After exploring the online writing lab, my perspective on formulating a thesis statement has changed.
Firstly, from personal experience, looking at the assignment title is usually very daunting and I start to list down the various aspects it could cover. I was ambitious in formulating a thesis that could possibly encompass every single aspect, without keeping in mind the length limitations of the paper. As a result, my thesis was very broad. My paper lacked focus and it seemed like with more points, I required more evidence to convince the reader of my stance. After time, some of my evidence sounded repetitive, as there could have been a possible overlap in points.
Through this exploration, I have learnt that a thesis should be narrowed down and focused but yet complex enough, to be developed further with my supporting arguments later on. There must be a logical and clear rationale as to the stance I’m taking, which helps to defend my position from some readers, who may controvert. One rationale clause to use would be “because”.
Even though debatable, it at least helps to provide readers with a clear summary as to where the paper is headed, which would be to prove my position on the topic. As an author, a strong and narrowed thesis would assure I would not wander off from the main topic and transitions would be progressively easier to write.
Next, it has always been this pre-conceived notion of mine that the thesis has to be something factual or tautological. Also, I thought it was simply a paragraph where I would merely list my sub points. I felt that by having a boosted general consensus on the topic without much contention, it would be both safer and easier when it came to backing up my arguments. My paper ended up loo...
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...ng one. After I have selected which evidence to back up my arguments, I should constantly return to my working thesis and revise it accordingly.
In a nutshell, via this e-learning, I have learnt on how to formulate a concise thesis to ease me into writing a paper with structure and coherence. Eventually, at the end of the revision stage, my thesis would contain my stance, have my supporting arguments highlighted while presenting the structure of the paper to the reader to prepare them before they delve into the ideas that will be put forth in my supporting paragraphs.
This could have made my paper a better one instead of something very factual with mere discussion of pros and cons. There would be a lack in analysis and I would appear as not being able to evaluate critically due to the absence of argument, whereby I would convince doubtful readers of my stance.
3. Your thesis statement should state exactly what you are discussing in your paper. If you spend a paragraph on stubbornness, a paragraph on shortsightedness, etc, the each of those points should be listed in the thesis statement. Both being unwilling to change, they both seal each other’s fate with their stubbornness, shortsightedness, extreme beliefs and their hubris.
Writing is no easy task: transforming intricate ideas in your mind to coherent, limpid sentences is no simple feat. And even when you think you are finished with a piece of writing, you can always improve it. Which is why my analysis of The Wife Speaks by Elizabeth Stoddard, which I earned a 7 on, requires revisions on numerous aspects: my lengthy, garrulous thesis, and--most importantly--the analysis of the poem itself, which is cursory and superficial. Right off the bat, I noticed that my thesis, which comprises five-lines by itself, obscures my argument due to its incoherence.
1. The thesis of the essay is stated at the end of the first paragraph. The author says,
The basic properties of a thesis statement is the subject, focus, claim, and the "So What?" factor. While I could pinpoint my subject and claim, I had a hard time with making my focus clear and understandable. In Paper 1, my starting thesis statement was "In Battle Royal, the narrator's status as an educated black man serves as a form of wealth; as a result, his wealth is sparking a need for more segregation and silence of the black man in an unequal and racist economy." This thesis statement was not a strong statement because it did not explain and elaborate why the narrator was truly "wealthy", which makes my focus unclear. To address this issue, I had to ask myself why my thesis sentence important to begin with and what did I want my thesis sentence to argue. To improve my thesis, I explained why his wealth was significant and added why my thesis statement was important to the audience. My final thesis statement was, "In Battle Royal, the narrator's status as an educated black man serves as a form of wealth because his education is an advantage he can use to advance in an unjust society; as a result, his wealth is sparking a need for more segregation and silence of the black man in an unequal and racist economy". This thesis statement is better because it pinpoints clearly why his wealth is even significant. Also, the second independent clause made my "So What?" claim clear because I could further elaborate on the broader significance of the
White, Fred D., Simone J. Billings. The Well-Crafted Argument: A Guide and Reader. Boston: Houghton, 2002.
