Essay%20Structure%20and%20Thesis

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Essay Structure and Thesis
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The Writing Process

• Planning
• Shaping/Organizing
• Drafting
• Revising
• Editing
• Proofreading

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The Major Parts of Any Essay

• Title
• Introduction
• Thesis statement
• Body paragraph
• Topic sentence
• Supporting details
• Body paragraph
• Topic sentence
• Supporting details
• Conclusion

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Your Title

• This can be catchy, creative, complex, or just to
  the point.
• A Day at Disney World
• Spaced Out in Space Mountain
• How to Wait in Line All Day and Not Lose Your
  Mind
• Captured by Pirates
• I Met My Maker on Toads Wild Ride
• The Most Expensive Junk Food in the World
• Postmodernism Meets Late Capitalism

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But notice

• The title indicates, at least in some fashion,
  what the essay is about.
• Sometimes, after youve done some freewriting,
  clustering, and general research and thinking
  about your topic, writing the title first helps
  you focus.
• You can always change the title later.

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Introduction

• Your first or introductory paragraph should both
  explain your topic and stimulate your audiences
  interest.
• Well have an entire lesson on this later, but
  your introductory paragraph should contain your
  thesis statement so that your reader can focus
  on what exactly you are going to talk about in
  the upcoming body paragraphs.
• The traditional location of a thesis in an
  academic essay is at the end of the introduction.
  

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Introduction and Thesis

• Introduction
• Grabs audiences attention
• Gives necessary background to understand the
  topic/thesis
• Contains the thesis
• Thesis
• States essays topic, purpose, point of view
• Specific, powerful words gt not general or vague
• May change during revision process
• Probable that it will

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Visual Representation of Your Introduction
Paragraph
1. Broad sentence that sets the stage
2., 3. narrower sentences that provide some
details or a greater degree of specificity
4. Very specific sentence that focuses on exactly
what you are going to say in the following essay
Thesis statement
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Allow Your Thesis to Guide Your Paper

• Pass out thesis handout.

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Thesis Statements
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A thesis statement can be

• The answer to a question that you have posed
• The solution for a problem you have identified
• A statement that takes a position on a debatable
  topic

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General Tips about Thesis Statements

• A statement that contains the essays topic and
  point(s)
• Gives the reader a sense of what the essay will
  be about
• Most thesis statements are only one sentence
• Must be a complete sentence
• Everything in the essay must support the thesis.
• Usually comes at the end of the introduction
• Introduction paragraph should follow this format
• Attention getter (commonly known as a hook)
• Introduce the topic and give background leading
  up to the thesis
• State the thesis

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What are the Roles of a Thesis?

• 1. It can assert an argument, explain a topic,
  and/or analyze an issue.
• 2. It is specific in presenting the writer's
  position.
• 3. It limits both scope and topic of the paper.
• 4. It captures the reader's interest and focuses
  that interest on the topic.

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Kinds of Thesis Statements Persuasive

• An persuasive paper makes a claim based on
  opinion, evaluation, or interpretation about a
  topic and proves this claim with specific
  evidence.
• Persuasive thesis example
• High school graduates should be required to take
  a year off to pursue community service projects
  before entering college in order to increase
  their maturity and global awareness.
• If you have been asked to argue a point or
  choose a side on an issue, this is likely the
  type of thesis you will use.
• Typically, you will use this style of thesis in
  English 101 and transfer-level courses.

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Kinds of Thesis Statements Analytical

• An analytical paper breaks the topic down into
  parts, examines each part, and determines how
  each part relates to the whole topic.
• Analytical thesis example
• An analysis of the college admission process
  reveals one challenge facing counselors
  accepting students with high test scores or
  students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.
  
• If you have been asked to analyze a topic,
  issue, or reading, this is the type of thesis you
  should use.
• Typically, you will use this style of thesis in
  English 101 and transfer level courses.

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Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements The Three
Point Thesis (Essay Map)

• Contains essays topic point, and three
  supporting reasons
• Example
• The Kardashians are a prime example of the
  emptiness of reality tv culture and the cult of
  celebrity because their show and subsequent
  lifestyles reflect consumerist values, trivial
  pastimes, and a focus on superficial
  attractiveness.

