Steps to a Great Thesis and Support

Source: _A Writer's Reference_ by Diana Hacker

A thesis statement can be: The answer to a question posed in the prompt

The solution to a problem you have identified

A statement that takes a position on a debatable topic

General Tips about Thesis Statements A statement that contains the essay’s topic and

point(s) Gives the reader a sense of what the essay will be

about Usually comes at the end of the introduction Most thesis statements are only one sentence Must be a complete sentence Everything in the essay must support the thesis. Introduction paragraph should follow this format:

Attention getter (commonly known as a “hook”) Introduce the topic State the thesis

What are the Roles of a Thesis? 1. It can assert an argument, explain

a topic, and/or analyze an issue. 2. It is specific in presenting the

writer's position.3. It limits both scope and topic of the

paper. 4. It captures the reader's interest

and focuses that interest on the topic.

Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu

Kinds of Thesis Statements: Persuasive* A persuasive paper makes a claim based on

opinion, evaluation, or interpretation about a topic and proves this claim with specific evidence.

Persuasive thesis example: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

*If you have been asked to argue a point or choose a side on an issue, this is likely the type of thesis you will use.

*Typically, you will use this style of thesis in English 1A and transfer-level courses.

Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu

Kinds of Thesis Statements: Analytical* An analytical paper breaks the topic down into

parts, examines each part, and determines how each part relates to the whole topic.

Analytical thesis example: An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.

*If you have been asked to analyze a topic, issue, or reading, this is the type of thesis you should use.

*Typically, you will use this style of thesis in English 1A and transfer level courses.

Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu

Kinds of Thesis Statements: Expository* An expository (explanatory) paper

explains something to the audience. Expository thesis example: The life of

the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.

*If you have been asked to narrate a story or explain a process, this is likely the type of thesis you will use.

Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements: The List (Essay Map) Contains essay’s topic,

point, and three supporting reasons

Example: “To reduce the number of highway fatalities [topic and point], our country needs [purpose=persuasive] to enforce the national law that designates twenty-one as the legal minimum age to drink, set up check points on major holidays, and take away licenses from convicted drunk drivers [three reasons].”

Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements:The Umbrella

Contains essay’s topic, point, and alludes to reasons why the reader should believe you.

Do not directly state the supporting reasons, but instead allude to them.

Example: “Although thought to be humane and necessary, animal testing [topic] for medical and cosmetic purposes does not live up to it’s promises [point and reasons].”

Do NOT use language like, “There are many reasons people don’t like chocolate ice cream.”

Thesis Don’ts

Announce your thesis: “In this essay, I am going to tell you about college and why you should go there.” (Side note: Some instructors may encourage this type of statement, and always do what your instructor suggests)

Confuse your reader: Just make sure that the topic and point are clear.

Cannot be a fact: Doesn’t allow you to prove anything because it’s already factual.

Don’t be vague: Words like “good,” “bad,” “right,” and “wrong,” don’t convey specific meaning.

Cannot be a question: “Don’t you think animal testing is inhumane?” Does not give the point of the

paper. Leaves it open for readers to fill in

the blank.

Creating a Thesis Statement1. Determine essay’s topic (what you’re talking about)

Example: Pixar’s film Up

2. Determine what kind of paper you are writing and what kind of thesis statement you need to use: analytical, persuasive, or expository. Example: Persuasive=It’s not really a “kid” movie.

3. Determine the way you will construct your thesis: list or umbrella?

4. Put it all together!Example: Pixar’s most recent film, Up, should not be considered a “kid” movie because its character conflicts and main theme of loss are too complex for children to understand.

Activity: Create Thesis Statements Based on the topic below, create an

umbrella and list thesis statement Make sure to include the topic, point, and

possibly reason(s) in each of the statements.

Topic: Being a successful Delta College student

Be prepared to post your answer in this week’s discussion task!

Possible Thesis Statements List: “Though Delta College may offer

rigorous courses, each student can be successful [topic+point] as long as they study, receive tutoring, and meet with their instructors [reasons].”

Umbrella: “Delta College can be a challenging school, but all students can be successful [topic+point].”

Thesis/Support Identification

On the following slides, identify which of the sentences are a thesis statement, a supporting detail (SD) to support the thesis, and a specific example (SE) to demonstrate the topic sentence.