Baby Thesis (Repeat your first reason, but try not to use the exact same words.):
Trying to rush to the paragraph is not the right way to begin. Take a few minutes to understand what really the argument is saying. An argument essay depends on an effective, convincing, well-developed evidence. Likewise, the argumentative essay has three major parts, the introduction, the body and the conclusion. The readers as an audience can spot you out right away after reading your first paragraph whether it is a good or bad essay. In introduction paragraph, you always need to explain the prime subject and end it with your thesis. Thesis engages your reader through your thesis statement which gives the purpose of the essay. Your thesis will be the heart of an argumentative essay which covers and give meanings to every paragraph. It should be a clear and concise to the audience where it signals and makes your reader attentive about your main points and arguments. In addition, your introduction paragraph will be the roadmap for the rest of the
It was about using 3 sources to illuminate a particular aspect of my chosen play and to investigate some of the context of the work and to integrate the sources along with interpretation to address questions that arise in my reading of the work. My chosen play was “The Things They Carried” by Tim O 'Brien. First of of I had to come up with a question and I had to come up with a thesis that will answer the question. Before getting a review from the peer my thesis was this, “So, it can be argued that Lieutenant Jimmy Cross 's love for Martha was either a mistake or beneficial during the Vietnam war.” (Paper 3-Page 1) "Your thesis "So, it can be argued that Lieutenant Jimmy Cross 's love for Martha was either a mistake or beneficial during the Vietnam war" need to revise. You don 't need to mention argued in thesis, just need to prove it.”(Peer Review 3-Islam) I realized my peer was right, I had to write a thesis that will make the reader find out what the thesis is, I do not need to literary mention “this is the thesis”. After I change my thesis something like this, “While Jimmy Cross 's love for Martha brought his respite for the war and ultimately proved to be harmful to him, his men and his ability to be an effective leader.” This thesis seems more like stronger and arguments. Then I had to choose three secondary sources as an evidence. The part I struggled the most was finding the
it, as there wasn't really anything specific I wanted to add to my paper from this. It
• how the introduction introduces the topic and offers a clear forecast of the essay's thesis (the author's position and stated reasons)
...ragraphs that support the argument. The easiest part of this component was actually inserting it in my essay after I understood the purpose for it, because at the beginning I was confused on the whole thesis concept. The thesis was the most challenging because I kept asking myself "Can I really argue this for five to six pages?" and also "Is this even considered a thesis statement?" I noticed that I can speak and write more effectively when I'm thinking critically and intellectually. My sentence structure has always been strong and I feel it has grown because of the practice we have had in class with finding thesis statements in our readings. My overall issue with this component of the writing process is using a justifiable argument and remembering to support my argument with claims and trying not to put unnecessary points in my paper while maintaining my ethos.
of your thesis. This movement from the specific to the general is just the opposite of that in the introduction,
In this essay my thesis statement was “Kilbourne makes her argument by saying “Sex in advertising is pornography graphic because it dehumanizes and objectified people, especially women, and because it fetishizes products, imbues them with an erotic charge which dooms us to disappointment since products never can fulfill out sexual desires or meet out emotional needs” (“Kilbourne Reading” 1). After writing this thesis statement I was able to provide a good argument that flowed well in the essay. Comparing this essay to the other ones, I would say that this essay was great because first I had got an A on this essay and second is that provided good examples by using sources to back up my claim that I had made in the essay. Looking back to this essay I would choose this essay because it best fit my style of writing and it is a great example I can use for future
In order to focus my analysis, I shall center my essay upon a discussion of the following six-step argument, assumed here to be valid, but not necessarily sound, making the issue of soundness the key issue:
Furthermore, I have acquired a set of personal and professional gains as a result of completing the thesis that includes the development of a critical mindset, improvement of my writing and time management skills and enhancement of the level of my