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Adelola Ajayi

Professor Dominika

English Lab Section 5

October 5, 2017

Thesis Statement

Definition of a Thesis Statement: a statement that summarizes the main points or claims of the

text, that is used to develop the rest of the paper

How to write a thesis statement:

Step 1: What kind of paper am I writing?

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates

the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

An explanatory paper explains an issue or idea to the audience.

An argumentative paper makes an argument about a topic and defends the argument

with specific evidence . The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation,

a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation(Purdue Online Writing Lab). Main

purpose of this paper is to defend the argument effectively with evidence.

A thesis statement is always helpful to guide the reader and give insight into the topic that will be

discussed.

Important information about Thesis Statements

Be Specific- the thesis statement should reflect the specific topics of your paper that can

be supported.

Thesis statement can also establish exigence

The thesis should appear at the end of your paper unless you are writing the research

paper --- for the research paper the thesis should be in the partition

The thesis statement can always be revised when the paper is already written
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Always introduce supporting topics in chronological order depending on how it would be

introduced in the text

Two types of Thesis - Informative and Persuasive

Informative- Lets the reader know what your intentions are as a writer

Persuasive- Allows you to state your opinion, and then persuade the reader to believe that

your opinion is valid

More information about Thesis Statements can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R0ivCaLtnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wxE8R_x5I0

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

Development

Note: There are different ways of developing different kinds of papers

It is important to have an outline in order to organize your thoughts and to develop the structure

of paper.

Summary

Step 1-Introduce the text that will be summarized. Give the title, author's name (give the author's

background if it would benefit the paper), and the date.

Step 2- Report the author's thesis and supporting ideas. Show understanding of purpose by

showing how the author supports the purpose.

Step 3- Use Author tags to develop the summary and show what the main idea of the text was.

*Quoting is effective. After the quote summarize the important details

Rhetorical Analysis

Step 1- Identify the Rhetor. Give background information to establish credibility.

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Step 2- Identify the background information of the text analyzed. (A mini summary)

Step 3- Identify the purpose of the text, why did the rhetor decide to write this piece what was

the main purpose.

Step 4- Identify how the Rhetor accomplishes this purpose through rhetorical appeals

Step 5- Explain how the appeals are effective

Step 6- Acknowledge counterarguments to show how the rhetor effectively reaches the audience

Inquiry

Step 1- Build Exigence

Step 2- Show how the topic relates to a personal experience

Step 3- Ask questions about the topic

Step 4- Explore the topic

Step 5- Incorporate research to develop your topic

Step 6- Acknowledge counter arguments

Step 7- Ask more questions related to the topic, acknowledge need for more research

Position Paper

Step 1-Develop 300 word audience analysis

Step 2- Introduction- Establish exigence; Construct ethos (establish credibility-how can readers

identify with you)

Step 3- Narration- Gives the reader a reminder about the topic. Gives background information.

Defines key terms.

Step 4- Partition- Lays out the plan for the argument. Offers a step by step thesis. It is very short.

Step 5- Confirmation- The main part of the essay. Provides the arguments and supports your

position. Uses evidence to support claims and assertions

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Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEQlqWAPD9A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPobmEZ4lfs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSkb7KZ5yw0

Organization

MLA formatted outline-Use roman numerals and capital letters

Alphanumeric Outline

Full sentence Outline

Decimal Outline

Links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq7IHDaJBOg

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/

Conclusion

Acknowledge the thesis but do not restate.

Acknowledge the bigger picture

Acknowledge the so what, why does this matter, acknowledge that further research or

work needs to be done

Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvs9IpA5O2s

Punctuation

Commas

Used to separate independent clauses when joined by coordinating conjunctions such as

and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.

Use to separate three or more words

Used to separate coordinate adjectives

Apostrophe
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To form possessives of nouns

To show the omission of letters

To indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters

(Purdue Online Writing Lab)

Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_WqqUeMo8