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Mastering Thesis Statements: Writing Strategies for Research Papers

Learn to craft effective thesis statements, identify sub-topics, and develop topic sentences for academic essays. Understand the types of essays and match to appropriate thesis statements. Enhance your writing skills with practical exercises.

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Mastering Thesis Statements: Writing Strategies for Research Papers

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  1. ESL 221 September 23, 2009

  2. In-Class Reading • In Handbook, Read pp. 23-26 (start at the bottom of p. 23 with “Developing a working thesis” • When you finish reading, complete any two of the examples at the bottom of p. 26 (e.g. 1 & 4, 2 & 5, 3 & 4, etc.)

  3. Research Questions • When preparing to write an essay, a research question can help to guide your preparation • A research question helps to remind you of the kind of information you hope to include in your essay

  4. Sample Research Questions • What is wrong with the current American healthcare system? • What are some of the problems that international students face while studying in America? • Do you think that international students should be allowed to have American Driver’s Licenses? Why or why not?

  5. Going from Research Question to Thesis Statement • The thesis statement is a detailed yet concise answer to the research question • It includes a main idea, but also includes several supporting ideas (called sub-topics) that will be further addressed in the body of the paper • Typically one sentence, can be two sentences in some cases

  6. Identify the Sub-Topics • Research Question: What are some of the problems that international students face while studying in America? • Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must overcome a language barrier, spend time away from their families, and learn to do everything in a new and different culture.

  7. Identify the Sub-Topics • Research Question: What are some of the problems that international students face while studying in America? • Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must overcome a language barrier, spend time away from their families, and learn to do everything in a new and different culture.

  8. Activity Working with a partner, write a thesis statement that answers the following research question: What are the benefits of studying abroad?

  9. Three Types of Thesis Statements • Informing – writing to transmit knowledge • Interpreting – writing to produce understanding • Arguing – writing to assert matters of public debate • Three basic types of essays: Informative, Interpretive and Argumentative

  10. What type of essay is appropriate? For each essay prompt below, determine the type of thesis statement that would be most appropriate (informative, interpretive or argumentative): • Should international students be allowed to obtain American driver’s licenses? • Write an essay discussing American values as they are represented in the movie Gone with the Wind • Write an essay about daily life in your home country • Do you think the American healthcare system needs to be changed? Why or why not?

  11. Topic Sentences • Topic Sentences are drawn from the sub-topics found in the thesis statement • Each sub-topic in the thesis statement becomes the main idea for a paragraph in the body of the essay

  12. Writing Topic Sentences Thesis Statement: The negative outcomes of drinking alcohol include, but are not limited to: poor performance in school, an increase of risky behaviors, and alcoholism. • One of the negative outcomes of drinking is poorer performance in the classroom. • Another potentially negative outcome of drinking is an increased likelihood to participate in risky behavior. • A final and most serious outcome of drinking is the development of alcoholism, or an addiction to alcohol.

  13. Activity/Homework • Complete the handout given in class (due Monday) • You may work with a partner while in class • Read pp. 48-57 in Sourcework, then complete Activity 2 on p. 59. Please write or type your answers on a separate sheet of paper so that you may turn them in.

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