Unit 5: Turning a Topic into a Thesis

1. Unit 5: Turning a Topic into a Thesis Welcome to Effective Writing 1- CM 107 • Feel free to chat and get acquainted until seminar starts. This session is held 10:00-11:00 PM (EST). Once the seminar starts, please keep all comments relevant to the class topic.

2. What is expository writing? • Expository refers to writing that explains and clarifies an idea. • You come across examples of expository writing every day: • Magazine articles • Newspaper articles • Emails and memos • Instruction manuals • How do we use exposition in our daily lives?

3. What is expository writing? • Academic assignments and essays often fall under the category of expository writing. • Hallmarks of expository writing: • Precisely-worded • Focused around a central idea • Logically sound (uses adequate support) What are some modes or methods a writer/speaker could use to explain something?

4. What is a thesis? • What is a thesis statement? • The thesis statement is a statement of your topic and a comment about it.

5. What is a thesis? • It is your “what’s the point?” • What do you want your readers to know. • The main idea you are trying to get across. • Your message. • The point you want to make.

6. The thesis statement • Can be one sentence at the end of an introductory paragraph, or 2-3 sentences within the introductory paragraph. • Expresses a point of view, not a topic. • Limits the topic. • Indicates the kind of support to follow. • Helps to organize the supporting material • Is precisely worded. • It does NOT announce by saying: I am going to tell you about….or My essay will explain….

7. Effective Thesis Statements • In an expository paper, you are explaining something to your audience. An expository thesis statement will tell your audience: • • what you are going to explain to them • • the categories you are using to organize your explanation • • the order in which you will be presenting your categories

8. Example Example: • Barn Owls are widespread and common in the United states. The lifestyles of barn owls include hunting for insects and animals, building nests, and raising their young. • A reader who encountered that thesis would expect the paper to explain how barn owls hunt for insects, build nests, and raise young.

9. How do you get there? • Questions to ask yourself when writing an expository thesis statement: • What am I trying to explain? • How can I categorize my explanation into different parts? • In what order should I present the different parts of my explanation

10. INEFFECTIVE Thesis Statements • There are many ways to look at society today. • This is cliched, and not specific. • In my opinion, too many people are trying to steal from the government. • Avoid the use of personal pronouns. Also, this is not specific enough. Who? Steal what? Which part of the govt?

11. And, now all together . . . • What’s with our public schools? Identify the thesis of this article. • http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0929/Waiting-for-Superman-to-reform-education-He-s-already-here

12. The film suggests that only a “superman” can bring about public-school change. Well, that superman has already arrived – not as a red-caped superhero, but as a set of irresistible forces that is driving education reform as never before: 1) a growing understanding of what works, 2) increasing public pressure, and 3), the necessity for making hard choices in the face of fiscal crisis.

13. Is anyone able to post a sample thesis statement for us to discuss??

14. A little APA review as time allows?

15. Thank you for a great seminar! Have a wonderful week! Mike