The document discusses the importance of developing a strong thesis statement. It provides guidance on what makes a good thesis and how to fix weaknesses. A strong thesis makes a clear claim, avoids obvious truths, complicates conventional wisdom, and is specific rather than broad. It should guide the structure of the paper by requiring the writer to prove or explore the thesis. Examples are used to demonstrate weak theses and potential improvements.
This is a truncated version of a presentation I gave to my M.Ad.Ed. class at StFX. After reading Stephen D. Brookfield's Storming the Citadel chapter in Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher, I saw the light: studying educational theory is crucial to becoming a good teacher.
To accompany a patter blog post. patthomson.net The slides address a common problem which people often have after a period of free writing or that they may find when they are reading a paper. These are strategies for the writer to try out.
This is a truncated version of a presentation I gave to my M.Ad.Ed. class at StFX. After reading Stephen D. Brookfield's Storming the Citadel chapter in Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher, I saw the light: studying educational theory is crucial to becoming a good teacher.
To accompany a patter blog post. patthomson.net The slides address a common problem which people often have after a period of free writing or that they may find when they are reading a paper. These are strategies for the writer to try out.
The Challenge Toolkit provides 50 different activities to stretch and extend students' thinking. They can be used for all ages and subjects.
From Guardian Teacher Network
a day long workshop of elements of argument, building a culture of argument in the classroom, task and learning progressions and effective argument task design
COMMON WRITING STYLE PROBLEMS WHEN WRITING SCHOLARLY EXPOSITORY ESLynellBull52
COMMON WRITING STYLE PROBLEMS WHEN WRITING SCHOLARLY EXPOSITORY ESSAYS
CONTENTS
Note: items under sections III through XII are rubrics.
I. Introduction
II. Objectives
III. Thesis, and Paragraph and Sentence Structure and Logic
IV. Pronouns
V. Subjects and Verbs
VI. Quotation Marks
VII. Semicolons
VIII. Commas
IX. Numbers
X. Odds and Ends
XI. Possessives
XII. Miscellanea
For a little humor, see "Word Crimes," by Weird Al Yankovic. (Let me know if the link no longer works or if YouTube takes down the site.)
I. INTRODUCTION
A scholarly expository essay presents an argument, a thesis that is your interpretation of a topic. It develops an idea about a subject, building from a thesis statement that advances in a coherent, logical manner your opinion, conviction, evaluation, discovery, or point of view on a subject. An expository essay is similar to an editorial debate in The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal but only more high-powered and scholarly. See also the Expository Essay guide in the Work on Your Expository Essay module.
An argument, a critical analytical interpretation, is neither a violent disagreement nor an assertion. It is a statement supported by reason and evidence.
A thesis is an argument, and a thesis statement supplies an opinion and a reason or explanation for that opinion.
Discuss both your ideas AND your opponents' viewpoint(s) on your topic. Your argument in a scholarly expository essay must explore various sides of the topic. You cannot be one-sided in your scholarly expository essay.
For example, you favor abortion. In your essay, you must, however, present the anti-abortion side along with the pro-abortion side.
II. OBJECTIVES
Entries #1 through #38 are from the third edition of Writing Worth Reading (1997) by Nancy Huddleston Packer and John Timpane. Writing Worth Reading is the writing style and grammar authority that the instructor follows. Entries #39 through #45 are culled from other writing style manuals.
For writing informative and expository essays, students must learn to avoid the problems discussed under entries #5, #6, #7, #11, #12, #22, #23, #26 through #36, and #39 through #45.
Computer spell/grammar check software programs are not foolproof.
Unless stated otherwise, one point is deducted for at least one occurrence of a problem identified by the item number in the expository essay.
Use this guide along with both the Expository Essay and Endnotes guides. All three guides are located in the same module.
Caveat on quoted passages in your essay: Many of the following rules regarding writing style problems are ignored when they appear within quoted passages. If you want to indicate a correction or the correction information then one common way to rectify glaring writing style problems that appear within quoted passages is to supply the change within square brackets.
· Problem: Mary Jane said, "Everyone has their opinion of whether Spiderman is a good guy."
· Correction: Mary ...
ThesisWhy you chose this topicDoes it pertain to your field.docxrandymartin91030
Thesis
Why you chose this topic?
