CREATING A WINNING THESIS STATEMENT. Or the Road to a 5 Thesis Statement

Transcription

1 CREATING A WINNING THESIS STATEMENT Or the Road to a 5 Thesis Statement

2 A NOTE ABOUT THESIS STATEMENTS Ø Any time that you create a thesis statement, you are building an argument that must be proven! Ø What you prove MUST NOT be completely obvious. (Ex. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is the central character.) Ø What you prove MUST NOT be exclusively literal. You MUST reveal a deeper understanding and make abstractions.

3 PARTS OF THE THESIS STATEMENT Ø TOPIC Ø CLAIM (VERB) Ø DIRECTION Ø QUALIFIER Ø UNIVERSAL IDEA

4 TOPIC Ø Ø The TOPIC reveals the context of the thesis the text(s) analyzed. Examples 1. John Smith s autobiographical account Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech...

5 CLAIM (VERB) Ø The CLAIM tells what the text is doing to arrive at the universal idea. Ø Review the list of verbs for academic discourse. Ø For practice, uses is a good place to start. Ø Examples: 1. John Smith s autobiographical account uses Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech, King uses...

6 DIRECTION Ø The DIRECTION tells how the text arrives at the universal idea. Ø DIRECTION = rhetorical devices Ø Examples: 1. John Smith s autobiographical account uses imagery, diction, and point of view Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech, King uses analogy, repetition, and emotional appeal...

7 Ø Ø Ø QUALIFIER The QUALIFIER links the direction to the universal idea. to prove that (there are more constructions possible) Examples: 1. John Smith s autobiographical account uses metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove that Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech, King uses analogy, repetition, and emotional appeal to prove that...

8 UNIVERSAL IDEA Ø The UNIVERSAL IDEA is the larger idea or purpose at work in the text. Ø The UNIVERSAL IDEA part should reveal meaning about the abstract noun. Ø Examples: 1. John Smith s autobiographical account uses metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer. 2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech, King uses analogy, repetition, and emotional appeal to prove that equality is the foundation of a truly democratic society.

9 Adding The Funk Or Adding Variety and Complexity to a Thesis Statement

10 STEP 1: MODIFIED DIRECTIONS Ø For each direction, add an adjective that best describes the text s use of that direction. Ø Ex. John Smith s autobiographical account uses adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and an self-important point of view...

11 STEP 2: ADD THE SHIFT/ CONTRAST Ø Reveal the shift/contrast that occurs within the text (especially the shift/contrast in the universal idea. Ø Ex. John Smith s autobiographical account uses adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and an self-important point of view to prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer, not in one s ability to make peace.

12 STEP 3: ADDING TEXT PHRASES FOR INTEREST Ø Choose a few words or phrases from the text that allude to the universal idea. Ø Add these words/phrases to the thesis statement for effect. Ø Ex. John Smith s autobiographical account, a testimony of his own example, good words, and fair promises, uses adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and an self-important point of view to prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer, not in one s ability to make peace.

13 STEP 4: RE-ARRANGE THE PIECES! Ø Take all the thesis statement parts, and rearrange them to create sentence variety. Ø Ex. To prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer, not in one s ability to make peace, adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a selfimportant point of view are used in John Smith s autobiographical account a testimony of his own example, good words, and fair promises.

14 Creating Topic Sentences

15 The Elements of the Topic Sentence Ø Topic Ø Direction Ø Claim Ø Universal Idea * These elements should seem similar to the thesis components (but now with a twist)!

16 Step 1: Begin with a solid thesis. To prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer, not in one s ability to make peace, adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a self-important point of view are used in John Smith s autobiographical account a testimony of his own example, good words, and fair promises.

17 Step 2: Borrow the Topics from Thesis s Directions Thesis To prove that success is measured by one s ability to conquer, not in one s ability to make peace, adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a self-important point of view are used in John Smith s autobiographical account a testimony of his own example, good words, and fair promises. Topic Sentence Topic: adventurous imagery (This is the first direction.)

18 Step 3: Add the Direction(s) The directions of the topic sentence are the examples you are using as evidence. Adventurous imagery, such as Smith s narrow escape from death... *Note: If you have more than one direction (example), ALL should be mentioned in the topic sentence.

19 Step 4: Add the Claim Choose an appropriate verb that links what the directions do in relation to the universal idea. Adventurous imagery, such as Smith s narrow escape from death, establishes...

20 Step 5: Add the Universal Idea (Again) Add the universal idea to the topic sentence. CAUTION: To keep the universal idea from becoming redundant throughout the essay, develop synonyms. Adventurous imagery, such as Smith s narrow escape from death, establishes Smith s success in conquering Powhatan s animosity.