What You Need to Know Before Writing Your Thesis-Driven Essay.ppt

1、What You Need to Know Before Writing Your Thesis-Driven Essay,English 1101,What is a thesis?,The most important sentence in your paper Informs reader of your subject States an argument which you will prove in your paper logical reasoning Examples research Should be located in the first paragraph of

2、your essay,What to Argue,The basic principles of writing such as plot, characterization, genre, narration, metaphors, etc. Historical context Social/political/economic context Literary Theory,Developing a Good Thesis Statement,Pick your subject Free-write for 15 minutes on the subject What do you kn

3、ow What do you need to know What interests you about the subject Research,Checklist for Thesis,Is it a full and complete sentence? Is every word clear, precise, and unambiguous in meaning? Is the thesis narrowed to a single argument that can be proven in the word limit allowed? What evidence will yo

4、u need to find before the thesis can be presented as a convincing conclusion to your essay?,Breaking Free of the 5-Paragraph Essay Trap,Dont forget it! It will be useful for the Regents Exam and other standardized tests Use it as a starting point for developing a college level paper DO NOT repeat yo

5、ur argument as your conclusion,Important Notes,Destroy the opposition with facts, or acknowledge them within the first or second paragraph Build up your case using facts, logic, and authorities on the topic State your most powerful argument in the next-to-last paragraph Use emotional appeal if neces

6、sary Remember your thesis is a work in progress. Dont be afraid to change it to better fit your argument.,Introductions,Grab attention Personal anecdote Examples, real or hypothetical Question or quotation Shocking statistic or a striking image Focus on argument Sketch roadmap for argument Dont forg

7、et your thesis statement,Supporting Your Thesis,Logical Reasoning: Cutting through the rhetoric Summarizing: Putting the main idea(s) into your own words Paraphrasing: Rewriting and condensing a passage using your own words Quotations: Exact copy of source material Analyzing: Deconstructing and unde

8、rstanding the mechanics and purpose of a written work,Summarizing,If you are primarily interested in major plot points or actions that illustrate your analysis, you may wish to use summary. Summary should only be used to further your analysis; in other words, you should not summarize every moment of

9、 the story but only those aspects that contribute to your thesis. Credit your sources even when paraphrasing or summarizing.,Paraphrasing,If a quotation is long, or if you can say it better or more concisely, you may wish to paraphrase (restate it in your own words). Keep paraphrasing to a minimum b

10、ecause it is your ideas and argument that will convince your readers. Credit your sources even when paraphrasing or summarizing.,6 Steps toEffective Paraphrasing,1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning. 2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase. 3. Jot down a

11、few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you might use this material. At the top, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase. 4. Check for accuracy and clarity 5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from t

12、he source. 6. Record the source information, including page numbers.,Analyzing,What is your first impression of the work? What is the genre? What literary techniques are used? What are the themes? Has the material altered your thoughts or opinions? Do you agree with the ideas or values presented in

13、the work? Why? Does the work seem vivid and real? Does it present human experience as you see it?,Integrating quotations,Quotes are best used to support your own analysis Use short quotes in your essay-spend more of your time analyzing the quotes Meticulous accuracy Remember that direct quotes repla

14、ce and supersede your words Should be vivid and memorable. Save direct quotations for brilliant comments, controversial statements, or personal testimony that strengthen your argument.,3 Basic Techniques,Integrate short phrases into your sentence Integrate quotes into your sentence by using a colon.

15、 Remember, a colon introduces a complete sentence. With long quotes of more than four typed lines, integrate using block quotes. Introduce the quote with a complete sentence, sometimes followed by a colon. Should be double-spaced and should be block-indented two tabs from the left margin. Omit quota

16、tion marks with block-indented quotes and place the page number in parentheses after the end punctuation.,Crediting your Sources,Secondary sources must be credited whether summarized, paraphrased, or quoted Use MLA format,Conclusions,Why should the reader care about your thesis? Make a call to actio

17、n Speculate on the effect of your subject Make sure you have proven your thesis statement Do not make any new claims,Dont Forget Your Title!,Grab the readers attention Make your subject clear Avoid being too general or bland,Helpful Websites,The Writing Center at UWG /writing/writing/faculty/index.htm The Purdue University Writing Lab Paradigm Online Writing Assistant /thesis/index.html D. K. Petersons Literary Resources /blackmon/102cs2001/quotations.html Ferrum College Composition C