How to make a thesis

Part I

The Thesis Continuum

A great thesis is between plot summary and opinion. Too much of either is BAD!

Zone of Highest Interest“The Sweet Spot”

Outrageous, unsupported thesis

Plot-driven thesis

The perfect balance of insightful textual analysis and personal opinion, a GREAT thesis creates an opportunity to use evidence from the text to arrive at a thoughtful, provocative paper.

The Thesis Continuum

Your essay Prompt

Are Bullies Criminals?

Explain your response usingSpecific examples from your life, literature,

and/or popular/historical culture.Use stylistic features such as proper diction*

and strong verbsProper grammar and usageProper structure

Thesis answers the EQ

YesYes NoNo

“The Sweet Spot”

Are Bullies criminals?

Bullies NOTare criminals because...

“The Sweet Spot”

Answer to the EQLOGICAL reasons supporting your

answerBullies are criminals because…__________ ,

_________ & _________Bullies are not criminals because…__________

, __________ & ________.

You write your thesis

YesYes NoNo

How to make a Sandwich

Ahem, or essay…

Details & Descriptions

Write detailed instructions of how to make a turkey sandwich. Remember, you need to be as specific as possible; pretend as though you are talking to an alien

Now, try again, and remember to start from the very beginning.

An Essay Sandwich

Teaching someone to make a sandwich is LIKE writing an essayYou need a beginning and an endYou need specific details and explanationsYou need structure; without it, everything falls

apart.

Your essay Prompt

Are Bullies Criminals?

Explain your response usingSpecific examples from your life, literature,

and/or popular/historical culture.Use stylistic features such as proper diction*

and strong verbsProper grammar and usageProper structure

Establish the author’s (your) purpose

To informTo persuadeTo teachTo entertain

You are trying to persuade the reader that bullies are or are

not criminals.

Establish a Structure

Page 5 of your writing handbook

Typical Essay Structure

Thesis

Introduction

Body Paragraph 1

Conclusion

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3

Details Details

Break down the thesis; it all fits together in the sandwich.

I. Reason # 1Bullies (are/are not) criminals because…

A. SPECIFIC Example

Explanation

B. SPECIFIC Example

Explanation

Page 8 writing handbookWhat kind of examples exist? A specific imageA specific quoteBackground information Style choicesDictionRhetorical techniques

The Introduction

1. Hook your readers into the essay with an quote, question, Or SHORT anecdote. Remember, you want them to want to read! 2. discussing the general theme of your essay and how it appears in the text. Be sure to state the title and author of the text.

3. Create a few sentences that specifically lead toward your thesis.

4. Focus in on the purpose of your paper.

As you write yourIntro, get increasinglyspecific, ending with anarrow, argumentative thesis.

Page 6 writing Handbook

Conclusion

Restatement

1. Start with your thesis statement; RestateDon’t REPEAT. Effective rhetoric is key!!!!!!!

2. Now ask yourself “What is the bigger picture of my paper?”. Take the time to guide your reader back through your essay, showing them how all the parts fit together.

3. Reflect on the consequences of your thesis. Try to arrive at a new, or bigger idea, that really drives your point home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Finally, end with a clincher; circle back to your hook. REFER to it, don’t repeat it.