How to make a thesis Part I

The Thesis Continuum A great thesis is between plot summary and opinion. Too much of either is BAD! Zone of Highest Interest “The Sweet Spot” Outrageous, unsupported thesis Plot-driven thesis The perfect balance of insightful textual analysis and personal opinion, a GREAT thesis creates an opportunity to use evidence from the text to arrive at a thoughtful, provocative paper. The Thesis Continuum

Your essay Prompt Are Bullies Criminals? Explain your response using  Specific examples from your life, literature, and/or popular/historical culture.  Use stylistic features such as proper diction* and strong verbs  Proper grammar and usage  Proper structure

Thesis answers the EQ YesNo

“The Sweet Spot” Are Bullies criminals? BulliesNOT are criminals because...

“The Sweet Spot” Answer to the EQ LOGICAL reasons supporting your answer  Bullies are criminals because…__________, _________ & _________  Bullies are not criminals because…__________, __________ & ________.

You write your thesis YesNo

How to make a Sandwich Ahem, or essay…

Details & Descriptions Write detailed instructions of how to make a turkey sandwich. Remember, you need to be as specific as possible; pretend as though you are talking to an alien Now, try again, and remember to start from the very beginning.

An Essay Sandwich Teaching someone to make a sandwich is LIKE writing an essay  You need a beginning and an end  You need specific details and explanations  You need structure; without it, everything falls apart.

Your essay Prompt Are Bullies Criminals? Explain your response using  Specific examples from your life, literature, and/or popular/historical culture.  Use stylistic features such as proper diction* and strong verbs  Proper grammar and usage  Proper structure

Establish the author’s (your) purpose To inform To persuade To teach To entertain You are trying to persuade the reader that bullies are or are not criminals.

Establish a Structure Page 5 of your writing handbook

Typical Essay Structure Thesis Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Conclusion Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Details

Break down the thesis; it all fits together in the sandwich. I. Reason # 1 Bullies (are/are not) criminals because…  A. SPECIFIC Example Explanation  B. SPECIFIC Example Explanation

Page 8 writing handbook What kind of examples exist? A specific image A specific quote Background information Style choices Diction Rhetorical techniques

The Introduction 1. Hook your readers into the essay with an quote, question, Or SHORT anecdote. Remember, you want them to want to read! 2. discussing the general theme of your essay and how it appears in the text. Be sure to state the title and author of the text. 3. Create a few sentences that specifically lead toward your thesis. 4. Focus in on the purpose of your paper. As you write your Intro, get increasingly specific, ending with a narrow, argumentative thesis. Page 6 writing Handbook

Conclusion Restatement 1. Start with your thesis statement; Restate Don’t REPEAT. Effective rhetoric is key!!!!!!! 2. Now ask yourself “What is the bigger picture of my paper?”. Take the time to guide your reader back through your essay, showing them how all the parts fit together. 3. Reflect on the consequences of your thesis. Try to arrive at a new, or bigger idea, that really drives your point home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4. Finally, end with a clincher; circle back to your hook. REFER to it, don’t repeat it.