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Writing Great Thesis Statements…. …and Therefore Great Essays. Why are we working on these?. Thesis statements were the weakest component across the board on the immigration unit in-class essays They are also incredibly important to writing strong essays. What a Thesis Statement is NOT.
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Writing Great Thesis Statements… …and Therefore Great Essays
Why are we working on these? • Thesis statements were the weakest component across the board on the immigration unit in-class essays • They are also incredibly important to writing strong essays
What a Thesis Statement is NOT • An opinion or “I” statement • An observation • A question • A summary • Vague/wishy-washy • More than one sentence
What a Thesis Statement IS / DOES • An arguable statement that can be proven with evidence • Specific, to the point • Captures the main points of your argument • One sentence • Appears as the last line of your introduction paragraph
Which is the stronger thesis? Why? • Discuss with the person sitting next to you. #1 The different paths that the lives of Laila and Mariam took proves that it is impossible to undo formative experiences and the resulting effects – positive or negative – that they are bound to have on future decisions. #2 Hosseini positively depicts the persona of Afghan women and their ability to endure gender inequality, denied education and Taliban rule.
What’s wrong with this picture? • Fix the following weak thesis statement: • There are both good and bad representations of women in A Thousand Splendid Suns.
What will you argue about ATSS? • Brainstorm/free write for the next 5-10 minutes. Remember you will be using the literary theory you have chosen to write this essay (Feminist, Marxist, Reader-Response or Formalist) • How can you turn these ideas into a killer thesis statement? • Write a draft of your thesis statement. Then, get into assigned writing groups and – using the rubric – assess each other’s thesis statements. Final thesis statements and outlines are due this week.
Looking Ahead… • Step 1: Develop a thesis statement • Step 2: Gather textual evidence and organize ideas in an outline (Final Thesis Statement and Outline DUE Friday, 4/1 for D, G, C and F periods; Thursday 3/31 for A period) • Step 3: Write rough draft (Rough Draft DUE Wednesday, 4/6 for A, D, G, and F periods; Thursday 4/7 for C period) • Step 4: Make revisions based on feedback. Edit, edit and edit again. Include citations. Type final draft. (Final Draft DUE Wednesday, 4/13 for A, D, G, and F periods; Thursday 4/14 for C period)