Posts Tagged ‘thesis statement’
Thesis Statements
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement:
* tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
* is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
* directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
* makes a claim that others might dispute.
* is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.
If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively.
A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis,” a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.
Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement.
How do I know if my thesis is strong?
If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following:
* Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.
* Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose?If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
* Is my thesis statement specific enough?
Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
* Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is, “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
* Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s o.k. to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
* Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.
Tags: argument, assignment, bas, cause and effect, claim, contrasts, Dick, ESSAY, evidence, instructor, logic, moby dick, novel, paper, paragraph, position, question, reader, relationships, rest, road map, significance, Statement, subject matter, thesi, thesis, thesis statement, thesis statements, topic, what is a thesis, what is a thesis statement, when in doubt, world war ii
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Essay Writing Tips
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Essay Writing Tips to Follow
1) Decide your Topic in advance
2) Do an Outline or a Diagram of the Main Ideas
3) Write the Thesis Statement (the main idea of the essay)
4) Write the Developmental (Body) Paragraphs
5) Ensure that each developmental paragraph has the following—a) a main point, b) sub-points, & c) elaboration of the sub-points
6) Complete the Introductory Paragraph
7) Complete the Conclusion (summary paragraph)
8 ) Choose an Eye-catching & Interesting Title
9) Take a Break
10) Reread the Essay & Edit
Tags: advance, amp, body, body paragraphs, conclusion, Developmental, Diagram, elaboration, ESSAY, essay writing tips, idea, introductory paragraph, Main, Outline, paragraph, Statement, summary paragraph, thesis, thesis statement, Tips, title 9, topic, Write
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Online Universities
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Online universities like the University of Phoenix or Argosy University are a great option for nontraditional students who are older or who have families to take care of. These universities have bachelors, masters and PhD programs that can be completed completely online. Furthermore, the online learning platforms are extremely user-friendly and easy to use making the learning process all the more fulfilling. And you don’t need to quit your job, sacrifice time and income just to complete a degree with online universities. But getting a degree is critical in this economy and in the global market just to stay competitive.
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