Understanding essay titles and thesis construction In-sessional (2016) Stephen Deane

Overview This section aims to develop/enhance understanding of writing requirements via analysis of: Task Types Key Words Components Use of question forms

Analysing Titles – Main task types Four common task types are: Description Discussion Evaluation Comparison Discuss the characteristics of each.

Analysing Titles – Main task types Characteristic Description Give the main information (no need to comment) Support this information with evidence and/or examples Discussion Give the main information (need to comment) Requires more critical thinking/organising Evaluation Requires a clear thesis statement Needs selective/critical analysis to achieve this Comparison Identify similarities and/or differences Can require description, discussion of evaluation (or a combination of these)

Analysing Titles – Identifying Key Words Definition Analyse Examine and explain why Assess Evaluate/give strengths and weaknesses of and give reasons Compare Write about (usually) two things which have similarities + differences Examine Give reasons for, explain how something happened Contrast Describe differences Outline Give a short description of the main points Define Give a specific description for a specific context Account for Give good reasons for, explain satisfactorily In what way Explain how and say why Discuss Look at carefully, consider To what extent How far do you agree with … How ‘true’ is… Justify Express a view/views supporting it with reference to your reading State Express carefully, fully and clearly Infer Conclude something from the information provided

Analysing Titles – Identifying Key Words Word/Phrase Significance Meaning and importance Concise Short, brief With reference to Inside the subject of Factors Points for consideration Function What something does… Implications Results that are not obvious… Limitations Where the topic/results may be restricted… In the context of Related to… The role of What part something plays… Concept An important idea

Analysing Titles – Identifying Title Components Title: The British media claim to be objective in their reporting of news. Discuss with reference to either television or the press, and their coverage of a single recent event in the news Can you identify the 3 components in this title?

Analysing Titles – Identifying Title Components Components: 1) Topic = ‘The British Media’ 2) Instruction = ‘Discuss’ 3) Restriction/Limitation = ‘either television or the press’ and ‘coverage of a single event in the news’

Analysing Titles – Identifying Title Components Analyse and account for the differences between media representations of single-sex schooling in England and evidence from government statistics.

Analysing Titles – Re-writing as Questions Title: The British media claim to be objective in their reporting of news. Discuss with reference to either television or the press, and their coverage of a single recent event in the news. How would you interpret this title in question form?. 1) How objective …. 2) In which ways….. 3) What does coverage…

Analysing Titles – Re-writing as Questions How objective was the recent television coverage of Event X? In which ways did the recent television coverage of Event X lack objectivity? What does coverage of Event X suggest about the objectivity of UK news reporting?

Analysing Titles – Re-writing as Questions Analyse and account for the differences between media representations of single-sex schooling in England and evidence from government statistics.

Thesis construction This section aims to consider: What a thesis statement is/how it is used in academic writing To think about common problems with constructing a thesis and how to avoid these

Discussion What is a thesis ? 2) How is it used in an academic essay? 3)What would be an appropriate thesis for: To what extent were social and geographical factors responsible for Britain pioneering the Industrial Revolution in Europe?

Discussion A good thesis statement should include: An outline/the scope of the essay – the main ideas in the body paragraphs. 2) An opinion – the main argument used in the conclusion

Identifying a thesis 1) An outline/the scope of the essay – the main ideas in the body paragraphs. It will be suggested that a combination of social and geographical factors contributed to Britain appearing at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. The social components were … The geographical influences included…

Identifying a thesis 2) An opinion – the main argument used in the conclusion Ultimately, the main contention that will be presented is that geography, most pertinently its island status, was the primary factor in Britain’s pioneering of industry.

Identifying a thesis It has suggested that…. Conclusion (Link back to Introduction) This essay has considered to which degree social and geographical factors helped to place Britain in pole position regarding the Industrial Revolution It has suggested that…. The reasons for this are…

Identifying a thesis Conclusion (Link back to Introduction) This essay has considered to which degree social and geographical factors helped to place Britain in pole position regarding the Industrial Revolution It has suggested that the island status is the single key factor. The reasons for this are…

Common Problems 1)Thesis is too broad 2)Thesis is too narrow 3) Thread of the thesis lost

Broad Thesis What are the key negative social consequences of the rise in hard drug use in American society (1970-1990) It will be asserted that from 1970 to 1990 the widespread drug use is proved very detrimental to American society.

Broad Thesis What are the key negative social consequences of the rise in drug use in American society (1970-1990) It will be asserted that from 1970 to 1990 the widespread use of crack cocaine proved particularly detrimental in encouraging gang violence.

Broad Thesis Reasons: Failure to use debateable statement Read widely enough and/or understand complexity of issue – E.g. not considered different perspectives Over-simplistic communication and/or organisation of ideas

Narrow thesis To what extent were social and geographical factors responsible for Britain pioneering the Industrial Revolution in Europe? This essay will argue that the social factors of increased levels of education and participation of women were the key … .

Narrow thesis This essay will argue that the social factors of increased levels of education and participation of women were the key … . Whilst variables in geography were of less significance..

Narrow thesis Reasons: Failure to read widely enough and/or understand complexity of issue – E.g. not considered different perspectives (same as Broad) Misinterpretation of the question (importance of key words, writing title in question form) Writer becomes overly focused on one specific aspect

Thread of thesis Conclusion: Introduction: It will be asserted that from 1970 to 1990 the widespread use of crack cocaine proved particularly detrimental in encouraging gang violence. Consequently, this had significant repercussions for an increase in single mothers and a decrease in educational opportunity. Conclusion: In summary the influx of heroin into U.S. ghettos and the accompanying healthcare crisis…

Thread of thesis Introduction: It will be asserted that from 1970 to 1990 the widespread use of crack cocaine proved particularly detrimental in encouraging gang violence. Consequently, this had significant repercussions for an increase in single mothers and a decrease in educational opportunity. Conclusion: In summary the influx of crack cocaine had a series of direct negative consequences relating to gangs and indirectly one parent families and impoverished education for the subsequent generations

Thread of thesis Reasons: Confusion over title/instructions Lack of planning Failure to use a systematic approach (E.g. start to write before finishing reading)

Takeaway Ideas Make sure you understand the question (Ask tutors/classmates – clarify) Be systematic in your approach – set deadlines for reading, planning, drafting (e.g. avoid having to read after drafting) Criticality: Research/read a range of sources. Think about the topic from different perspectives Approach reading with a thesis mind-set