Does it pertain to your field of study?
Heading left right – Single Spaced
Name
Date
Class
Assignment
Professor Kazanjian
Double Space
Times New Roman; 12 pt Font; 1 inch Margins
2 – 3 Pages. Less than 2 pages or more than 3 pages will receive ZERO Credit
Informative Essay -
Research Paper Proposal
Informative Essay
Include information to educate the reader about the topic you wish to write a research paper on;
“Why should people care?”
Create a sound thesis statement;
Reasons why the topic is important;
You should have an introduction, body, and a sound conclusion;
Define any agencies or terms that are pertinent to your topic.
Assisted Suicide
Autism
2nd Amendment/ Gun Rights
Legalization of Marijuana
Death Penalty
Same Sex Marriage
U.S. Prison Rates
Animal Rights / Testing
Vegans/Vegetarianism
Mental Illness / PTSD
Abortion
Climate Change
Things NOT to Write on
Expository Writing
Research Paper
A research paper is an analytical or persuasive essay that presents and argues a thesis (evaluates a position)
What a research paper is not
A simple collection of facts on a topic
A summary of information from one or more sources
Research Paper:
From an Interest to a Topic
In choosing a topic start with what interests you most deeply
Start by listing two or three interests you might like to explore/questions that you have wondered about
Examples
If you are undertaking a research project in a specific field, skim a recent textbook, talk to other students, or consult one of your teachers
Examples
You might try to identify an interest based on work you are doing or will do in a different course
Types of topics to avoid
If you are still stuck you can find help on the internet or in your library
Standard Guides in Various Fields
Dictionaries: briefly define concepts and sometimes offer a bibliography
Encyclopedias: give more extensive overviews and usually a bibliography
Bibliographies and Indexes list past and current publications in the field
Finding dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies in particular fields:
Go to Pfau Library Home Page
Under Search For heading click on the Encyclopedias/Dictionaries link
Under Search Online Databases heading select bibliographies and type your discipline into the search bar.
Scan headings for topics that catch your interest
Once you identify a general area of interest, use the internet to find out more about the topic so that you can narrow it.
At first you may not know enough about a general interest to turn it into a focused topic.
If so, you have to do some reading to know what to think about it.
Don’t read randomly: start with entries in a general encyclopedia, then look at entries in a specialized encyclopedia or dictionary, then browse through journals and websites until you have a grip on the general shape of your topic.
Previous Topics
Gender Discrimination and China’s One Child Policy
The Role of Attachmen.
11.01.2019 г. ... A thesis statement is a sentence or two in your essay or paper that expresses the main argument you intend to get across in the text. It's a way .... A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how .... The thesis statement is the sentence that states the main idea of a writing assignment and helps control the ideas within the paper. It is not merely a topic.. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you'll make in the rest of your paper. What is a thesis statement? A thesis .... A thesis statement is a sentence that states the topic and purpose of your paper. A good thesis statement will direct the structure of your essay and will .... A thesis statement is typically one sentence that appears in the first paragraph of an essay that captures the essay's purpose. Think of the thesis .... The problem is that you cannot write engaging papers around statements of fact. Such theses prevent you from demonstrating critical thinking and analytical .... 13.04.2023 г. ... A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader.. A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It consists of the topic of the essay and the writer's claim about the topic that will be proven throughout .... A thesis statement comprises one or two declarative sentences that summarize the main point of a paper or a piece of writing such as an essay.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
2. What we worked on last class:
Differences between high school, college and university
writing
Fundamentals of postsecondary writing
Rundown of the writing assignment
3. Today we’ll look at:
Thesis:
What makes a thesis strong
What role the thesis plays throughout the paper structurally
Some reasons why theses do or don’t work
**Through the session we’ll be drawing on content from the book
‘Writing Analytically’ by Rosenwasser, Stephen and Babington
4. “The Thesis-Builder’s Bottom Line”
Look for a thesis by focusing on an area of your subject that you
feel should be opened to opposing viewpoints or multiple
interpretations. Rather than attempting to locate a single right
answer, search for something that raises questions.
Treat your thesis as a hypothesis to be tested rather than an
obvious truth.
Evolve your thesis – move it forward – by seeing the questions
that each new formulation of it prompts you to ask
5. “The Thesis-Builder’s Bottom Line” –
cont.
