1. A CADEMIC W RITING K IRK M. A DAMS C OLEGIO V ILLA R ICA Brainstorming – Defining Your Point of View

2. D IFFERENT KINDS OF B RAINSTORMING …. Free writing. Write for two or three minutes on your topic without stopping. Don’t judge your ideas and just let them flow. Make a mind map (mental map) Again, let your ideas flow. If the topic clearly has two sides consider making two columns (Pros and Cons/Advantages and Disadvantages) and just let the ideas flow. Don’t judge them.

3. W RITING Y OUR ( WORKING / TENTATIVE )T HESIS S TATEMENT What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is a considered point of view. It’s more than an opinion. What characteristics should it have? A good thesis statement serves as an argument. A good thesis statement has a precise focus. A good thesis statement serves as a guide for the reader and the writer. A good thesis statement is a complex sentence. It should be an interesting, fresh point of view regarding a controversial or complex issue. A good thesis statement makes a claim that others might dispute. (argue against)

4. O THER TIPS : Avoid “everybody,” “all,” and “nobody.” These kinds of generalizations will make your thesis easier to attack. Instead, try “many” and “some.” Avoid making moral assertions.

5. E XAMPLE OF A GOOD TOPIC SENTENCE … Example of a weak thesis statement: I hate San Francisco weather in the summertime. Example of a good thesis statement sentence… While San Francisco weather in the summer can be variable and unpredictable, once one has mastered “the art of layering,” it can be quite pleasant.

6. Many people argue that going to school all year long would increase learning and performance among students; however, much evidence suggests that year round schooling is not beneficial for students because it would create unnecessary stress, negativity toward school, and limited vacation opportunities.

7. A CTIVITY : P RACTICE BRAINSTORMING AND WRITING THESIS STATEMENTS. Choose two topics from “250 topic ideas” For each of the two topics, do the following: 1. Use one of the brainstorming techniques suggested to generate some ideas and formulate a (tentative) opinion. 2. Write a (tentative) thesis statement for each topic idea. Note: “tentative” means that it can be changed later.

8. Even though the United Nations Security Council is in charge of maintaining peace and security, the veto power of its member nations makes the U.N. Security Council a meaningless concentration of power of 5 nations. As for the problem of police corruption in Mexico, the utilization of the Mexican Marines to assist in law enforcement has been very successful for the short term; however, for the long term, the problem of police corruption should be dealt with through an infrastructure of citizen support, thorough vetting procedures, and continual government surveillance.

9. Peer review. Have two classmates check your work for the following. Indicate which aspects of the thesis statement could be improved. 1. This thesis statement is a "considered point of view." It is more than an opinion. 2. This thesis statement serves as an argument. 3. This thesis statement has a precise focus. 4. this thesis statement serves as a guide for the reader and the writer. 5. This thesis statement is a complex sentence. 6. This thesis statement is an interesting, fresh point of view regarding a controversial or complex issue. 7. Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? 8. Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader.

10. S OURCES : “How to write a thesis statement (High school students)” http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Thesis-Statement-%28High-School- Students%29 “How to generate a thesis statement” http://www.clbooks.com/news/how-to-generate-a-thesis-statement The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "The Writing Center" http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/ Buzzle, Thesis Statement Examples http://www.buzzle.com/articles/thesis- statement-examples.html Indiana University "How to write a thesis statement." http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml Bright Hub Education "How to write a thesis statement: The good and the bad." http://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-writing/50680-examples-of- thesis-statements/