Research Log 2: Creating a Thesis

StatementSurvey of American Literature

What is a thesis statement?

OThe thesis is a one-sentence statement that clearly and concisely explains what you’re going to talk about in your paper

What is a thesis statement?OAn opinionated statement: something

you believe that others may not

OThe LAST sentence of the introduction

ONames the topic and asserts something specific and significant about it

OOften provides a concise preview of how you will arrange your ideas in your paper

A Thesis is NOT…

OA questionOYou need to TELL us

OThe first sentence of your introduction

How will we write one?O 3 prong thesis format for a 5

paragraph essay

O Thesis will have a claim and the prongs will provide the support/proof

O Prongs can come before or after the claim

How will we write one?O Narrow the topic to a single, central

idea that you want your reader to gain from your research

O Example: General topic: Dinosaurs

What questions should I ask to narrow my topic?

What conclusions can I draw from the work I have done so far?

How can I express that idea by naming the topic and making an assertion?

How can I convey my purpose in that assertion?

How will we write one?O Since prongs come from research…

You NEED to pre-research to narrow your topic

EXAMPLE: Narrowed topic from research = Extinction of dinosaurs

Example?

Dinosaurs

Why dinos

became extinct

Thesis

General topic

Narrowed topic

Thesis

What will I prove?O Prove what you find from researchO No prongs come from your mind, only researchO This will make your thesis STRONG!!!!

O EXAMPLE: I am proving why dinosaurs became extinct

O Proof:O 1. onset of paeolithic eraO 2. global climate changesO 3. meteorite bombardment of EarthO 4. Have a fourth in your pocket just in case

What about my thesis in my paper?

O Once thesis is final, you CAN NOT change itO Parallel (follows same grammatical

structure)O No prongs will have repetitive qualitiesO Order of proof: order which supports are in

the thesis is the order they should appear in the paper

The Final PieceO MY THESIS!!

ODinosaurs became extinct because

of the onset of the paeolithic era,

global climate changes, and

meteorite bombardment of the

Earth.

How do I test my thesis?O Ask yourself…

O Does the sentence make an ASSERTION about your topic?

O Is the assertion LIMITED to only one idea?O IS the assertion SPECIFIC and SIGNIFICANT?O Does the sentence convey your PURPOSE

for writing?O Is the sentence UNIFIED so its parts relate to

each other and are parallel?

Let’s Practice O The life of the typical college student

is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.

YES NO

O WHY?

Let’s Practice O This paper will consider the

advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.

YES NO

WHY?

Let’s Practice O Stanley Fish's argument that free speech

exists more as a political prize than as a legal reality ignores the fact that even as a political prize it still serves the social end of creating a general cultural atmosphere of tolerance that may ultimately promote free speech in our nation just as effectively as any binding law.

YES NOWHY?

Let’s Practice O Strip-mining should be tightly

controlled in this region to reduce its pollution of water resources, its destruction of the land, and its devastating effects on people’s lives.

YES NO

WHY?

Let’s Practice O Active learning programs, full-time

sports, and intervention by mentors are three ways to divert juveniles from crime.

YES NO

WHY?

REVIEW PLEASE!

1. Order of proof: order which supports are in the thesis is the order they should appear in the paper.2. parallel structure3. ONE SENTENCE STATEMENT! 4. Placement: last sentence in introductory paragraph.