Make sure that you get the following material in your NOTES!!
1. Step 3 of Writing- Breaking Down the Topic is due today. You should have broken down each topic to a manageable size. Label these clearly.
STEP 4 of Writing: Writing a THESIS OR CLAIM.
Definition of THESIS: arguable main idea of a paper or paragraph
Purpose of Step 4: to provide analysis and argument of a topic, as well as providing a clear road map for the writer and the reader.
Formula of a thesis: Subject + Attitude or Belief about this subject + Blueprint = Thesis
Other thesis formula options:
By examining _____, it is clear that ______.
Although researchers believe/ or have argued ________, closer examination shows _________.
Other thesis formula options:
By examining _____, it is clear that ______.
Although researchers believe/ or have argued ________, closer examination shows _________.
Checklist for evaluating a thesis:
1. Is the thesis/claim debatable?
2. Does it answer an intellectual question?
3. It is not a statement of fact (consider the audience).
4. Does it clearly point the direction of the argument (limiting it scope).
5. Is the language vivid and clear?
6. Is the point I’m making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, “So what?” (does it pass the "how" and "why" test?)
7. Does it use an active verb? (Avoids "Be Verbs... is, are, am, were)
7. Does it use an active verb? (Avoids "Be Verbs... is, are, am, were)
To assist in knowing how to approach a subject in order to make a claim about the material, you can utilize one of these four types of claims:
Types of claims:
Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, in other words what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.
1. Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:
2. Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:
3. Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:
4. Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:
3. Review through the material in the following link: Indiana University- Thesis Statements
Supplement your current notes. This will talk you through the process of developing a topic, through identifying a strong or weak thesis statement.
Types of claims:
Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, in other words what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.
1. Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:
- What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change.
2. Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:
- The popularity of SUVs in America has caused pollution to increase.
3. Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:
- Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.
4. Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:
- Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources
3. Review through the material in the following link: Indiana University- Thesis Statements
Supplement your current notes. This will talk you through the process of developing a topic, through identifying a strong or weak thesis statement.
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