2. Make your argument clear
Be concise
State your position but NOT mention personal
pronouns
Answer the “so what?” question
◦ Why is this important?
Avoid “cutesy” writing styles
◦ No questions
◦ No vague statements
3. Green landscaping not only prevents issues such
as water run-off and pollution, but can also
conserve water and add to the beauty of a yard
easily.
College athletes sacrifice a lot in pursuit of their
sports, but allowing them to take money from
sponsors offers too many problems such as the
possibility of throwing games, taking away from
what the game is truly about, and blurring the
line between amateur and professional.
The death penalty should be abolished in all
cases where there is not irrefutable DNA evidence
of guilt in order to avoid executing innocent
people
4. Compound sentences are fine, just avoid run-
ons:
◦ State your topic
◦ State your stance
◦ Make sure you answer why this is important
5. Think ahead: a strong intro will help you
create your outline and guide your research
Thesis Statement
Outline the rest of your paper
◦ Briefly mention the topics you’ll mention in your
paper
◦ Example: Green Landscaping
Issues it can prevent
Cons of traditional landscaping
Sample steps to take
Environmental impact, bonuses
6. You will post your thesis statements to the wiki
You need to provide detailed feedback to your
classmates
◦ They will not be familiar with your topic, so they are a
great “test” audience as to whether your argument is
clear
◦ Listen to their feedback
◦ In your feedback, make sure you are detailed in how they
can improve
Don’t submit your final thesis until you’ve
revised with your classmates’ feedback in mind
