What should appear first in the

Thesis, and should reappear throughout Thesis, and should reappear throughout the paper as important points are proven.the paper as important points are proven.

This explains the point of arguing, or of This explains the point of arguing, or of reading the argument:reading the argument:

How your argument affects everyone’s lifeHow your argument affects everyone’s life What it teaches us about an important topicWhat it teaches us about an important topic What universal ramifications it hasWhat universal ramifications it has

ThesisThesis

A template:A template: By doing X, Author shows A, B, and C. By doing X, Author shows A, B, and C.

This is important because Q.This is important because Q. Or,Or, By doing A, B, and C, Author shows X. By doing A, B, and C, Author shows X.

This is important because Q.This is important because Q. A, B, and C, should make up the claims A, B, and C, should make up the claims

in some form; X should indicate the in some form; X should indicate the warrants; Q is the So-What.warrants; Q is the So-What.

Claim

A statement that you want A statement that you want the reader to accept, which will the reader to accept, which will help prove the thesis. help prove the thesis.

An argument usually consists of An argument usually consists of 2-5 main points, or claims.2-5 main points, or claims.

It must be complex enough to It must be complex enough to require proof, specific enough to require proof, specific enough to be supported by data.be supported by data.

DefinitionDefinition A clarification of terms often A clarification of terms often

necessary in asserting a claim. necessary in asserting a claim. This includes your specific This includes your specific understanding of a term and understanding of a term and how you will be using it. how you will be using it.

At times, this will involve At times, this will involve meanings you want to exclude meanings you want to exclude from the argumentfrom the argument

Data

The statements or reasons The statements or reasons you employ to get the you employ to get the audience to accept your audience to accept your claim. claim.

DataData This takes the form of This takes the form of

statistics, quotes from statistics, quotes from a story or article or a story or article or authority, an authority, an explanation of the explanation of the reasoning process, reasoning process, examples that can be examples that can be universalized, analogy.universalized, analogy.

WarrantWarrant

the warrant shows how the warrant shows how your data has proven the your data has proven the claim. claim.

It provides an in It provides an in interpretation of the data, a interpretation of the data, a logical pathway from each logical pathway from each statistic or point to the statistic or point to the claim.claim.

RoadmapRoadmap

The Roadmap explains how each The Roadmap explains how each proven claim has established proven claim has established another portion of the thesis. another portion of the thesis.

RoadmapRoadmap

Claims stand alone until they Claims stand alone until they are linked, with stated are linked, with stated explanations of how the explanations of how the thesis depends upon them.thesis depends upon them.

DatumDatum + + DatumDatum + + DatumDatum = (warrant): = (warrant):

Claim 1Claim 1

Claim 1 +(Roadmap)Claim 1 +(Roadmap)+ Claim 2 +(Roadmap)+ Claim 2 +(Roadmap)+ Claim 3+ (Roadmap)+ Claim 3+ (Roadmap)

= Thesis = Thesis

Thesis + So-What + Conclusion = Thesis + So-What + Conclusion = the world is a slightly better the world is a slightly better place now (this, of course, is place now (this, of course, is

your ultimate aim)your ultimate aim)

ConclusionConclusion

The function of this part is not to The function of this part is not to summarize, but to reveal or theorize summarize, but to reveal or theorize about the implications of your findings.about the implications of your findings.

ConclusionConclusion

What you have proven is What you have proven is important; your conclusion tells important; your conclusion tells how it is important, and what how it is important, and what other interesting possibilities other interesting possibilities your argument (now shown to be your argument (now shown to be true) can allow.true) can allow.

Other StuffOther Stuff

Backing: an argument for why the Backing: an argument for why the data you offer is strong data you offer is strong

For example, a descriptions of the For example, a descriptions of the qualifications for your expert (an qualifications for your expert (an advanced degree in the subject, advanced degree in the subject, experience in a certain field)experience in a certain field)

In defenseIn defense

ModalityModality: The scope or extent : The scope or extent of the claim made. of the claim made.

Does the thesis suggest that Does the thesis suggest that its validity or truth is its validity or truth is necessarynecessary, , probableprobable, or , or possiblepossible??