A thesis should be the broadest idea of the three and must be the umbrella under which all the ideas of the essay fit.

A supporting detail must contribute to supporting the thesis statement but cannot simply restate the thesis. Instead, it must work with the other supporting details to break the thesis idea into parts and begin to prove it.

A specific example should be very specific. It should refer to one incident/event, one person, or one place that reveals that there is truth to your topic sentence idea.

1. Thesis/Support Identification A. I consider myself a hardworking person,

but I need to be more disciplined. B. When I prepared for a recent math test,

I solved only the problems suggested by the teacher and didn’t do any additional studying.

C. I am not a completely gritty student, but my strategy to succeed in college is a balance between a gritty attitude and intelligence.

2. Thesis/Support Identification A. I persevered in my history class

despite being given articles with advanced vocabulary that I had trouble breaking down.

B. In rigorous and difficult classes, I motivate myself to work hard.

C. I am a gritty student in the sense that I like to be challenged and strive to earn as high a grade as I possibly can.

3. Thesis/Support Identification A. I don’t consider myself a gritty

student because there are many distractions that throw me off track.

B. There are always other obligations in my life that need my immediate attention and prevent me from spending extra time on my studies.

C. I have a crazy five-year-old sister on whom I need to keep a careful watch.

4. Thesis/Support Identification A. Math was never my strong suit but I

persevered through AP calculus to demonstrate to myself that I could do it.

B. I have proven to be able to make it through difficult challenges; therefore, I consider myself a gritty student.

C. Signing up for challenging courses is one way I’ve exhibited my grit to the world.

5. Thesis/Support Identification (non-example)

Thesis: I haven’t ever been the smartest student in the class but I have always tried my hardest with my work, and that’s what makes me a gritty student.

SD: I’ve always had good grades but I was never the smartest student in my class.

SE: I knew I wasn’t smart so I did all my work to better myself.

Problem: Too much repetition. No new ideas or support are provided by the SD or SE. The “example” is not specific enough and it is not actually an example of the issue at all.

5. Thesis/Support Identification (non-example)

Thesis: I am a gritty student most of the time because I want to be successful in everything I do.

SD: I am gritty about writing because even though I don’t love it, I know it will help me in the long run.

SE: Writing was always on my side when I needed it. Even though some topics are boring, I still liked to come up with ideas to help it become more interesting.

Problem: The “example” is not specific enough and it is not actually an example of the issue at all.

Ideas to Consider (or reconsider!) for College Success

Doing everything you are required to do on every assignment (and nothing more) will likely not earn you an “A.” In fact, that is the definition of average student performance for any given expectations. That’s a “C” at best.

How could you possibly make the argument that you “try your hardest,” if you don’t go above and beyond, do extra studying, go to your professors’ office hours, and get FREE tutoring? Do you even know what “I really truly tried my hardest and exhausted every possibly resource” would feel like?

It’s really obvious that most of you did NOT do the homework from chapters 7 and 10 about examples and supporting your thesis! It’s not too late to study these chapters!! The answer key is posted in the module so you can check your work. The first mastery practice essay is coming up and it will TEST you on EVERYTHING we’ve covered so far!!

Ideas to Consider (or reconsider!) for College Success

The research shows that students who end up reaching their goals and being successful are “grittier” than students who don’t make it. “Being gritty” means you work hard through insanely challenging obstacles and still stay on track; it means that you remain focused on your goals even when your life gets difficult.

It means that if your house burns down on Tuesday, you don’t ask for an extension; you get your essay submitted by the deadline and make sure it is superb! (hypothetical example)

It means when you completely blow out your knee doing track and field your freshman year of college, you get up really early to “crutch” to class everyday even when you’re in pain and feeling depressed, and then you arrange the surgery around your school’s spring break schedule so you don’t fall behind. (This really happened to me my first year at UC Davis!)

Ideas to Consider (or reconsider!)

It means when you’re homeless and wake-up on the floor of a bus stop in the middle of winter and you’d rather do anything more than walk to school, you still decide to drag your tired self to class, because graduating from Harvard is your dream! (Liz Murray, from the fantastic book Breaking Night)

What will you do to demonstrate that you are a “gritty” college student?