Lecture topic of thesis statements PDF

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LESSON 2.2: THESIS STATEMENT OF AN ACADEMIC TEXT After reading and analyzing the lesson, you should be able to: 1. define thesis statement; 2. identify the various techniques in locating thesis statement; and, 3. formulate thesis statement of the texts..

What is thesis statement? ❖ It is a statement that summarizes your topic and declares your position on it. ❖ tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. ❖ is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. ❖ It is the central idea of a multiple-paragraph composition. It is one sentence summary that guides, controls and unifies ideas when writing a paper. In simple terms, all the other ideas present in an easy revolve around the thesis statement. ❖ It focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused.

Locating Explicit and Implicit Thesis Statements ❖ In academic writing, the thesis is often explicit: it is included as a sentence as part of the text. It might be near the beginning of the work, but not always–some types of academic writing leave the thesis until the conclusion. ❖ Journalism and reporting also rely on explicit thesis statements that appear very early in the piece–the first paragraph or even the first sentence. ❖ Works of literature, on the other hand, usually do not contain a specific sentence that sums up the core concept of the writing. However, readers should finish the piece with a good understanding of what the work was trying to convey. This is what’s called an implicit thesis statement: the primary point of the reading is conveyed indirectly, in multiple locations

throughout the work. (In literature, this is also referred to as the theme of the work.) ❖ However, academic writing sometimes relies on implicit thesis statements, as well. To know more about locating thesis statement, click this link below. https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Composition/Book%3A_Basic_Reading_an d_Writing_(Lumen)/Module_2%3A_Critical_Reading/2.05%3A_Identifying_Thesis_S tatements

Questions to Ask When Formulating Thesis Statement

1. Where is your thesis statement? You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in longer essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give your reader a sense of direction.

Tips on how to write a successful thesis statement o Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. o Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words. o Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, “The point of my paper is…”

2. Is your thesis statement specific? Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally you will continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument(s), so your thesis will evolve and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is taking you. Tips on how to formulate specific thesis statement ❖ Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating conjunction (i.e. "and," "but," "or," "for," "nor," "so," "yet")? ❖ Would a subordinating conjunction help (i.e. "through," "although," "because," "since") to signal a relationship between the two sentences? ❖ Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis? ❖ If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development.

3. Is your thesis statement too general?

Your thesis should be limited to what can be accomplished in the specified number of pages. Shape your topic so that you can get straight to the "meat" of it. Being specific in your paper will be much more successful than writing about general things that do not say much. Don't settle for three pages of just skimming the surface. Original thesis: There are serious objections to today's horror movies. Revised theses: Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get more graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young American viewers to violence. The pornographic violence in "bloodbath" slasher movies degrades both men and women. Today's slasher movies fail to deliver the emotional catharsis that 1930s horror films did.

4. Is your thesis statement clear? Your thesis statement is no exception to your writing: it needs to be as clear as possible. By being as clear as possible in your thesis statement, you will make sure that your reader understands exactly what you mean. Tips on how to write clear thesis statement ❖ Unless you're writing a technical report, avoid technical language. Always avoid jargon, unless you are confident your audience will be familiar with it. ❖ Avoid vague words such as "interesting,” "negative," "exciting,” "unusual," and "difficult." ❖ Avoid abstract words such as "society," “values,” or “culture.” Original thesis: Although the timber wolf is a timid and gentle animal, it is being systematically exterminated. [if it's so timid and gentle -- why is it being exterminated?] Revised thesis: Although the timber wolf is actually a timid and gentle animal, it is being systematically exterminated because people wrongfully believe it to be a fierce and coldblooded killer. Original: "is, are, was, to be" or "to do, to make" Revised: any great action verb you can concoct: "to generate," "to demolish," "to batter," "to revolt," "to discover," "to flip," "to signify," "to endure..." Use your own words in thesis statements; avoid quoting. Crafting an original, insightful, and memorable thesis makes a distinct impression on a reader. You will lose credibility as a writer if you become only a mouthpiece or a copyist; you will gain credibility by grabbing the reader with your own ideas and words. A well-crafted thesis statement reflects well-crafted ideas. It signals a writer who has intelligence, commitment, and enthusiasm.

LESSON 2.3: OUTLINING After reading and analyzing the lesson, you should be able to: 1. define outlining; 2. identify the various techniques in outlining; and 3. make an outline of the various academic texts.

