creating a winning thesis statement
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Transcript creating a winning thesis statement
CREATING A WINNING
THESIS STATEMENT
Or the Road to a “5” Thesis
Statement
A NOTE ABOUT THESIS
STATEMENTS
Any
time that you create a thesis
statement, you are building an argument
that must be proven!
What you prove MUST NOT be completely
obvious. (Ex. “In Things Fall Apart,
Okonkwo is the central character.)
What you prove MUST NOT be
exclusively literal. You MUST reveal a
deeper understanding and make
abstractions.
PARTS OF THE THESIS
STATEMENT
TOPIC
CLAIM
(VERB)
DIRECTION
QUALIFIER
UNIVERSAL IDEA
TOPIC
1.
2.
The TOPIC reveals the context of the
thesis—the text(s) analyzed.
Examples
John Smith’s autobiographical
account . . .
Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream” speech . . .
CLAIM (VERB)
1.
2.
The CLAIM tells what the text is doing to
arrive at the universal idea.
Review the list of verbs for academic
discourse.
For practice, “uses” is a good place to
start.
Examples:
John Smith’s autobiographical account
uses . . .
Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream” speech, King uses . . .
DIRECTION
1.
2.
The DIRECTION tells how the text
arrives at the universal idea.
DIRECTION = rhetorical devices
Examples:
John Smith’s autobiographical account
uses imagery, diction, and point of
view . . .
Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream” speech, King uses
analogy, repetition, and emotional
appeal . . .
QUALIFIER
1.
2.
The QUALIFIER links the direction to the
universal idea.
“to prove that” (there are more constructions
possible)
Examples:
John Smith’s autobiographical account uses
metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove
that . . .
Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I
Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy,
repetition, and emotional appeal to prove
that . . .
UNIVERSAL IDEA
1.
2.
The UNIVERSAL IDEA is the larger idea or
purpose at work in the text.
The UNIVERSAL IDEA part should reveal
meaning about the abstract noun.
Examples:
John Smith’s autobiographical account uses
metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove
that success is measured by one’s ability to
conquer.
Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I
Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy,
repetition, and emotional appeal to prove
that equality is the foundation of a truly
democratic society.
Adding “The Funk”
Or Adding Variety and Complexity
to a Thesis Statement
STEP 1: MODIFIED DIRECTIONS
For
each direction, add an adjective that
best describes the text’s use of that
direction.
Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account
uses adventurous imagery, calculated
diction, and a self-important point of view
...
STEP 2: ADD THE
SHIFT/CONTRAST
Reveal
the shift/contrast that occurs within
the text (especially the shift/contrast in the
universal idea.
Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account
uses adventurous imagery, calculated
diction, and an self-important point of view
to prove that success is measured by
one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability
to make peace.
STEP 3: ADDING TEXT
PHRASES FOR INTEREST
Choose a few words or phrases from the text
that allude to the universal idea.
Add these words/phrases to the thesis statement
for effect.
Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account, a
testimony of “his own example, good words, and
fair promises,” uses adventurous imagery,
calculated diction, and a self-important point of
view to prove that success is measured by one’s
ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to make
peace.
STEP 4: RE-ARRANGE THE
PIECES!
Take
all the thesis statement parts, and rearrange them to create sentence variety.
Ex. To prove that success is measured by
one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability
to make peace, adventurous imagery,
calculated diction, and a self-important
point of view are used in John Smith’s
autobiographical account—a testimony of
“his own example, good words, and fair
promises.”
“The Jacket Prompt”
In a well-developed essay, discuss
how Gary Soto uses rhetorical
devices to reveal his relationship
with his jacket and its impact on
his youth. Consider such devices
as: symbolism, imagery, diction,
contrast, and repetition.