Chapter 4 The Thesis and the Outline A Cindy 蔣欣穎 A Carolyn A Pauline

4a The thesis: Definition and function What is the thesis? What is the thesis? What are its functions? What are its functions? -Discourage writers from wandering aimlessly -Discourage writers from wandering aimlessly -Chart an orderly course for the paper -Chart an orderly course for the paper -Give the reader an idea of what to expect -Give the reader an idea of what to expect

4a-1 Formulating the thesis Thesis: a central idea that summarizes the paper Thesis: a central idea that summarizes the paper This idea must be expressed in one sentence. This idea must be expressed in one sentence. Contrary to the hopes of bilingual-education advocates, the latest research indicates that bilingual confuse children and slow them down in achieving the goal of learning English. Contrary to the hopes of bilingual-education advocates, the latest research indicates that bilingual confuse children and slow them down in achieving the goal of learning English.

4a-2 Rules for wording the thesis Be clear, comprehensible, and direct Be clear, comprehensible, and direct Predict major divisions in the structure of the paper Predict major divisions in the structure of the paper Commit to an unmistakable course, argument, or point of view Commit to an unmistakable course, argument, or point of view

The thesis should commit you to a single line of argument Poor Poor The Roman theater was inspired by the Greek theater, which it imitated, and eventually the Romans produced great plays in their theatrons, such as those by Plautus, who was the best Roman comic writer because of his robustness and inventiveness. The Roman theater was inspired by the Greek theater, which it imitated, and eventually the Romans produced great plays in their theatrons, such as those by Plautus, who was the best Roman comic writer because of his robustness and inventiveness. Better Better Because of his robust language and novel comic plots, Titus Maccius Plautus can be considered the best Roman comic playwright, and his plays are still successfully staged today. Because of his robust language and novel comic plots, Titus Maccius Plautus can be considered the best Roman comic playwright, and his plays are still successfully staged today.

The thesis should not be worded in figurative language. Poor Poor Henry James is the Frank Lloyd Wright of the American novel Henry James is the Frank Lloyd Wright of the American novel Better Better The novels of Henry James have internal consistency because of the way he unifies his themes, patterns his episodes, and orders his images. The novels of Henry James have internal consistency because of the way he unifies his themes, patterns his episodes, and orders his images.

The thesis should not be worded vaguely Poor Poor Smoking is bad for the body. Smoking is bad for the body. Better Better Cigarette smoking harms the body by constricting the blood vessels, accelerating the heartbeat, and activating excessive gastric secretion in the stomach. Cigarette smoking harms the body by constricting the blood vessels, accelerating the heartbeat, and activating excessive gastric secretion in the stomach.

The thesis should not be worded as a question Poor Poor Who makes the key decisions in U.S. cities? Who makes the key decisions in U.S. cities? Better Better Key decisions in U.S. cities are made by a handful of individuals, drawn largely from business, industrial, and municipal circles. Key decisions in U.S. cities are made by a handful of individuals, drawn largely from business, industrial, and municipal circles.

The thesis should be a single, concise, easily understood sentence. Thesis Thesis -single -single -concise -concise -easy to understand -easy to understand

4a-3 Placing the thesis Example: Example: A quarter of a million babies are born each year with birth defects. Only 20 percent of those defects are hereditary. Most could have been prevented: They are the tragic results of poor prenatal care. An unfavorable fetal environment, like that produced by malnutrition in the mother or by her use of drugs, is a primary cause of many kinds of birth defects.

4a-4 Choosing a title Example: Example: An Admirable Animal Not clear An Admirable Animal Not clear The Courage of Turtles Clear The Courage of Turtles Clear

4b The outline A ordered list A ordered list Be useful for writers and readers. Be useful for writers and readers.

4b-1 Visual conventions of the outline Example: Example: I. Main idea I. Main idea A. Sub-idea A. Sub-idea B. Sub-idea B. Sub-idea 1. Division of a sub-idea 1. Division of a sub-idea 2. Division of a sub-idea 2. Division of a sub-idea a. Minor idea a. Minor idea b. Minor idea b. Minor idea

Example: I. A. A a. a. (1) (1) (a) (a)

4b-2 Equal ranking in outline entries the same organizing principle the same organizing principle Example: Example: p.44 p.44

4b-3 Parallelism in outline entries Example: Example: I. The uses of the laser in the military I. The uses of the laser in the military A. For range finding A. For range finding B. For surveillance B. For surveillance C. For illuminating the enemy ’ s position C. For illuminating the enemy ’ s position

4b-4 Types of outline The topic outline The topic outline The sentence outline The sentence outline The paragraph outline The paragraph outline

a. The topic outline a phrase, no introduction and conclusion. a phrase, no introduction and conclusion. Example: Example: p.45 p.45

b. The Sentence Outline A complete sentence for every entry A complete sentence for every entry Questions are allowed Questions are allowed Declarative sentences are better Declarative sentences are better Suited for complex subjects Suited for complex subjects

I. A. B II. A. B. III. A B.

c. The Paragraph Outline A complete paragraph for each entry A complete paragraph for each entry A condensed version of the paper A condensed version of the paper Not for ordinary college papers Not for ordinary college papers I. I. II. II. III. III. IV. IV.

d. Decimal Outline Notation Indenting, labeling and spacing Indenting, labeling and spacing Best for business and science Best for business and science Allowing unlimited number of subdivisions Allowing unlimited number of subdivisions

4c. Choosing an outline form No much detail on the subject  Using detailed sentence outline No much detail on the subject  Using detailed sentence outline Topic sentence of various paragraph Topic sentence of various paragraph Details should be used to support the topic sentence Details should be used to support the topic sentence I. I. A. A

Close correspondence between the outline and developed paragraph 1. The main entry of the outline = the topic sentence 2. Sub-idea A = to introduce the following details 3. The details are used word-for-word