Writing Wednesday

Introductions, Conclusions, & Thesis Statements

IntroductionsIntroductions

SPECIFIC: thesis statement

GENERAL: society/broad

Example:

•Function of myth in society

•Heroes in myth & society

•Heroes in Greek mythology

•Homer’s Odyssey

•Thesis: Odysseus as a flawed hero in Homer’s Odyssey.

Introductions Cont.Introductions Cont.• Roughly 5 - 7 sentences for “healthy” intro.• Intro. Checklist:

• Must include title & author• Essay’s purpose• Thesis statement

• Avoid trite “hooks” (not no hooks at all, just not cliched hooks)

• Rhetorical questions• Quotes• Let your diction, voice, and purpose be the “hook”• “avoid” is different than “never”

• Roughly 5 - 7 sentences for “healthy” intro.• Intro. Checklist:

• Must include title & author• Essay’s purpose• Thesis statement

• Avoid trite “hooks” (not no hooks at all, just not cliched hooks)

• Rhetorical questions• Quotes• Let your diction, voice, and purpose be the “hook”• “avoid” is different than “never”

Sample Intro. ParagraphSample Intro. Paragraph• Humans are undoubtedly social beings; they depend on

one another and thrive upon interaction. People are not meant to be alone, and isolation often leads to negative consequences, ranging from depression and anger, to desperation and even violence. Certain members of society are forced into isolation due to discrimination. This was particularly true during the Depression plagued 1930’s, an era author John Steinbeck analyzes in his many novels. In his short but striking novella, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck reveals the dreadful effects of loneliness on the human condition through the flawed and rejected characters of Crooks and Curley’s Wife.

• Humans are undoubtedly social beings; they depend on one another and thrive upon interaction. People are not meant to be alone, and isolation often leads to negative consequences, ranging from depression and anger, to desperation and even violence. Certain members of society are forced into isolation due to discrimination. This was particularly true during the Depression plagued 1930’s, an era author John Steinbeck analyzes in his many novels. In his short but striking novella, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck reveals the dreadful effects of loneliness on the human condition through the flawed and rejected characters of Crooks and Curley’s Wife.

ConclusionsConclusions

• Converse of Intro:• Converse of Intro:

Restatement of thesis (in different words)

Broad/reference to society; gives essay PURPOSE

•Akin to intro, healthy conclusions are roughly 5 - 7 sentences

•Leaves readers with your voice & purpose

•Finish strong!

•Never write, “In conclusion” or ANYTHING that sounds like it…

•No quotes; ALL OPINION

Thesis StatementsThesis Statements

• Sentence (or two) that tells the reader what the essay is about/what to expect

• “Tip of triangle” because it is specific!• Should be last sentence(s) of intro. ¶

• Theses need “prewriting”• Start basic so you have a clear idea what

your paper will be about• Then re-word it and formalize it; adding

details if necessary• Does more than tell what the paper will be

about; it reveals how well it will be written

• Sentence (or two) that tells the reader what the essay is about/what to expect

• “Tip of triangle” because it is specific!• Should be last sentence(s) of intro. ¶

• Theses need “prewriting”• Start basic so you have a clear idea what

your paper will be about• Then re-word it and formalize it; adding

details if necessary• Does more than tell what the paper will be

about; it reveals how well it will be written

Elements of a ThesisElements of a Thesis

• 3 Main Components:• 1: Subject• 2: Commentary

• Very important & often left out• Theses lacking commentary usually precede

entire essays lacking commentary

• 3: Proof you plan to use to prove thesis• Not always necessary, but helps you stay

organized.• Can include without ‘essay mapping’

• e.g.- no need to list paragraph topics

• 3 Main Components:• 1: Subject• 2: Commentary

• Very important & often left out• Theses lacking commentary usually precede

entire essays lacking commentary

• 3: Proof you plan to use to prove thesis• Not always necessary, but helps you stay

organized.• Can include without ‘essay mapping’

• e.g.- no need to list paragraph topics

Sample ThesesSample Theses• In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

reveals the dreadful effects of loneliness on the human condition through his socially rejected, flawed characters.

• In the enthralling epic, The Iliad, Homer exposes the struggles Achilles faces as the warrior battles his inner demons and raging emotions. When Achilles is devastated over the loss of Patroclus and finds empathy in Berseus, Achilles realizes that fame is not as important as he once believed.• Note: do not need to include title & author in thesis, as

the above theses do.

• In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck reveals the dreadful effects of loneliness on the human condition through his socially rejected, flawed characters.

• In the enthralling epic, The Iliad, Homer exposes the struggles Achilles faces as the warrior battles his inner demons and raging emotions. When Achilles is devastated over the loss of Patroclus and finds empathy in Berseus, Achilles realizes that fame is not as important as he once believed.• Note: do not need to include title & author in thesis, as

the above theses do.

Flawed ThesisFlawed Thesis

• Example:• In his novel, Of Mice and Men,

Steinbeck’s characters are extremely lonely.

• Does not go beyond stating the obvious• Lacks commentary; thus, it lacks PURPOSE• Will likely lead to a paper that lacks

commentary and leans heavily on summary.

• Example:• In his novel, Of Mice and Men,

Steinbeck’s characters are extremely lonely.

• Does not go beyond stating the obvious• Lacks commentary; thus, it lacks PURPOSE• Will likely lead to a paper that lacks

commentary and leans heavily on summary.