English 370

Melissa GunbyMonday, September 12, 2011

TODAY’S AGENDA

•Thesis Statements•Essay Structure•Transitions•Introduction to Critical Thinking through Cartoons•Introductions and Conclusions•Discussion of first essay topic

GROWING TOWARDS BEING A WRITER

Thesis Statements and Essay Structure

Essays

• Essays are made up of paragraphs.• An essay should have at least 5 paragraphs,

but there is no hard or fast rule on length.– The first paragraph will almost always introduce

the topic of the essay. The last sentence of the introduction will usually be the thesis statement.

– The middle or body paragraphs make up the details that support the thesis statement.

– The last paragraph is the conclusion and reminds the reader of the main point while offering any last bits of analysis or information.

Thesis Statements

Thesis statements are to an essay like a topic sentence is to a paragraph. It is the main and controlling idea for an essay which tells the reader what to expect in the coming pages.

What Makes a Good Thesis?

• Like a topic sentence, a thesis statement should be both broad enough to support an entire essay, yet not so broad to extend past the length of the assignment.

• A thesis statement should also present something more than a statement of fact or more than straight opinion. It should offer the reader something to consider as the work through your essay.

• Many people have different opinions on whether people under twenty-one should be permitted to drink alcohol, and I agree with them.

• The question of whether we need a national law governing the minimum age to drink alcohol is a controversial issue in many states.

• I want to give my opinion on the national law that sets twenty-one as the legal age to drink alcohol and the reasons I feel this way.

• To reduce the number of highway fatalities, our country needs to enforce the national law that designates twenty-one as the legal minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol.

• The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be eighteen rather than twenty-one.

The writer’s opinion is not clear to the reader.

It may introduce a thesis, but there is no clear opinion stated.

What is the writer’s opinion?

There is a clearly stated opinion that will be supported in the essay

Clear position that will be supported –I would argue this is a good first draft thesis

A Good Thesis Also

• Maintains one clear idea

• The proposed no-smoking ordinance in our town will violate a number of our citizens’ civil rights, and no one has proved that second hand smoke is dangerous anyway.

• The proposed no-smoking ordinance in our town will violate our civil rights.

• The most recent US Health Department studies claiming that secondhand smoke is dangerous to nonsmokers are based on faulty research.

Has something worthwhile to say

• A thesis statement shouldn’t just be a fact.

• Global warming is a problem and many countries are trying to pass measures to stop it from getting worse.

• There has been little proof in recent years that zero-emissions vehicles are preventing the worsening of global warming.

Fits the Assignment

• Remember that the thesis should control an essay equal to the length of the assignment.

• For a 3-5 page essay, which is the better thesis statement?– Nuclear power should be banned as an energy

source in this country.– Because of it’s poor safety record during the

past two years, the Collin County nuclear power plant should be closed.

Common Thesis Mistakes• Don’t announce:

– Your reader knows that you will be talking about something in your essay –that’s the whole point. State an attitude toward the subject.

• Don’t say “I believe” or “in my opinion:”– Your reader also knows this is your essay – your name is at the

top. Therefore, your reader knows it’s your opinion.

• Don’t be unreasonable:– Making irrational claims will only make your reader think that you

haven’t done any studying about your topic.

• Don’t state a fact:– We need a bit of your view on something to make an essay work

• Don’t use a question:– Asking a question as a thesis statement can give the reader

doubts as to your credibility. If you can’t give a solid statement of opinion and topic, why should the reader believe anything you say that follows?

Practice

• Let’s work through some of these as a class:

• http://dianahacker.com/writersref

More Practice• With a partner, take one of the thesis statements

below and develop three topic sentences for body paragraphs.– You will each need your own copy, so take notes for yourself

• Whoever said that history is nothing but polishing tombstones must have missed History 201, because in Professor Brown’s class history is very much alive.

• By networking with friends, a single parent can manage to strike a balance among work, school, a social life, and family.

• So far, research suggests that zero-emissions vehicles are not a sensible solution to the problem of steadily rising air pollution.

Essay Structure

Thesis Statement

Paragraph 1:Topic Sentence

PSSsaSsbSscEtc.

Paragraph 2:Topic Sentence

PSSsaSsbSscEtc.

Paragraph 3:Topic Sentence

PSSsaSsbSscEtc.

Intro

conclusion

LINKING ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER

Transitions

Why do we need transitions

• WE need transitions in essays for two reasons.

• 1. to connect all the paragraphs and ideas together to maintain a constant flow, like well worn bridges over creeks on hiking trails.

• 2. Your reader can’t read your mind. You have to guide your reader through your essay, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by using transitions.

Choosing an appropriate transition

• We use transitions more often than just between paragraphs. The ideas that the transition is joining, whether within a paragraph or between paragraphs, will dictate the type of transitional word or phrase.

Repeating Key Words

Original

Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.

Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence.

RevisionOverall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.

These impressive profits are largely due to the corporation's expanded international influence.

More techniques

• Different transitional phrases have different meanings or contexts

• Each context leads the reader to a certain conclusion

• Be cautious in your use so that you don’t mislead your reader.

Addition

• When you are going to be adding a new idea to a previous one.– And, again, and then, besides, equally

important, finally, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what’s more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc)

Comparison/Contrast

• When you are going to be examining the similarities/differences between a previously presented idea and a new idea– whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however,

nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

To Prove

• When you are going to prove a point, usually by providing a solid example: – because, for, since, for the same reason,

obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is

To Show Exception

• Use these words when showing how something is a unique case, different from the rest:– yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of,

despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

To Show Time

• These words are particularly effective when writing narratives:– immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few

hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat

• When you want to emphasize an idea through repetition: – in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has

been noted

To Emphasize

• To add particular strain or stress on an idea:– definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed,

in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

To Show Sequence

• Useful for showing Process, or the order/steps necessary to complete a task:– first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so

forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

To give an example

• Self explanatory, yes?– for example, for instance, in this case, in

another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

To summarize or conclude

• To wrap up an argument or idea:– in brief, on the whole, summing up, to

conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently

– Be careful using these to set off your conclusion paragraph. It can go from a useful transition to a cliché.

Let’s Practice!

(Thus/For example/ Besides), if you install low-flow showerheads and water-saving toilets, your household can save dozens of gallons of water a day.

We want For Example, because that’s what this sentence is doing: giving an example that would relate to the previous idea.

• Many people resist such measures because they think that these inventions do not work as well as the old models. (Consequently/ Therefore/ On the contrary), because of technological advances, today’s water-conserving showers and toilets work surprisingly well.

We want “On the contrary” because it shows the contrast relationship.

Just remember

• You want your reader to have an easy time reading your writing and not to have to struggle through to make the connections.

• I sometimes tell students who struggle with transitions to assume your reader is slightly stupid and you have to walk them through your essay.

• This is what transitions accomplish.