What’s a Thesis? The Basics of Essay Writing Kevin Moberg Writing Center and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator Academic Success Center Academic Skills Enhancement Workshop Series

Academic Success Center Um, what’s an essay? A brief written work that examines a topic from the author’s own point of view, taking into account the writer’s personal experiences and his/her reflections upon them

Academic Success Center Um, what’s an essay? Assigned in a variety of courses Assigned for a variety of purposes –Learn by writing –Write to show what you’ve learned –Persuade –Describe –Explain –Retell –Evaluate

Academic Success Center Essay writing: the steps in the process 1.Prewriting 2.Writing 3.Rewriting 4.Editing 5.Publishing  planning it  writing it  revising/improving it  polishing/correcting it  turning it in

Academic Success Center Writing Center Housed in Academic Success Center on the lower level of Stoxen Library Staffed by students trained as peer tutors Free and open daily for appointments (drop-in visits possible, too) Mondays 9:00-12:00 & 1:00-4:30 Tuesdays 9:00-4:30 Wednesdays 9:00-4:30 Thursdays 9:00-4:30 Fridays 10:00-3:00

Academic Success Center Prewriting 1.Brainstorm topics and choose one 1.Listing 2.Freewriting 3.Web diagram 2.Prepare outline of ideas 3.Write thesis statement

Academic Success Center Let’s practice! Listing

Academic Success Center Let’s practice! Freewriting

Academic Success Center Let’s practice! Webbing

Academic Success Center Let’s practice! Outlining I. A. B. C. II. III. IV.

Academic Success Center Um, what’s a thesis statement? It is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. It directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.

Academic Success Center Let’s practice! Thesis statement

Academic Success Center Writing 1.Write the body 1.Write the main points 2.Write the subpoints 3.Elaborate on the subpoints 2.Write the introduction 3.Write the conclusion

Academic Success Center On-line resource /composition/composition.htmhttp://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar /composition/composition.htm

Academic Success Center

Rewriting Allow some time so you may reread your writing with more objectivity. Check your essay –Addresses the assignment? –Has good order/organization? –Makes sense? –Flows smoothly? Remove what doesn’t work, add ideas to improve it, reorder for stronger impact, etc.

Academic Success Center Writing Center Did you use it?!

Editing Run spelling checker and grammar checker. Have a friend read it with an eye out for errors. Look carefully for the kinds of error you have made on past assignments; refer to professor’s comments on previous essays.

Academic Success Center Publishing Turn it in on time! Consider submitting it for essay contests or publication in appropriate journals. Ask your professor about these opportunities. When you receive it with the professor’s feedback, save it and refer to it—and the comments—the next time you write an essay... Always aim to learn from one essay to improve the next one you write!

What’s a Thesis? The Basics of Essay Writing Academic Success Center Academic Skills Enhancement Workshop Series Writing Center Lower level of Stoxen Library