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Ways of Constructing a ThesisBecause/Therefore

• Contains problem and solution
• Despite some gains in recent years, the film and
  television industry is still not doing enough to
  represent societies in our media that are as
  diverse as the society we live in. lead-in,
  identifies problem Therefore, order to increase
  minority representation in movies and television
  shows, goal casting agencies should not be
  allowed to specify race in a casting call unless
  it is an integral part of the story solution.
• The author would need to include support and
  evidence for both the problem (thereby justifying
  the goal) and why the solution would be a viable
  one.

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Ways of Constructing Thesis StatementsThe
Umbrella

• Contains essays topic, point, and alludes to
  reasons why the reader should believe you.
• Do not directly state the supporting reasons, but
  instead allude to them.
• Example Although thought to be humane and
  necessary, animal testing for medical and
  cosmetic purposes topic does not live up to
  its promises and causes more harm than good
  point and reasons.
• Do NOT use language like, There are many reasons
  people dont like animal testing, mostly its
  cruel.

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Thesis DO NOT

• DO NOT announce your thesis In this essay, I am
  going to tell you about Mt. SAC college and why
  you should go there. (Side note Some
  instructors may encourage this type of statement,
  and always do what your instructor suggests)
• DO NOT confuse your reader Just make sure that
  the topic and point are clear.
• A Thesis CANNOT be a fact Doesnt allow you to
  prove anything because its already factual.
• DO NOT be vague Words like good, bad,
  right, and wrong, dont convey specific
  meaning.
• A Theis CANNOT be a question Dont you think
  animal testing is inhumane?
• Does not give the point of the paper.
• Leaves it open for readers to fill in the blank.

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Creating a Thesis Statement

• 1. Determine essays topic (what youre talking
  about)
• Example Pixars film Up
• 2. Determine what kind of paper you are writing
  and what kind of thesis statement you need to
  use analytical, persuasive, or expository.
• Example PersuasiveIts not really a kid
  movie.
• 3. Determine the way you will construct your
  thesis list or umbrella?
• 4. Put it all together!
• Example Pixars most recent film, Up, should
  not be considered a kid movie because its
  character conflicts and main theme of loss are
  too complex for children to understand.
• Opposing Example Entertainment aimed at
  children should not underestimate a childs
  ability to understand complex concepts, and the
  popularity of movies like Pixars Up prove that
  children can understand and even identify with
  themes of loss and sacrifice.

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Body Paragraphs

• Body paragraphs support and explain the essays
  thesis.
• The more the merrier, for several reasons
• They are reader friendly
• They help make the essay look organized.
• And, of course, they help you meet your papers
  page-length requirement. ?

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Some Guidelines

• Each paragraph is a complete thought.
• As soon as you start to change thoughts, or go a
  new direction, start a new paragraph.
• Dont be afraid of having too many paragraphs.
• I like to see at least three indents on a page

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• Generally a paragraph starts with a topic
  sentence, that tells what the paragraph is about,
  
• and the other sentences provide details and
  support.
• You can have as many or as few sentences to a
  paragraph as you want,
• In fact, it makes your paper more readable,
  creates a better rhythm, if you vary the
  paragraph length.

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The Golden Rule

• Dont let a paragraph wander keep it to one
  central thought.
• When you feel your mind changing gears, its time
  to change paragraphs!

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Conclusions

• A concluding paragraph is the final paragraph in
  your essay
• It presents a philosophical summary of the essay,
  linking directly back to the intro
• And (sorry) it does NOT start with In
  conclusion

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Prewriting, Writing, Rewriting

• General tips
• REVISION TAKES TIME!
• Plan to write at least three drafts
• 1st draft Focus on the BIG stuff
• Overall organization of essay
• May revisit this step several times
• 2nd draft Concentrate your efforts
• Edit
• 3rd draft Get nitpicky
• Proofread

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Reminder About the Upcoming Essay Rough Draft

• Our Peer Review is next week.
• Your rough draft should be at least three full
  pages.
• Remember, topics for this paper are very
  flexible, however you still need to meet the
  minimum requirements from the prompt.
• Always re-read the prompt before you start
  writing.