Thesis Statement
Watch the following YouTube video on how to write a thesis statement. It is concise and to the point (also, the guy talking is not me)
Assignment 2.1: “Practicing what you’ve learned” on p. 39-40. Look at ‘part B’. Follow the instructions. Put time into this, don't just write a few words to support your answer. (1 hour with the video time)
Submit Assignment 2.1 (20 points) due Sep 4
Essay Map
Read Ch 2 "Using The Essay Map" pp 40-42
In this course, I would like you to write the thesis statement and follow the thesis statement with the essay map. The essay map must tell me three points that support your thesis statement.
For example, if your thesis statement is, "More people should consider building their own log cabin home." Your essay map might include points like: sound construction, lower costs, and personalized design.
Do you see how the essay map tells me three reasons why building a log cabin home is a good idea?
Look at page 42 "Practicing what you learned"
Here is an example (I've done the first one for you) of what I want:
Thesis: Citizen Kane deserves to appear on a list of "Top Movies of All Times"
Essay Map: ...because of its excellent ensemble acting, its fast-paced script, and its innovative editing
Three points:
1. ensemble acting
2. fast-paced script
3. innovative editing
Outline
Read pp 47-50 in Steps to Writing Well under the heading "Planning the Body of your Essay".
This section discusses how to write an outline. The outline is basically a road map of how to get from the introduction to the conclusion. Once the outline is done, the rest of the paper falls into place. The outline is kind of like a skeleton. It's what the paper "hangs on". OK, maybe a gross illustration, but it works.
At this point, you have written your thesis and essay map for your soon-to-be-awesome paper on "being scared". Now we're ready for the next step--the outline...dun, dun, dun (say with a low ominous voice without laughing)
Here goes:
At the top of the page, copy/paste your thesis and essay map so I can refer to it when looking at your outline.
Step #1
Roman Numeral I. should be the first point you have written in the essay map.
Leave space here
Roman Numeral II. should be the second point you have written in the essay map.
Leave space here
Roman Numeral III. should be the third point you have written in the essay map.
Leave space here.
Here is a thesis statement and essay map with an outline example following:
More people should consider building their own log cabin home. As one considers this possibility, it is important to consider a log home's sound construction and lower building costs, as well as the opportunity to personalize your home.
For the outline, I would do the following:
I. sound construction
II. lower building costs
III. opportunity to personalize your home
Step #2
Now, let's fill in between the Roman Numerals. These subpoints give me more information on what is meant by "sound construction", "lower building costs", and "opportunity to personalize your home"
Use capital letters (A., B., C.) to support each main point with details.
For Roman Numeral I. I might support the topic of "sound construction" with: withstand Mother Nature's wrath, sound proof, energy efficient.
So, my first point would look like this:
I. sound construction
A. withstand Mother Nature's wrath
B. sound proof
C. energy efficient
Now I'm ready for Roman Numeral II.
II. Lower building costs
A. much of the labor can be done by the owner
B. construction is quicker thus lowering labor costs
C. materials are not as extensive
Finally, Roman Numeral III.
III. Opportunity to personalize your home
A. major changes can be made with a chainsaw (trust me, I have done this)
B. craftsmanship can be seen in all areas of home
C. not dependent on stud location for hanging pictures, etc.
There you have it. A simple outline for an essay.
Introduction
Read pp 81-85 on the topics "How to Write a Good
Lead-in" and "Avoiding Errors in Lead-ins"
especially noting the last paragraph of page 81
This section deals with writing the intro paragraph.
Look at the 15 examples of “lead in” devices on pp 82-84 to get some ideas of different methods of writing the Lead-in
The intro paragraph must “grab” the reader’s interest, start in a general manner and then focus to your specific topic, with the last two sentences your thesis and essay map.
Going from a general manner and focusing on your specific topic is the confusing part sometimes.
Let me give an example.
Let’s say you are trying to convince people to eat poptarts for breakfast in the morning. Generally speaking you could mention that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and carbs are good to get your energy level up quickly. Being more specific, you could then say, poptarts are simple to fix thereby making sure you don’t skip breakfast and they give you the carbs you need for that jumpstart in the morning.
Notice I went from general (breakfast is important)
More specific (carbs are a good choice for breakfast)
Even more specific and leads into thesis statement (pop tarts fill that need for breakfast and carbs)
As you noticed from the examples on pages 80-82, there are lots of different ways to write the Lead-in.
Remember, do something to get my attention, go from general to specific, and then finish the paragraph with the thesis statement followed by the essay map as the last two sentences of the intro paragraph.
The intro paragraph should be about 5-7 sentences long. Don't get carried away with a story and have 50 bazillion sentences in the intro. Just give me enough info to make me want to read the rest of the paper.
Main Body Paragraphs
Read pp 59-64
Key thought: Remember to look at the first sentence of the paragraph (topic sentence) and see if the sentences following this topic sentence help further explain it. For example, if the topic sentence is "Living with my roommate is unbearable", then the sentences following MUST be about how or why my roommate is unbearable.
Notice when you look back at the outline on building the log cabin home, each subpoint "points" to the main topic.
I. sound construction
A. withstand Mother Nature's wrath
B. sound proof
C. energy efficient
II. Lower building costs
A. much of the labor can be done by the owner
B. construction is quicker thus lowering labor costs
C. materials are not as extensive
III. Opportunity to personalize your home
A. major changes can be made with a chainsaw
B. craftsmanship can be seen in all areas of home
C. not dependent on stud location for hanging pictures, etc.
By using an outline, it is easy to "stay on topic" and write a paragraph correctly.
Conclusion
Read pp 86-90 “How to Write a Good Concluding
Paragraph.”
In order to have a satisfying conclusion,
the reader should feel that the questions have been
answered, everything in the paper has been wrapped up,
and you can sleep now that you feel the paper has
ended. As quoted on page 89 of the text, "a good
ending should snap with grace and authority, like the
close of an expensive sports car door."
Tip: Do not rewrite your thesis statement and essay map in the conclusion word for word. Find another way to state what the paper was about. Try to write the conclusion in about 6 or 7 sentences.
So, here are the main thoughts about a conclusion:
1) introduce no new "stuff". It should only sum up what was already said
2) find a way to restate the thesis and three points in your essay map without restating them the same way you did in the intro paragraph (this is the hard part)
3) sum up the paper and bring it to a close
***The conclusion is the hardest part of the paper for me to write. I could have the entire paper written in no time, then come to a screeching halt on the conclusion--so you're not alone in this. Just try to get some "stuff" down, then work on improving it.
