The Thesis Statement II

7/29/2019 The Thesis Statement II

1/33

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis StatementNotesNotes


2/33

The thesis statement is asentence that clearly andconcisely indicates the subject

of your paper, the main pointsyou will cover, and the orderin which you will discuss them.

It is not the subject; it is aninterpretation of the subject.


3/33

Important Thesis NotesImportant Thesis Notes

A thesis statement is a declarativestatement. It is not a title, a fragment, ora question.

Example:Question: Why are biofeedback techniques

excellent methods of stress reduction?

Thesis: Because of its simplicity, accuracy,and lack of toxicity, biofeedback is often asuccessful technique for migraine relief.


4/33

A thesis statement is an arguable

idea, not a fact.

Fact: Cortez conquered Mexico in 1509.

Thesis: The colonial mentality which

prompted Cortez's barbaric invasion

of Mexico brought about not an

advance of native society but a

destruction of Aztec culture.


5/33

A thesis statement is not an announcement of

the author's purpose or assignment.

Announcement: In this paper I will discuss the

causes and effects of the French Revolution and

then argue as to whether or not it was

successful.

Thesis: Though the reasons for the French

Revolution were noble liberty, fraternity, equality

the effects were devastating, ultimately leadingto the unsuccessful reinstitution of the monarchy

and the restructuring of a classist society into a

militaristic one.


6/33

A thesis statement is not obvious.

Obvious: Litter creates pollution of the environment.

Thesis: Recycling programs, though expensive at

first, are ultimately an efficient, cost effective, and

environmentally sound means of reducing waste

in our environment.

Obvious: The computer was an important

technological advancement in the twentieth

century.

Thesis: Even though computers have theiridiosyncrasies, they have improved our lives

tremendously by simplifying word processing,

streamlining data storage, and promoting an

international exchange of information.


7/33

A thesis statement is specific and

narrowed and is not a broad

overgeneralization.

Broad: Men are chauvinists.Narrow: Men who repress their true

feelings leave themselves open to

physical, psychological, andrelationship difficulties.


8/33

A thesis statement covers only

one topic.

Many topics: The theme, characters,

setting, irony, conflicts, viewpoint,

and plot all contribute to making

Madame Bovary a tragedy.

One topic: Flaubert's Emma Bovary is a

tragic character because, never seeing

reality, she misses some important clues thather life has gone awry, and she falls from her

social "height" into prostitution.


9/33

A thesis statementA thesis statement focuses thefocuses the

essay and guides itsessay and guides its

direction.direction.

UnfocusedUnfocused: Martin Luther King, Jr. is a role: Martin Luther King, Jr. is a role

model for everyone to follow.model for everyone to follow.

FocusedFocused: Because of his determination, his: Because of his determination, his

courage to follow his beliefs and hiscourage to follow his beliefs and hisunwavering sense of justice, Martin Lutherunwavering sense of justice, Martin Luther

King, Jr. is a symbol of American freedom.King, Jr. is a symbol of American freedom.


10/33

Your thesis needs threeYour thesis needs three

components: (TAD)components: (TAD)Topic:Topic:

The narrowed, limited subject of your paper.The narrowed, limited subject of your paper.

Attitude:Attitude:

How you will treat and interpret the subject.How you will treat and interpret the subject.

Development:Development:

The proof/points you will cover in the paper.The proof/points you will cover in the paper.


11/33

If you were writing a paper toIf you were writing a paper to

convince your parents to let youconvince your parents to let you

have your own car, your thesishave your own car, your thesis

would not be something like:would not be something like:

Its important for me to have a car.

Why?!


12/33

How about:How about:

Its important for me to have a car so IIts important for me to have a car so I

can take road trips.can take road trips.

Why?Why?


13/33

What about this?What about this?

Having my own car will give meHaving my own car will give me

more freedom to explore life,more freedom to explore life,

but it will also providebut it will also providediscipline through thediscipline through the

expansion of my householdexpansion of my householdresponsibilities.responsibilities.


14/33

Now, Consider TheseNow, Consider These

Mark Twain'sMark Twain's Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn is a great Americanis a great American

novel.novel.

InIn Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast, Mark Twain develops a contrastbetween life on the river and life on the shore.between life on the river and life on the shore.

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain'sThrough its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain'sHuckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn suggests that to find the truesuggests that to find the true

expression of American democratic ideals, one mustexpression of American democratic ideals, one must

leave "civilized" society and go back to nature.leave "civilized" society and go back to nature.


15/33

Where is the thesis?Where is the thesis?

Contrary to popular, parental, andContrary to popular, parental, andlibrarian opinion, 'quiet study time' doeslibrarian opinion, 'quiet study time' doesnot in fact enhance but instead impairsnot in fact enhance but instead impairs

students' productivity. Listening tostudents' productivity. Listening tomusic while studying is in fact amusic while studying is in fact abeneficial activity to add to a studybeneficial activity to add to a study

regime for better grades because of theregime for better grades because of theway music motivates students andway music motivates students andkeeps them alert.keeps them alert.


16/33

Listening to music whileListening to music while

studying is in fact astudying is in fact abeneficial activity to add to abeneficial activity to add to a

study regime for betterstudy regime for bettergrades because of the waygrades because of the waymusic motivates studentsmusic motivates students

and keeps them alert.and keeps them alert.


17/33

Your thesis must take a stand,Your thesis must take a stand,

be specific, and engagingbe specific, and engagingenough to justify writing about.enough to justify writing about.


