1. Essay writing

2. Comparative essays: Comparative essays establish a level of similarity (there has to be one) and then examines how two texts (articles, or article/movie) differ in form, content, or intention.

3. Comparative thesis statement template: Both A and B do/have/use/explore/ examine X. While A does so in order to celebrate/question /undermine/ encourage/critique C, B does so in order to celebrate/question/undermine/ encourage/critique D, ultimately suggesting Z.

4. Thesis statement: Both Charlotte Furth and Stephen Jay Gould outline theories about culture’s use of “nature” in relation to bias and discrimination. While Furth examines sixteenth- century Chinese theories of gendered interactivity and mutability related to Yin-Yang philosophy, Gould examines the effects of rampant gender and race biases in nineteenth-century theories of craniometry. The historical and geographical distances between these two articles ultimately suggest that often “natural” differences between genders are socially constructed in order to benefit dominant groups.

5. A thesis statement... does many things. Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic; Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper;

6. Thesis – cont… Is focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper; Is generally located near the end of the introduction; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph; Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

7. Paragraphs: Each one should explain an idea or point related to your overall thesis. It should start with a topic sentence that clearly explains its direction. The paragraph introduces and proves the claim. You MUST provide evidence and explain HOW the evidence proves the claim. Use transitions in between: In addition, In contrast…

8. Your essay then must examine both texts in relation to your argument and in relation to each other. Introduction: Para: A and B Para: A and B (continued until you are done) Conclusion

9. OR – Intro Para - Text A Para – Text B Para – Text A and B Para – Text A Para – Text B Continue until done Conclusion

10. Many of your ideas will begin as observations – you need to push these towards interpretation. How to move from observation to interpretation? Verbal prompts: Interesting Strange Revealing Significant

11. It is revealing that both Pappas et. al., and Jordan and Cowan outline the links between sports and the social construction of masculinity via violence.

12. The all-important question: SO WHAT?

13. What is the significance this observation? It is significant because by comparing the two articles, one can develop an argument about links and intersections between the public and private spheres as they relate to larger social issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and homophobia.

14. Developing a Literary Argument: consider your purpose (analysis, comparison/contrast, explication) narrow your topic to fit the assignment establish a working thesis (you will need this to get started, and it will likely become stronger)

15. build your argument claims evidence organization think about your tone – this is an essay, not a conversation or a diary entry or a newspaper article

16. Essay check-list: Is your essay’s purpose clear? Is the topic narrow enough? Is the thesis thought-provoking and specific? Does your essay prove your thesis? Have you included quotes from your primary sources? Have you explained how those quotes prove your argument? Have you avoided excessive summary and description?

17. Have you properly cited your information? Is your argument logically organized? Are similar ideas grouped together? Have you used transitional phrases to connect paragraphs (in contrast, similarly, however)? Is your language (grammar, spelling, tone) clean and clear?

18. Helpful websites: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/ comparison_contrast.html http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/ comparison_contrast.html MLA citation: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/ 747/01/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/ 747/01/ APA citation: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/ 560/01/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/ 560/01/