Modes of Illustration & the Thesis

 Writing modes, sometimes called modes of illustration, provide patterns and purpose for writing.  When we understand the purpose of the modes, we can see how helpful these modes will be as we write.  Modes can be used to organize and give direction to sentences, paragraphs, and entire essays.

 The goal of this presentation is to help students understand the purpose and form of the thesis sentence, especially as the thesis pertains to our Final Project for the course, the informative essay.  We also want to discuss the idea of modes of illustration and how they relate to the thesis.

 The thesis sentence appears as the last sentence of the introduction paragraph, the first paragraph of the essay.  The thesis sentence expresses the central idea of the essay and gives the specific points upon which the body paragraphs will be based.  These points are called key points and give specific direction to your general topic.  Topic + Key Points = Thesis sentence

 It is your “what’s the point?”  It is what you want your readers to know.  It is the main idea you are trying to get across.  It is your message.

A thesis sentence  is generally stated in a single sentence at the end of the introduction paragraph for an essay  limits the topic to a few key areas (three key points)  indicates the kind of support to follow  helps to organize the supporting material  is precisely worded.  does not announce by saying “I am going to tell you about…” or “My essay will explain…” Sample Thesis: Learning about French culture, cuisine, and art made my year in Paris enlightening.  This thesis is informative.

Sample Thesis: Learning about French culture, cuisine, and art made my year in Paris enlightening.  Body paragraph 1 will discuss how learning about French culture made this year in Paris enlightening.  Body paragraph 2 will discuss how learning about French cuisine made this year in Paris enlightening.  Body paragraph 3 will discuss how learning about French art made this year in Paris enlightening.

 Each student must choose a topic from Unit 1.  This topic becomes the basis of every project you do for the course.  Only the topics on the list in Unit 1 are approved topics.

 As the Unit points out, a “research question” can be a great way to arrive at a working (preliminary) thesis sentence.  Let’s consider the question that might have led to the sample thesis on a previous slide: “What are the three most important things about my learning experience in France?” Sample Thesis: Learning about French culture, cuisine, and art made my year in Paris enlightening.

 After Unit 1, we are trying to avoid any references to self in our projects.  Therefore, we will strive to avoid “I, me, my” and similar pronouns. Only in special instances of valid personal experience used as support can these pronouns occur.  No “I, me, my” pronouns should appear in the thesis.  Moreover, we will not use “you” pronouns at all. No “you” pronouns should appear in the thesis or anywhere else in the essay.

 Modes are organizational strategies that help convey information and a purpose.  For this presentation, we will focus on just three of these: 1. Cause and Effect 2. Comparison and Contrast 3. Process Analysis

 Cause and effect – By explaining or analyzing the causes and effects of something, you provide your readers with ways to understand a topic and sometimes cope with new ideas.  Comparison and/or contrast – Often, explaining how things are alike and/or different, or how they were and how they have changed, will present new information.  Process analysis – Sometimes explaining how something is done, made, or works, or how it came to be, will clarify a topic for a reader.

 Cause and effect: Change can lead to anxiety and stress. Contemplating the change of a new work or family dynamic often creates ripples of stress that affect every area of daily life. In fact, even good changes such as job promotion or new relationships can cause anxious feelings of adjustment.  In these few sentences, the writer demonstrates cause and effect. Change  causes  anxiety and stress.

 Comparison and contrast: Although the former filing system for our company used only alphabetical order, the new filing system uses both alphabetical order and chronological order. Therefore, while the older system allowed quick access only to client names and invoices, the new system allows employees to find invoices in certain timeframes for certain clients. Using this new system decreases time spent searching for invoices with the old system and the frequent misfiling that occurred with that system. However, this new method retains the alphabetical order of the old system because this order has served the company well.  These sentences set up a comparison and contrast. The difference (chronological order) is pointed out with the likeness (alphabetical order).

 Process Analysis: Although photography is a complex process, the amateur version of this art usually involves simple steps. First, the photographer loads the film into an analog camera. Next, the person behind the camera arranges the desired image, makes sure the flash is engaged and film advanced if necessary, and presses the shutter button. Finally, when the film roll is complete, the photographer takes the film to a developing lab and awaits the results.  These sentences explain a process. Notice the words used to transition between ideas  “First,” “Next,” and “Finally.” Writing requires this kind of transition, but the words used to transition change from mode to mode.

 Determining the purpose of your paper can point you in the direction of a mode to use in the thesis  Choose a mode that sets up the reason for the entire paper, not just one point  Easiest when a mode is prescribed for the paper as a whole  The thesis does not need one mode if the paper is not using merely one

 A three-point thesis states the main idea of the essay and includes three key points as support. Look at the following thesis:  Banning cigarette smoking in public places is an effective intervention to improve the public’s health by helping to reduce the dangers of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers, encouraging current smokers to quit, and reducing health-care costs.

 In this example, the main idea—the position the writer takes relative to the topic—is Banning cigarette smoking in public places is an effective intervention to improve the public’s health. This part of the thesis states what the writer claims to be true about the topic. How will the writer support this view?  In this case, the thesis includes three telegraphed key points—by helping to reduce the dangers of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers, encouraging current smokers to quit, and reducing health-care costs.  Banning cigarette smoking in public places is an effective intervention to improve the public’s health by helping to reduce the dangers of secondhand smoke on nonsmokers, encouraging current smokers to quit, and reducing health-care costs.

 The three-point thesis is the blueprint of the essay in that it not only establishes the main idea, but it also fleshes out the key points so that readers can anticipate a basic structure of the essay.  Readers would expect each forecasted point to be discussed in the order presented—that is, the first section will discuss the first key point, the next section the second, and so on.

 In Unit 5 we will:  Discuss the Unit 5 project: Informative Outline

 A BLUEPRINT THESIS STATEMENT contains the main ideas of the essay. This statement is a single sentence found at the end of the introductory paragraph. The blueprint thesis statement is an essential part of writing because it:  *tells what the subject of the essay will be  *suggests the organizational pattern of the essay  *establishes a tone for the rest of the essay  *contains two parts: a SUBJECT and an OPINION (or POSITION) A quality blueprint thesis statement will include 3 ideas to support your opinion. These ideas will let the reader know what you will be discussing in the essay. Try this example of a blueprint thesis statement: Cesar Chavez High School is the best school in Arizona because of its quality education, caring teachers and abundant sports programs.

 Easy structure

 Let’s try these samples

Fix the following thesis statements so that they become parallel: Graduating from high school is important because it prepares you for the real world, proves your capability and graduates get better jobs. (verbs at beginning of phrases) The fair is an exciting place to visit because of the rides, food and it is fun. (nouns) Bike riding is an excellent source of exercise because it is easy to do, exciting and healthy. (adjectives)

Jiffy Motors is the best repair shop because your car will be fixed quickly, efficiently and in a dependable manner. (adverbs) The Alaskan Nature Reserve should be preserved because of its unique wildlife, its intoxicating beauty and its campsites (phrase)