Academic Writing Kirk M. Adams Colegio Villa Rica PSF Writing Program Academic Writing Kirk M. Adams Colegio Villa Rica

Writing Process Overview: Process, Structure, and Format. (PSF)

Process: Brainstorming Writing the Thesis Statement Outline Rough Draft Peer Reviewing Final draft

Brainstorming –Defining Your Point of View

Different kinds of Brainstorming…. Free writing. Write for two or three minutes on your topic without stopping. Don’t judge your ideas and just let them flow. Make a mind map (mental map) Again, let your ideas flow. If the topic clearly has two sides consider making two columns (Pros and Cons/Advantages and Disadvantages) and just let the ideas flow. Don’t judge them.

Writing Your (tentative)Thesis Statement What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is a considered point of view. It’s more than an opinion. What characteristics should it have? A good thesis statement serves as an argument. A good thesis statement has a precise focus. A good thesis statement serves as a guide for the reader and the writer. A good thesis statement is a complex sentence. It should be an interesting, fresh point of view regarding a controversial or complex issue. A good thesis statement makes a claim that others might dispute. (argue against)

Other tips: Avoid “everybody,” “all,” and “nobody.” These kinds of generalizations will make your thesis easier to attack. Instead, try “many” and “some.” Avoid making moral assertions. Avoid the words “must” and “should.”

Example of a good topic sentence… Example of a weak thesis statement: I hate San Francisco weather in the summertime. Example of a good thesis statement sentence… While San Francisco weather in the summer can be variable and unpredictable, once one has mastered “the art of layering,” it can be quite pleasant.

Activity: Practice brainstorming and writing thesis statements. Choose two topics from “250 topic ideas” For each of the two topics, do the following: Use one of the brainstorming techniques suggested to generate some ideas and formulate a (tentative) opinion. Write a (tentative) thesis statement for each topic idea. Note: “tentative” means that it can be changed later.

Examples of good (and not so good) thesis statements Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel. (weak In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore. (good) The United Nations Security Council is a meaningless concentration of power of 5 nations. (could be improved) The veto power of all member nations, makes the United Nations Security Council a meaningless concentration of power of 5 nations. (much better) In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the chess game parallels the struggle between Harry and Voldemort throughout the series. (good)

Peer review. Have two classmates check your work for the following Peer review. Have two classmates check your work for the following. Indicate which aspects of the thesis statement could be improved. 1. This thesis statement is a "considered point of view." It is more than an opinion. 2. This thesis statement serves as an argument. 3. This thesis statement has a precise focus. 4. this thesis statement serves as a guide for the reader and the writer. 5. This thesis statement is a complex sentence. 6. This thesis statement is an interesting, fresh point of view regarding a controversial or complex issue. 7. Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? 8. Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader.

Sources: “How to write a thesis statement (High school students)” http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Thesis-Statement-%28High-School- Students%29 “How to generate a thesis statement” http://www.clbooks.com/news/how-to-generate-a-thesis-statement The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "The Writing Center" http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/ Buzzle, Thesis Statement Examples http://www.buzzle.com/articles/thesis- statement-examples.html Indiana University "How to write a thesis statement." http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml Bright Hub Education "How to write a thesis statement: The good and the bad." http://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-writing/50680-examples-of- thesis-statements/