composition writing thesis

The following video offers a writing instructor’s perspective about how fundamental a thesis statement is to organizing an effective persuasive, researched essay. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.).

is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

What is a thesis statement? Many papers written in disciplines other than English are a variation of the argument paper and should be treated in a similar fashion (ex-an analysis essay for literature that defends a particular form of literary criticism for the literary work). Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. Writing Process: Prewriting. Rosen, Leonard J. and Laurence Behrens. Search for: Thesis Statements. Remember to make each statement specific, precise, demonstrable, forceful and confident. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following: Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. You end up revising the working thesis into a final thesis that really captures the argument in your paper: While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government. Crosscutting Issues: III.

Search for: Working Thesis Statements. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say: World hunger has many causes and effects. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis,” a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.

in N.A.D" by Perri Klass, Writing for Success: Illustration/Example, Student Sample: Illustration/Example Essay, "Friending, Ancient or Otherwise" by Alex Wright, "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard, "The Case Against Torture," by Alisa Soloman, How to Write a Summary by Paraphrasing Source Material, Mini-lesson: Subjects and Verbs, Irregular Verbs, Subject Verb Agreement, De Copia - Demonstration of the Variety of Language. assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn.

What this handout is about . Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. How does your idea differ from other views you have read?

Think about what the reader would expect from the essay that follows: you will most likely provide a general, appreciative summary of Twain’s novel. Your thesis statement may change as you write, revise as needed. New York: St. Martin’s, 1995. writing that tells the reader about a particular event(s) that took place. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. Lunsford, Andrea and Robert Connors.

Keep in mind that this is one of many possible interpretations of the Civil War—it is not the one and only right answer to the question. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation. This final thesis presents a way of interpreting evidence that illuminates the significance of the question. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. Thesis Statement Basics.

This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. 2nd ed.

Generally speaking, there are three types of paragraphs: the … In one sentence, how would you describe your findings to someone who asked you about your research?

Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn.

This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find the latest publications on this topic. However, structurally, composition writing is very straightforward and easy to follow. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write: Why is this thesis weak? That’s fine—begin to work on comparing scenes from the book and see what you discover. Determine the type of paper you are trying to write. A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process.

For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on.

The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because yourÂ, instructor may assume you will include one. “This will be easy,” you think. Included in this working thesis is a reason for the war and some idea of how the two sides disagreed over this reason. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?

You write: While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. The reason for this is because writing an argument essay involves incorporating critical thinking and often the use of outside sources.

What do you think is the best answer to your central question?

3rd ed. Click here to download a transcript for this video.

Eventually you will be able to clarify for yourself, and then for the reader, why this contrast matters.

When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement.

The question did not ask you to summarize; it asked you to analyze. At the collegiate level, persuasive writing assignments are quite common.

Of what seems like a thesis statement when it begins to emerge. What’s the point of this contrast?
What does it signify?” Perhaps you are not sure yet, either. From your research so far, what have you concluded? Your professor is probably not interested in your opinion of the novel; instead, she wants you to think about, We consulted these works while writing the original version of this handout.

You will expand on this new information in the body of the essay, but it is important that the reader know where you are heading.

For example, are you suggesting that one idea causes another? Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. directly answers the question asked of you.


As you write the essay, you will probably begin to characterize these differences more precisely, and your working thesis may start to seem too vague. The St. Martin’s Handbook.

Subsumes another? New York: HarperCollins, 1996. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers.

What central question are you trying to answer about your topic? In the creative work plus exegesis model, both components are examined.

You look again at the evidence, and you decide that you are going to argue that the North believed slavery was immoral while the South believed it upheld the Southern way of life. In composition, analysis is a form of expository writing in which the writer separates a subject into its elements or parts. Ask why? According to Dictionary.com, thesis statement is defined as a short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text by means of examples and evidence. The second step to writing an essay or a research paper is to create a thesis statement, or the main idea. Your professor is probably not interested in your opinion of the novel; instead, she wants you to think about whyit’s such a great novel— what do Huck’s adventures tell us about life, about America, about coming of age, about race relations, etc.?

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