Finding the Main Point or Thesis

– This lecture is about finding an author’s main point or thesis.

– Sometimes you will be able to find an author’s thesis. – Sometimes, you won’t.

The Main Point or Thesis May Be Explicit or Implicit – Explicit: Clearly Stated – Implicit: Implied

The Main Point or Thesis May Be Explicit or Implicit – Explicit: Clearly Stated – Implicit: Implied

Explicit Theses – Sometimes you will get a sign. – The author might say: – “In this essay, I will…” – “My goal is to…”

Implicit Theses – However, most of the time, the author will give you no such clue

You must articulate the thesis! Nevertheless, even if you cannot find it, you must be able to articulate the essay’s thesis or main point in your own words.

– by Nicholas K. Peart: “Why is the N.Y.P.D. after Me?” pgs

Group Work: 4-5 Students per Group – The writer is the person with the fewest letters in his or her first name.

Discuss – What is by Nicholas K. Peart’s (“Why is the N.Y.P.D. after Me?” pgs ) main point? – What is the author trying to convince you of? – Writers: write your group’s answer down.

Step 1: Read and Annotate

Step 1 – Read and annotate the essay – A thesis covers/mentions all of an essay’s arguments and conclusions – You can’t know the author’s arguments until you’ve read/viewed the content

Remember, to find the main point of an essay, you must read the entire essay.

– That’s because a thesis alludes to all of the essay’s arguments and conclusions.

– Make sure the thesis you identify covers all of the author’s arguments.

Step 2: List the Author’s Arguments

Step 2: List all the author’s arguments – How to find an argument: – arguments are probably the main idea of each of your annotations – if you didn’t annotate, SOMETIMES arguments are mentioned in the topic sentence of each paragraph

Arguments – Arguments give evidence and reasoning.

Step #3: Combine the Arguments into a Thesis Combine All of the Arguments

Step #3 – Combine all of the author’s arguments into 1-2 sentences.

Practice – Combine all the author’s arguments into 1-2 sentences: – Review your annotations. – Note the arguments – Combine the arguments into 1-2 sentences. – Write the 1-2 sentences in your notes – Be prepared to share

Step 3: Process the Arguments

Step 3: Process – Condense those arguments into 1-3 sentences. Use your own words. – Make sure you mention each argument, however briefly. – You may find some of the arguments are repeated. That’s ok. There’s no need to mention the same argument twice in your main point

Step 3 (con’t) – This is not the time to say whether you agree or disagree with the author. Right now, we are just trying to figure out the author’s main point.

Process the arguments you found – Condense the arguments you found into 1-2 sentences.

Check your End Product: Answer these questions: – What is the author’s topic? – What is the author’s argument? – What is the author’s opinion (or reason he or she believes the argument is correct?

Answer these questions about Kozol’s essay: – What is the author’s topic? – What is the author’s argument? – What is the author’s opinion (or reason he or she believes the argument is correct?

– Form groups of 4-6 people. – The writer is the person with the most letters in his or her first name.

Compare your answers. – What is the author’s topic? – What is the author’s argument? – What is the author’s opinion (or reason he or she believes the argument is correct?

Writers: write down your group’s final answer for each. – What is the author’s topic? – What is the author’s argument? – What is the author’s opinion (or reason he or she believes the argument is correct?

– There will be one paper per group. – Your task is to condense the following five arguments into 1-2 sentences without leaving out any of the author’s ideas.

Step 4: Rewrite

Step 4 – Rewrite the results into your own words, and clarify anything that is unclear. – You now have the main point of the essay!

Step 5 (optional) – Check to see if the author has given such a thesis statement anywhere in the essay. – It may be anywhere in the essay, first paragraph, last paragraph or anywhere in between.