18/33

A strong thesis often containsA strong thesis often contains

words like:words like:

BecauseBecause

SinceSince

SoSoAlthoughAlthough

UnlessUnless

ThroughThroughHoweverHowever

Why?

They help

with

development!


19/33

For ExampleFor Example

BecauseBecause half of all crack babies arehalf of all crack babies arelikely to grow up in homes lacking goodlikely to grow up in homes lacking good

mental and emotional stimulation, themental and emotional stimulation, the

federal government should financefederal government should finance

programs to supplement parental care forprograms to supplement parental care for

crack addicted infants and children.crack addicted infants and children.


20/33

Lets break this one downLets break this one down

Because half of allBecause half of all

crack babies are likelycrack babies are likely

to grow up in homesto grow up in homes

lacking good mentallacking good mentaland emotionaland emotional

stimulation, the federalstimulation, the federal

government shouldgovernment should

finance programs tofinance programs tosupplement parentalsupplement parental

care for crack addictedcare for crack addicted

infants and children.infants and children.

Topic:Topic:

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Attitude:Attitude:

Should Finance ProgramsShould Finance ProgramsDevelopment:Development:

1)1) Crack addicted babies areCrack addicted babies areless likely to grow up inless likely to grow up in

homes lacking goodhomes lacking goodmental stimulationmental stimulation

2)2) Crack addicted babies areCrack addicted babies areless likely to grow up inless likely to grow up inhomes lacking goodhomes lacking goodemotional stimulationemotional stimulation


21/33

Lets Try AnotherLets Try Another

Because theinternet is filled

with tremendous

marketing

potential,

companies should

take advantage by

using web pagesthat offer both

advertising and

customer support.

Topic:Companies

Attitude:

Should use webpages that use

advertising and

customer support

Development:

The tremendous

marketing potential

of theinternet


22/33

One moreOne more

Hungerpersists in

Appalachia

because jobsare scarce

and farming in

the infertilesoil is rarely

profitable.

Topic:Hunger in Appalachia

Attitude:Persists

Development:1)Jobs are scarce

2)Farming in infertile soil

is rarely profitable


23/33

Your topic needs to be:Your topic needs to be:

Single:Narrow-dont try to take on so much!

Supportable:

Is there enough evidence to support

and defend your thesis statement?

Significant:

Why write about it if its not important?


24/33

Basic Steps for Writing a ThesisBasic Steps for Writing a Thesis

StatementStatement

1. After you have decided your topic, you

need to narrow it down.

Broad:British Poetry

Narrow:Gender Characteristics in Two Poems

More Narrow:John Donnes Death Be Not Proudcontrasted with Elizabeth Barret

Brownings Sonnet 43


25/33

2. Put your topic into a sentence.2. Put your topic into a sentence.

Elizabeth Barret Brownings

Sonnet 43isdifferent from

John Donne's "Death Be NotProud."


26/33

3. Add your argument, viewpoint, or3. Add your argument, viewpoint, or

opinion to your topic to makeopinion to your topic to make

your thesis persuasive.your thesis persuasive.

Elizabeth Barret Brownings Sonnet43is essentially a more feminine

poem, while John Donne's "Death

Be Not Proud" is more masculine.


27/33

4. Elaborate on your thesis so that it4. Elaborate on your thesis so that it

addresses all parts of youraddresses all parts of your

assignment.assignment.

Although Elizabeth Barret

Browningand John Donne bothpersonify death in their poems,

the tone, language, and images

are clearly feminine in Sonnet 43

and masculine in "Death Be Not

Proud."


28/33

5. Organize your thesis to guide the5. Organize your thesis to guide the

direction of your paper.direction of your paper.

Although Elizabeth Barret

Browning and John Donne bothpersonify death in their poems the

tone, images, and language are

clearly more feminine in Sonnet43 than in "Death Be Not Proud."


29/33

6. Edit your thesis for content, word6. Edit your thesis for content, word

choice, precision, andchoice, precision, and

mechanics.mechanics.

Although Elizabeth Barret Browning

and John Donne both personifydeath in their poems, the images,

language, and tone clearly reveal a

woman's perspective in "Sonnet43," and a man's perspective in

"Holy Sonnet 10."


30/33

Poetry Analysis Thesis Notes:Poetry Analysis Thesis Notes:

After completing your poetry analysis, you shouldbe able to state, in your own words, thetheme ofthe poem.

Next, decide what poetic elements and techniques

evident in the poem are specifically responsible

forconveying that theme.

Now, narrow down, from the above list, the

elements and devices that you feel you can write

the most intelligently and compellingly about.


31/33

Finally, formulateFinally, formulate

a rough thesisa rough thesis

statement.statement.Remember: it mustRemember: it must

contain TAD, and yourcontain TAD, and yourtopic must be SSS!topic must be SSS!


32/33

** If you can, indicate in the thesis the areas

or features of the poem important to your

argument (a pattern of imagery, for instance,or a series of crucial lines). Remember, your

thesis statement must argue a point; instead

of simply saying that a poet uses certain

poetic devices, you must give some indication

in your thesis as to how those devices work

and what they do to the poem's meaning.

You do not need to go into elaborate detail inyour thesis, but do show the relationship

between the poem and your argument.


33/33

Final WordsFinal Words

If you are struggling, here is an almost

template to use-it is very elementary, but it

works.

Through his (or her) use of______________,

___________, and ___________, Poets

Name conveys the theme_________________ in his (or her) Poem

Title.

Date post:	03-Apr-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	andrica1
View:	224 times
Download:	0 times

The Thesis Statement II

Documents