Developing a Thesis Based ResponseArea of Study: Belonging – Section 3

Contents

1.Developing a thesis

2.Exploring a thesis in prescribed and related texts – the process

3.Synthesis of ideas4.Planning and

writing a response5.Examination

Strategies

1. DEVELOPING A THESIS

What is your line of argument?

Remember the Rubric• The examination

question will be based on at least one idea taken from the Board Descriptor or Rubric for ‘Belonging’.

• What do you remember about the rubric?

TASK – Write down as many ideas from the rubric that you can remember in 60 seconds.

Did you remember: Perceptions and ideas of

belonging, or of not belonging, vary.

These perceptions are shaped within personal, cultural, historical and social contexts.

A sense of belonging can emerge from the connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger word.

Students may consider aspects of belonging in terms of experiences and notions of identity, relationships, acceptance and understanding.

The potential of the individual to enrich or challenge a community or group.

They may reflect the way attitudes to belonging are modified over time.

Texts may also represent choices not to belong, or barriers which prevent belonging

A responder may experience and understand the possibilities presented by a sense of belonging to, or exclusion from the text and the world it represents.

This engagement may be influenced by the different ways perspectives are given voice in or are absent from a text.

We can group these ideas into questions about:Perceptions about belongingConnectionsExperienceNotions of identityAcceptance and understandingThe power of the individualChanging attitudes to belongingThe choice not to belongBarriers to belongingThe possibilities of belonging or not

belonging

Developing the Idea in the QuestionAs a part of your

revision – make sure that you are able to develop a thesis statement for all of these possibilities.

Using other resources such as famous quotations can be helpful.

Responding to a question on acceptance and/or self identity: According to

‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ the need for love, acceptance and belonging is fundamental.

You could develop the following thesis:◦ The basic human need

to be accepted and belong can cloud our judgements and direct our actions.

TASK – Match the following thesis ideas with the question types:THESIS STATEMENTS1. When your cultural

identity is marginalised you can feel dislocated and displaced, and believe that you do not belong to your culture or the dominant culture.

2. The need to belong to a group or a community shapes our behaviour, attitudes and actions.

3. When a person is marginalised by society they will seek other means to belong.

QUESTION TYPESa. Perceptions about

belongingb. Connectionsc. Experienced. Notions of identitye. Acceptance and

understandingf. The power of the individualg. Changing attitudes to

belongingh. The choice not to belongi. Barriers to belongingj. The possibilities of

belonging or not belonging

2. EXPLORING A THESIS IN PRESCRIBED AND RELATED TEXTS

The Process

Brainstorm Your Thesis Idea in Your Prescribed TextWhen a person is marginalised by society they will seek other means to belong: Skrzynecki.

Ref/ Quote Technique

Effect Development of thesis

Migrant Hostel. “Nationalities sought/ Each other out instinctively –/ Like a homing pigeon”

SimileDash

The simile, ‘like a homing pigeon,’ emphasises the idea that the people in the hostel are finding a sense of place through other people who share their heritage rather than the place itself. The dash reinforces the time involved in this process.

This reinforces that when people do not feel accepted by a place, they will seek a different means of acceptance – in this case through the people who share a common heritage.

* This process must be repeated at least 3 times per poem for at least 3 poems (or at least 9 times per text as a whole such as in As You Like It).

Repeat the Process for Two Related Texts (you will probably only use one)

Remember:Write Your Thesis Statement Here

Make particular references to the text: quotes or ref to a visual…

Name particular techniques appropriate to the text-type

Explain the effect of the example

Link back to the thesis statement

FIND AT LEAST 10 References

REMEMBER – integrate your quotes/ references into your analysis

ALWAYS come back to your thesis statement

3. SYNTHESIS OF IDEAS

Using your thesis to full advantage

Linking Ideas in your Texts The most effective way to

synthesise your ideas is through your thesis statement.

Mention your thesis: In each topic sentenceAt the end of each paragraph In your conclusion

Your texts will automatically be synthesised.

You can make throw back comments to your first text as you move onto your second but don’t feel the need to chop and change texts in each paragraph.

4. PLANNING AND WRITING A RESPONSE

Ensure that you do this for all possibilities.

Planning and Writing a Response1. Develop your thesis statement2. Brainstorm references/quotes,

techniques, effect and links to the thesis in your prescribed and two related texts

3. Pick out your best examples and plan a clear direction of argument

4. Make an effort to use the features of the text-type the question outlines: essay, speech script, feature article…

Extended Response StructureIntroduction: Introduce your prescribed and related text/s

mentioning: the composer, title, text-type, source (if applicable) and year of publication.

Write your thesis statement using key words from the question – make sure you offer some sort of development or stance on the question. Consider offering a taster of what you will explore in each text.

Main Body Paragraphs: Topic sentence linking to the thesis and the text of focus Introduce a range of examples including:

quotes/references; techniques, effect, links to the thesis Repeat for at least two more poems or areas in the text Repeat for at least two times for your related text/ texts.

Conclusion – summarise the ways that your examples have furthered your understanding of your thesis statement.

If faced with other text-types:Do not panic!For a speech – turn your thesis into a

rhetorical question and throw in some uses of 2nd person pronouns and witty engagement with the audience

For a scripted interview – turn your topic sentences into questions and your main body paragraphs into answers

Just make sure that you still remain focused on your thesis statement and that you use quotes/ references and you analyse techniques.

5. EXAM STRATEGIESMake your response stand out – in a good way!

You too can be a ‘roaring’ success Plan your attack

Lift key words from the question – USE them in your thesis

Make sure that each topic sentence mentions your thesis

Make sure that each analysis of an example links back to your thesis

Deal with at least 6 good examples from each text – 10 is a much healthier number.

Integrate your quotes as a natural part of the sentence and keep them as short as possible.

Always mention a technique with your quotes/ references

Referring to a structural pattern in a poem or a particular mise en scene in a film is the same as using a quote.

Examination Style QuestionsUnderstanding nourishes a sense of

belonging. A lack of understanding prevents it. Discuss this view with details reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing.

To what extent do different groups to which we belong define who we are?

What do you think are the most powerful influences that impact on an individual’s sense of belonging?