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Learn how to create a strong thesis statement that includes an assertion and qualifying clause, and serves as a roadmap for your writing. Develop effective organization and direction in your essays.
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Creating A Thesis Make a map and follow it!
Responding to a Prompt • Do you remember what a prompt is, and how to respond to one? • Do you remember that you’re responding with a “big idea,” ASSERTING something about that prompt? • One thing we noticed in your most recent essays was a lack of direction. You need a thesis and better organization.
Prompt: What’s the nature of Lennie’s and George’s relationship? • Think about how you responded to the prompt above . . . • What is your evidence of this belief? Are your ideas accurate? Example: George hates Lennie. Is this an accurate assertion? • Your thesis will be one sentence long. It must include your assertion, your thesis, what you’ll prove. • The thesis is a map your writing must follow.
George hates Lennie. • Hmmmm. . . What’s missing with this thesis? • ummmm . . . Who’s George? Who’s Lennie? • Uhhhhhh . . . Do I care? • What’s missing?
What’s Missing? Well . . . • George and Lennie are two characters in a book called Of Mice and Men. • The novel was written by John Steinbeck. • George is “in charge” of Lennie, and Lennie is developmentally challenged—I can prove this using the novel.
George hates Lenny. ** How do you prove that George hates Lenny? • You need a qualifying clause added to your thesis statement. • Qualifying clauses start with when, because, unless, even, so that, whether, if, etc., and they’re an important part of the one sentence thesis. Try again . . .
Better thesis: George hates Lenny because of lost jobs, lost opportunities, and Lenny’s intellectual inferiority. • Let’s practice making a thesis statement about characterization that is specific to a literary work. • Think about Macbeth. • Think of a character who develops as the play progresses. • What is your proof, your evidence that this character changes?
A One Sentence Thesis Map Needs . . . • Title of work: • Author’s name: • Assertion: • Qualifying clause: • Let’s look at another example . . .
Thesis: • In Macbeth, Shakespeare’s main character moves from a loyal warrior to a crazed tyrant because of the witches’ prophecy, his fear of losing the kingdom, and his distance from loved ones. Write down the thesis, then label its parts: author’s name, title of the work, the assertion AND the qualifying clause. Next, we’ll practice using Lady Macbeth and your paper . . .
How does Lady Macbeth change? • In _______________’s _____________, (author of work) (title of work) Lady Macbeth ______________ (assertion) ________________________ __________________________, (qualifying clause) (piece of evidence) _____________, and _____________ (piece of evidence) (piece of evidence)
Purpose of a Thesis: • Your thesis is a road map for both you and your reader. It must include your assertion and qualifiers (proofs). • Make sure you include only information and evidence that you’ve asserted in your thesis. You must stay on topic, or both you and your reader may get lost.