ESL 221ESL 221

September 23, 2009September 23, 2009

In-Class ReadingIn-Class Reading

In In HandbookHandbook, Read pp. 23-26 (start , Read pp. 23-26 (start at the bottom of p. 23 with at the bottom of p. 23 with “Developing a working thesis”“Developing a working thesis”

When you finish reading, complete When you finish reading, complete any two of the examples at the any two of the examples at the bottom of p. 26 (e.g. 1 & 4, 2 & 5, 3 bottom of p. 26 (e.g. 1 & 4, 2 & 5, 3 & 4, etc.)& 4, etc.)

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

When preparing to write an essay, a When preparing to write an essay, a research question can help to guide research question can help to guide your preparationyour preparation

A research question helps to remind A research question helps to remind you of the kind of information you you of the kind of information you hope to include in your essay hope to include in your essay

Sample Research QuestionsSample Research Questions

What is wrong with the current What is wrong with the current American healthcare system?American healthcare system?

What are some of the problems that What are some of the problems that international students face while international students face while studying in America?studying in America?

Do you think that international Do you think that international students should be allowed to have students should be allowed to have American Driver’s Licenses? Why or American Driver’s Licenses? Why or why not?why not?

Going from Research Question Going from Research Question to Thesis Statementto Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is a detailed The thesis statement is a detailed yet concise answer to the research yet concise answer to the research questionquestion

It includes a main idea, but also It includes a main idea, but also includes several supporting ideas includes several supporting ideas (called sub-topics) that will be further (called sub-topics) that will be further addressed in the body of the paperaddressed in the body of the paper

Typically one sentence, can be two Typically one sentence, can be two sentences in some casessentences in some cases

Identify the Sub-TopicsIdentify the Sub-Topics

Research Question: Research Question: What are some of the What are some of the problems that international students face problems that international students face while studying in America?while studying in America?

Thesis Statement: While studying in Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must America, international students must overcome a language barrier, spend overcome a language barrier, spend time away from their families, and learn time away from their families, and learn to do everything in a new and different to do everything in a new and different culture.culture.

Identify the Sub-TopicsIdentify the Sub-Topics

Research Question: Research Question: What are some of the What are some of the problems that international students face problems that international students face while studying in America?while studying in America?

Thesis Statement: While studying in Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must America, international students must overcome a language barrierovercome a language barrier, , spend spend time away from their familiestime away from their families, and , and learn learn to do everything in a new and different to do everything in a new and different cultureculture..

ActivityActivity

Working with a partner, write a thesis Working with a partner, write a thesis statement that answers the following statement that answers the following

research question:research question:

What are the benefits of studying What are the benefits of studying abroad?abroad?

Three Types of Thesis Three Types of Thesis StatementsStatements

Informing – Informing – writing to transmit knowledgewriting to transmit knowledge

Interpreting – Interpreting – writing to produce understandingwriting to produce understanding

Arguing – Arguing – writing to assert matters of public debatewriting to assert matters of public debate

Three basic types of essays: Informative, Three basic types of essays: Informative, Interpretive and ArgumentativeInterpretive and Argumentative

What type of essay is What type of essay is appropriate?appropriate?

For each essay prompt below, determine the type of For each essay prompt below, determine the type of thesis statement that would be most appropriate thesis statement that would be most appropriate (informative, interpretive or argumentative):(informative, interpretive or argumentative):

Should international students be allowed to obtain Should international students be allowed to obtain American driver’s licenses?American driver’s licenses?

Write an essay discussing American values as they are Write an essay discussing American values as they are represented in the movie represented in the movie Gone with the WindGone with the Wind

Write an essay about daily life in your home countryWrite an essay about daily life in your home country Do you think the American healthcare system needs to be Do you think the American healthcare system needs to be

changed? Why or why not?changed? Why or why not?

Topic SentencesTopic Sentences

Topic Sentences are drawn from the Topic Sentences are drawn from the sub-topics found in the thesis sub-topics found in the thesis statementstatement

Each sub-topic in the thesis Each sub-topic in the thesis statement becomes the main idea for statement becomes the main idea for a paragraph in the body of the essaya paragraph in the body of the essay

Writing Topic SentencesWriting Topic Sentences

Thesis Statement: The negative outcomes of drinking Thesis Statement: The negative outcomes of drinking alcohol include, but are not limited to: poor alcohol include, but are not limited to: poor performance in school, an increase of risky behaviors, performance in school, an increase of risky behaviors, and alcoholism.and alcoholism.

One of the negative outcomes of drinking is poorer One of the negative outcomes of drinking is poorer performance in the classroom.performance in the classroom.

Another potentially negative outcome of drinking is an Another potentially negative outcome of drinking is an increased likelihood to participate in risky behavior.increased likelihood to participate in risky behavior.

A final and most serious outcome of drinking is the A final and most serious outcome of drinking is the development of alcoholism, or an addiction to alcohol.development of alcoholism, or an addiction to alcohol.

Activity/HomeworkActivity/Homework

Complete the handout given in class (due Complete the handout given in class (due Monday)Monday) You may work with a partner while in classYou may work with a partner while in class

Read pp. 48-57 in Read pp. 48-57 in SourceworkSourcework, then , then complete Activity 2 on p. 59. Please complete Activity 2 on p. 59. Please write or type your answers on a separate write or type your answers on a separate sheet of paper so that you may turn them sheet of paper so that you may turn them in.in.