Does it address its data Does it address its data appropriately?appropriately?

In defenseIn defense

RebuttalsRebuttals: acknowledge : acknowledge counterarguments and show counterarguments and show why they are not as strong as why they are not as strong as your argument.your argument.

AA A: A: An A paper begins with a complex, An A paper begins with a complex,

important, and well-introduced thesis. The important, and well-introduced thesis. The structure of the paper leads the reader structure of the paper leads the reader from point x to point y; quotes and specific from point x to point y; quotes and specific examples are used to support each claim; examples are used to support each claim; and warrants explain thoroughly each and warrants explain thoroughly each conclusion, answering obvious and conclusion, answering obvious and sometimes more in-depth questions. The sometimes more in-depth questions. The conclusion provides a “so what,” arguing conclusion provides a “so what,” arguing why the thesis is important, and there are why the thesis is important, and there are few grammar errors.few grammar errors.

BB B: B: A B paper generally begins with a complex, A B paper generally begins with a complex,

important thesis. Possibly, the structure of the important thesis. Possibly, the structure of the paper, or the quality of the supporting data, take the paper, or the quality of the supporting data, take the paper off focus at times. The body of the paper may paper off focus at times. The body of the paper may be very suggestive but fail to explain clearly its be very suggestive but fail to explain clearly its conclusions. An A paper which fails to ask enough, conclusions. An A paper which fails to ask enough, or complex enough, questions, which is too short, or or complex enough, questions, which is too short, or which has several serious grammar errors or typos, which has several serious grammar errors or typos, also may become a B. This B paper makes for the also may become a B. This B paper makes for the best revision.best revision.

Less often, a paper with a superficial, obvious, or Less often, a paper with a superficial, obvious, or previously worked thesis may be so well supported previously worked thesis may be so well supported and organized that it earns a B. This, however, is a and organized that it earns a B. This, however, is a waste of one’s writing skill.waste of one’s writing skill.

CC C: C: A C paper usually begins with a superficial, fairly A C paper usually begins with a superficial, fairly

obvious, or previously worked thesis. An argument obvious, or previously worked thesis. An argument presented in detail in class, then reproduced as presented in detail in class, then reproduced as one’s paper, is an example. Often, the structure one’s paper, is an example. Often, the structure does not support the thesis, arguing in a different does not support the thesis, arguing in a different direction, supplying quotes or examples that do not direction, supplying quotes or examples that do not prove the claims, or offering generalizations rather prove the claims, or offering generalizations rather than actual data. Failure to ask enough questions, than actual data. Failure to ask enough questions, and in-depth enough questions, usually results in and in-depth enough questions, usually results in these weaknesses. A C paper usually has ample these weaknesses. A C paper usually has ample errors, grammatical, logical, and typographical, and errors, grammatical, logical, and typographical, and the conclusion is a restatement of the introduction.the conclusion is a restatement of the introduction.

DD D: A D paper usually begins with an unclear D: A D paper usually begins with an unclear

or undetectable thesis, and although it labors or undetectable thesis, and although it labors to assert points, these points never coalesce to assert points, these points never coalesce into an argument. A large amount of plot into an argument. A large amount of plot summary often takes the place of claims, data, summary often takes the place of claims, data, and warrants; long quotations left and warrants; long quotations left unexplained or undirected serve as similar unexplained or undirected serve as similar filler. Often the paper will have many serious filler. Often the paper will have many serious errors, will be short of the assignment, or will errors, will be short of the assignment, or will repeat the same claim over and over.repeat the same claim over and over.

FF

F: An earnestly done book report—offering F: An earnestly done book report—offering only a summary of a text rather than an only a summary of a text rather than an argument about it—may earn an F, but argument about it—may earn an F, but generally an F reveals a lack of effort. A generally an F reveals a lack of effort. A poorly-executed C thesis, with many typos poorly-executed C thesis, with many typos and grammar errors, or a D paper that and grammar errors, or a D paper that combines several of the weaknesses (errors, combines several of the weaknesses (errors, brevity, redundancy, lack of focus), has brevity, redundancy, lack of focus), has these indications. Obviously, a late paper these indications. Obviously, a late paper also.also.