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Writing the Thesis

Writing the Thesis. Where do I begin?. The Prompt. Determine what the prompt is asking: According to The Odyssey, do internal or external forces do more to hinder characters from reaching their goals? Evaluate Odysseus’s leadership. Does he lead effectively or ineffectively?

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Writing the Thesis

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  1. Writing the Thesis Where do I begin?

  2. The Prompt Determine what the prompt is asking: • According to The Odyssey, do internal or external forces do more to hinder characters from reaching their goals? • Evaluate Odysseus’s leadership. Does he lead effectively or ineffectively? • Choose one of the following concepts and analyze the theme presented by the text regarding that concept The thesis statement must directly answer the question posed by the prompt and provide reasons in support of that answer.

  3. Prompt #1: In other words . . . • State whether internal forces or external forces have the greatest impact. • State what KINDS of internal or external forces hold them back. Hint: Don’t be too specific. Your thesis might say they are detained by monsters, but to say they are held back by Polyphemus is too limiting. Polyphemus would be only one of your three examples in the body paragraph.

  4. Prompt #2: In other words… • State whether Odysseus leads effectively or ineffectively. • State the reasons for your evaluation of his effective/ineffective leadership. Hint: Don’t be too specific. Your thesis might say he leads ineffectively due to his inability to control his men at all times, but to say his leadership is ineffective because of the point at which Eurylochus convinces them to eat the cattle is too limiting for your thesis itself. This will be great for your paragraph, but not for your thesis.

  5. Prompt #3: In other words… If talking about ONE lesson regarding your topic… • State the lesson that the epic teaches regarding your chosen concept. • State HOW the epic teaches that lesson (at least two ways). If writing about MORE THAN ONE lesson regarding your topic… • State the lessons that the epic teaches regarding your chosen concept. • (optional) State how the epic teaches those lessons.

  6. What should I avoid? • Be-verbs (is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being) Thus, you will NOT write: There are many internal forces that cause . . . Odysseus’s leadership is ineffective because… Instead, you WILL write: Internal forces cause Odysseus . . . . Odysseus leads ineffectively because… Using a be-verb will subtract 50 points from your grade.

  7. What should I avoid? • 1st person pronouns (I, me, we, us) • 2nd person pronouns (you) Thus, you will NOT write: • I believe that external forces . . . • You can see that internal forces . . . Using a 1st or 2nd person pronoun will subtract 50 points from your grade.

  8. What should I avoid? • Contractions Thus, you will NOT write: Odysseus can’t get home because . . . Characters don’t reach their goals because . . . Instead, you WILL write: Odysseus cannot get home . . . Characters do not reach their goals . . . Using a contraction will subtract 10 points from your grade.

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