Develop the implications of your evidence and of your
observations as fully as you can by repeatedly asking “So
what?”
When you encounter potentially conflicting evidence (or
interpretations of that evidence), don’t simply abandon your
thesis. Take advantage of the complications to expand,
qualify, and refine your thesis until you arrive at the most
accurate explanation of the evidence that you can manage.
6. How to fix a weak thesis:
1. The thesis makes no claim
Example:
“I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns with evolution in The Origin of
Species”
There is nothing at stake, no issue to be resolved.
Solution: Raise specific issues for the essay to explore, & propose specific opinions
Solution ex:
Darwin’s concern with survival of the fittest in The Origin of Species initially leads him to
neglect a potentially conflicting aspect of his theory of evolution – survival as a matter of
interdependence.
7. How to fix a weak thesis:
2. The thesis is obviously true or is a statement or fact
Example:
“The jeans industry targets its advertisements to appeal to young adults.”
There is no point in arguing something that few people would find doubt in – its not interesting, the
vague follow-up cues us that there may be tension in exploration of the vagueness
Solution: find some avenue of inquiry – a question about the facts or an issue raised by them. Make an
assertion with which it would be possible for readers to disagree.”
Solution ex:
By inventing new terms, such as “loose fit” and “relaxed fit,” the jeans industry has attempted to
normalize, even glorify, its product for an older and fatter generation.
8. How to fix a weak thesis:
3. The thesis restates conventional wisdom
Example:
“An important part of one’s college education is learning to better understand others’
points of view.”
These are clichés.
Solution: Seek to complicate – see more than one point of view on – your subject. Avoid
conventional wisdom unless you can qualify it or introduce a fresh perspective on it.
Solution ex:
While an important part of one’s college education is learning to better understand others’
points of view, a persistent danger is that the students will simply be required to substitute
the teacher’s answers for the ones they grew up uncritically believing.
9. How to fix a weak thesis:
4. The thesis offers personal conviction as the basis for the claim
Example:
“Sir Thomas More’s Utopia proposes an unworkable set of solutions to society’s problems because, like communist Russia, it
suppresses individualism.”
Personal opinions are not self-evident truths. Check to see if the answer to the question is “because I think so”.
Solution: Replace opinions (in the form of self-evident truths) with ideas – theories about the meaning and significance of
the subjects that could be supported and qualified with evidence.
Solution ex:
Sir Thomas More’s Utopia treats individualism as a serious but remediable social problem. His radical treatment of what we
might now call “socialization” attempts to redefine the meaning and origin of individual identity.
10. How to fix a weak thesis:
5. The thesis makes an overly broad claim
Examples:
“Violent revolutions have had both positive and negative results for man.”
Overly generalized theses avoid complexity, and make a thesis impossible to argue well, because
there is too much to say and the argument lacks focus.
Solution: Convert broad strategies and generic (fits anything) claims to more specific, more qualified
assertions; find new ways to bring out the complexity of your subject.
Solution ex:
Although violent revolutions begin to redress long-standing social inequities, they often do so at the
cost of long-term economic dysfunction and the suffering that attends it.
11. The Grammar of a Good Thesis
Don’t rely on nouns, but instead verbs
Be specific with your word choice (especially transitional ones),
using active voice (verbs) when possible instead of passive
Move toward specificity in word choice, in sentence structure, and in
idea.
Be conscious of what order things are expressed in your
sentences. This affects emphasis in a big way and sometimes
changes the meaning.
12. The Question of the Question
Can a thesis be a question?:
This makes it difficult because there is no overt “claim”
Use these cautiously, include a follow-up claim sentence if
possible
13. **Exercise:
1. Read this thesis statement, and ask yourself “what does the
thesis require the writer to do next?” – play with wording until
the follow through structure seems interesting and intact
Thesis: Regarding the promotion of women into executive positions,
they are continually losing the race because of a corporate view that
women are too compassionate to keep up with the competitiveness of a
powerful man.
14. **Exercise – cont:
2. Have a partner read your thesis statement, and give you
feedback about what it means to them, and the ways its
working or not, try to help each other polish your thesis
statements
3. As a group we’ll read and discuss the thesis
statements everyone arrived at, to get a sense of what we’ve
learned and can apply when writing theses in the future