Barbara Paynter

STATEMENT PLUS 2-4 ARGUMENTS Expressed in 1 to 2 sentences and found in the 1 st paragraph.

This is your thesis. It will provide the skeleton for your essay or paper. All that is contained in the thesis must be presented in the paper or essay, and all that is presented in the paper or essay must be in the thesis. You can’t put flesh on a skeleton where there are no bones.

The paper or essay supports your thesis. If it is done well it proves your statement. Remember that your statement must be something that can be argued. If all know your statement is true, then it is not a good basis for a paper or essay of this type. This is a model for a thesis driven paper or essay.

STATEMENT (Your declaration) STATEMENT (Your declaration) FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest) THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest)

STEP #2 Take your 2 ND STRONGEST ARGUMENT and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.

This can range from one paragraph to several pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support your argument. Think of it as evidence in a trial.

ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE. Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great. *********No blogs**********

Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey, etc. These sites are useful and can help you form your thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.

Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc (all are blogs). The number of proofs will vary.

FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest)

STEP #3 Take your WEAKEST ARGUMENT and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.

This can range from one paragraph to several pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support your argument. Think of it as evidence in a trial.

ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE. Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great. *********No blogs**********

Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey, etc. These sites are useful and can help you form your thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.

Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc (all are blogs). The number of proofs will vary.

SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest)

STEP #4 Take your STRONGEST ARGUMENT and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.

This can range from one paragraph to several pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support your argument. Think of it as evidence in a trial.

ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE. Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great. *********No blogs**********

Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey, etc. These sites are useful and can help you form your thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.

Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc (all are blogs). The number of proofs will vary.

THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest) THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST PROOF (usually your 2 nd strongest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) SECOND PROOF (usually your weakest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest) THIRD PROOF (usually your strongest)

STEP #5 STATEMENT PLUS 2- 4 ARGUMENTS ARE EXPRESSED AGAIN AT THE END.

You have told them what you were going to tell them (Step #1), you told them (Step #2- Step #4) and now you are telling them what you told them (Step #5).

You also may want to leave them with something. The Ta-da. Make it a statement that will make the reader think about what you have said.

STATEMENT (Your declaration) STATEMENT (Your declaration) FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) FIRST ARGUMENT (usually your 2 nd strongest) SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest) THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest) THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest) TA-DA (a little something to think about) TA-DA (a little something to think about)

During the FIRST QUARTER in this class you will receive INFORMATION,TOOLS, AND PRACTICE IN ALL THE SKILLS you will need to construct a QUALITY LITERARY ANALYSIS RESEARCH PAPER at the end of the course.

Some of you are already familiar with this type of paper and are experts at how to cite a paper using MLA. OTHERS…NOT SO MUCH.

We will all work through the process together. I ask patience from those who “KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS” and the undivided attention of those who are yet to learn the ropes. TOGETHER – WE CAN DO IT!!

The FINAL PAPER in this class will be a LITERARY ANALYSIS RESEARCH PAPER, dependent on a student constructed defensible thesis about literature (novels, plays, short stories, or poetry).

It is highly suggested that you begin thinking about the literature you are already familiar with, and pay close attention to the literature we will be covering during the first quarter. START NOW EXPLORING THE FORMATION OF YOUR THESIS, SO THAT YOU WILL BE READY LATER.

You may want to pick works for your QRA READING that would help in this pursuit. REMEMBER THAT AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES ARE EASIER TO FIND FOR CLASSIC LITERATURE. Professors are not analyzing contemporary works.