What is Outlining? Outlining is a tool we use in the writing process to help organize our ideas, visualize our paper's potential structure, and to further flesh out and develop points. It allows the writer to understand how he or she will connect information to support the thesis statement and the claims of the paper. It is a helpful guide in organizing your paper. Outlines give a visual structure to your work and are used to show relationships and hierarchies within your content. To outline, you must create a linear, organized plan for your paper that shows the main ideas that you will discuss as well as their relationships within the paper. Organizing your idea in an outline o Begin by answering the question that leads to your thesis statement. o Use the two or three main ideas from this technique as your main heading. o Write subtopics for each main idea. o Write the supporting details for each of the subtopics. Use various outlines based on the structure you prefer o Sentence outline – Using complete sentences as entries. o Topic outline – Using words and phrases as entries. o Paragraph outline – Using paragraphs as entries. Guidelines in Writing an Outline: o Place the title at the center above the outline. o Every level of the outline must have at least two items (I and II, A and B, 1 and 2). o Put a period after each numeral and letter. o Indent each new level of the outline. o All items of one kind (roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals) should line up with each other. o Capitalize the first letter of each item. o The terms Introduction, Body, and Conclusion do not have to be included in the outline. They are not topics; they are merely organizational units in the writer’s mind.

Basic outline form

I. MAIN IDEA A. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I B. Subsidiary idea or supporting idea to I 1. Subsidiary idea to B 2. Subsidiary idea to B a. Subsidiary idea to 2 b. Subsidiary idea to 2 II. MAIN IDEA A. Subsidiary or supporting idea to II B. Subsidiary idea to II C. Subsidiary idea to II III. MAIN IDEA It is up to the writer to decide on how many main ideas and supporting ideas adequately describe the subject. However, traditional form dictates that if there is a I in the outline, there has to be a II; if there is an A, there has to be a B; and so forth. Example Sentence Outline The following outline is for a 5-7-page paper discussing the link between educational attainment and health. Review the other sections of this page for more detailed information about each component of this outline! I. Introduction A. Current Problem: Educational attainment rates are decreasing in the United States while healthcare costs are increasing. B. Population/Area of Focus: Unskilled or low-skilled adult workers C. Key Terms: healthy, well-educated Thesis Statement: Because of their income deficit (cite sources) and general susceptibility to depression (cite sources), students who drop out of high school before graduation maintain a higher risk for physical and mental health problems later in life. II. Background A. Historical Employment Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were frequently unionized and adequately compensated for their work (cite sources). B. Historical Healthcare Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were often provided adequate healthcare and benefits (cite sources). C. Current Link between Education and Employment Type: Increasingly, uneducated workers work in unskilled or low-skilled jobs (cite sources). D. Gaps in the Research: Little information exists exploring the health implications of the

current conditions in low-skilled jobs. III. Major Point 1: Conditions of employment affect workers' physical health. A. Minor Point 1: Unskilled work environments are correlated highly with worker injury (cite sources). B. Minor Point 2: Unskilled work environments rarely provide healthcare or adequate injury recovery time (cite sources). IV. Major Point 2: Conditions of employment affect workers' mental health A. Minor Point 1: Employment in a low-skilled position is highly correlated with dangerous levels of stress (cite sources). B. Minor Point 2: Stress is highly correlated with mental health issues (cite sources). V. Major Point 3: Physical health and mental health correlate directly with one another. A. Minor Point 1: Mental health problems and physical health problems are highly correlated (cite sources). B. Minor Point 2: Stress manifests itself in physical form (cite sources) VI. Major Point 4: People with more financial worries have more stress and worse physical health. A. Minor Point 1: Many high-school dropouts face financial problems (cite sources). B. Minor Point 2: Financial problems are often correlated with unhealthy lifestyle choices such unhealthy food choices, overconsumption/abuse of alcohol, chain smoking, abusive relationships, etc. (cite sources). VII. Conclusion A. Restatement of Thesis: Students who drop out of high school are at a higher risk for both mental and physical health problems throughout their lives.

B. Next Steps: Society needs educational advocates; educators need to be aware of this situation and strive for student retention in order to promote healthy lifestyles and warn students of the risks associated with dropping out of school. Example of Topic Outline Several aspects must be considered in writing a topic outline. 1. Recall that all headings and subheadings must be words or phrases, not sentences. 2. Also, the wording within each division must be parallel. 3. Finally, as in any outline, remember that a division or subdivision cannot be divided into one

part; therefore, if there is an "A" there must be a "B," and if there is a "1" there must be a "2." I. Family Problems A. Custodial: Non-custodial Conflicts B. Extended Family C. Adolescent's Age II. Economic Problems A. Child Support B. Women's Job Training C. Lower Standard of Living D. Possible Relocation 1. Poorer Neighborhood 2. New School III. Peer Problems A. Loss of Friends B. Relationships with Dates...