* Identify the purpose(s) of a thesis statement.
* List the characteristics of a good thesis statement.
* Predict the content of a paper based on the thesis statement.
* Revise parallel structure in thesis statements.
I. Review
Last class we discussed PREWRITING and two important activities done during this stage of the Writing Process: Brainstorming (to generate ideas) and Outlining (to organize those ideas into an specific order). Let's review some of the concepts learned about OUTLINING by browsing on two useful links posted on our class website. Please, log on our website and click on University of Purdue Writing Lab. Write Developing outlines in the search bar. Take a few minutes to go over the material.
II. THE PARTS OF AN ESSAY:
INTRODUCTION
BODY
CONCLUSION
BODY
CONCLUSION
Let's focus on the INTRODUCTION
Effective introductions contain certain elements: a presentation of the topic, from general to specific, a hook (to spark the reader's attention), a clear thesis statement.
III. THE THESIS STATEMENT
It is the most important sentence in the essay. Every type of academic writing contains a thesis statement. It is usually located at the end of the introduction or somewhere at the beginning of the essay.
Purpose(s): a. It tells the reader what the essay is going to be about (what is the purpose or goal of the paper.)
b. It allows the reader to preview the contents of the essay, the parts or sections in which the topic will be discussed.
IV. GRAMMAR FOCUS: PARALLELISM
See definition in Purdue Writing Lab.
Practice
HOMEWORK
1. Take a look at the thesis statement you wrote for your diagnostic test. Revise it as necessary.
2. Textbooks can often be thought of as giant research papers. They have many of the same parts as a research paper, including an introduction. Choose one of your textbooks, choose one chapter, and read the introduction. Answer the following questions based on the introduction you read: (Open a folder in your ESL 115 file and name it HOMEWORK. Upload your answers there. Once you upload it, do not open it again.)
1. What is the purpose of the chapter?
2. How will the topics be organized in the chapter?
3. By combining #1 and #2 write a thesis statement for the chapter.
4. After reading the introduction, are you interested in reading the rest of the chapter? What
does the author do to capture your interest? OR What does the author do that bores you?
5. What information does the author put in the introduction? Why?
Sources:
Rosado, C. (2011). Thesis Statements. TA Resource Website. http://esl115ta.blogspot.com/2012/01/thesis-statements.html
Effective introductions contain certain elements: a presentation of the topic, from general to specific, a hook (to spark the reader's attention), a clear thesis statement.
III. THE THESIS STATEMENT
It is the most important sentence in the essay. Every type of academic writing contains a thesis statement. It is usually located at the end of the introduction or somewhere at the beginning of the essay.
Purpose(s): a. It tells the reader what the essay is going to be about (what is the purpose or goal of the paper.)
b. It allows the reader to preview the contents of the essay, the parts or sections in which the topic will be discussed.
IV. GRAMMAR FOCUS: PARALLELISM
See definition in Purdue Writing Lab.
Practice
HOMEWORK
1. Take a look at the thesis statement you wrote for your diagnostic test. Revise it as necessary.
2. Textbooks can often be thought of as giant research papers. They have many of the same parts as a research paper, including an introduction. Choose one of your textbooks, choose one chapter, and read the introduction. Answer the following questions based on the introduction you read: (Open a folder in your ESL 115 file and name it HOMEWORK. Upload your answers there. Once you upload it, do not open it again.)
1. What is the purpose of the chapter?
2. How will the topics be organized in the chapter?
3. By combining #1 and #2 write a thesis statement for the chapter.
4. After reading the introduction, are you interested in reading the rest of the chapter? What
does the author do to capture your interest? OR What does the author do that bores you?
5. What information does the author put in the introduction? Why?
Sources:
Rosado, C. (2011). Thesis Statements. TA Resource Website. http://esl115ta.blogspot.com/2012/01/thesis-statements.html
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