1 thesis 2011

Writing ProcessThesis Statement

Formulating a Thesis

Maner (2002)

Purdue Owl

Step 1 determine the specific topic to write

What do you want to write about? (topic) Perspective Discipline

Aspects

Step 2 Determine what kind of paper you are writing

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.

An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

Step 3 determine audience & purpose

Entertain? Inform? Persuade Argue?

Combinations???

Examples of Thesis Statement

Disaster can happen without warning; thus it is better to be prepared.

Fostering friendship need not be expensive; relationship is based on the quality of interaction not on the cost of the activity.

Marriage could withstand differences if couple would take each other as worth loving

In spite of the efforts, terrorism would continue in the Philippines unless the government addresses the separatists’ economic and political demands in Mindanao.

Racism drove the Chinese to establish their own community in the Philippines.

Solving our environmental problems is more difficult than many environmentalists believe.

simple steps: the essay writing process:

Preliminary DraftsDecide on your topic.

Write your thesis statement. Prepare an outline or diagram

Rough Drafts Develop outline into paragraphs.

Write the conclusion. Write the introduction.

Final DraftRevise & Edit

Add the finishing touches.RevisingEditing

The thesis statement

is that sentence or two in your text that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about.

the central idea of an essay

A thesis statement is a sentence that explicitly identifies the main idea, argument, and subparts of the paper.

Example: In spite of the military efforts, terrorism would

continue in the Philippines unless the government addresses the separatists’ economic and political demands in Mindanao.

Create a preliminary outline from your thesis.

PRELIMINARY OUTLINE: In spite of the military efforts, terrorism in Mindanao would continue unless the both economic and political demands of the separatists are addressed.

Government efforts

Separatists’ demands

Philippine terrorism: Definition

History of Philippine terrorism

Economic demands

Political demands

Others related issues:

Abu Sayaf

MILF, MNLF. NPA

Kidnappings

Military Operations

Evaluating an analytical thesis statement

In spite of the efforts, terrorism would continue in the Philippines unless the government addresses the separatists’ economic and political demands in Mindanao.

Is the nature of the topic defined?

(political, economic, technical, social ?)

Are specific sub-problems clearly defined?

Is it possible to have no thesis statement?

Is it possible to have no thesis statement?

the lack of a thesis statement may well be a symptom of an essay beset by a lack of focus.

Criteria for a Good Thesis

Maner (2002)

Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

Your thesis may be revised as you write. Revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Criteria

Narrow: The thesis should define an issue.

Specific: The thesis should use precise language.

Unified : The thesis should be expressed in a single but complete statement.

Original : The thesis should be personal at least to some degree.

Thesis into Outline

In spite the military’s efforts, terrorism will continue in the Philippines unless the government addresses the economic and political demands of our Muslim brothers.

In spite of the military efforts, terrorism in Mindanao would continue unless the both economic and political demands of the separatists are addressed.

1. Government efforts

2. Separatists’ demands

3. Philippine terrorism: Definition

4. History of Philippine terrorism

5. Economic demands

6. Political demands

Others related issues:

Abu Sayaf

MILF, MNLF. NPA

Kidnappings

Military Operations

Writing Activity1

Engage in mind mapping of a given broad topic

Decide on the specific topic and perspective that you want to write

Kind of paper or thesis

Write a tentative or preliminary theses statement

subject for revision

Writing Activity2

1. Define the following: Purpose Audience2. Prepare a tentative outline3. Flesh out the outline- write 3 paragraphs developing

the preliminary subtopics

Step 2 Determine what kind of paper you are writing

An expository (explanatory/persuasive) paper explains or persuades something to the audience.

An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

Example of an analytical thesis statement

An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

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.

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement

The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.

Below is a list of topics which can be developed into a thesis statement. Identify the kind of thesis may be developed in the given topic.

1. describing drug rehabilitation camps, how they work

2. claiming that discipline in rehabilitation camps is ineffective

3. a brief history of a beauty contest

4. a beauty contest is a degrading exploitation of women

5. the different kinds of fast food chains in Manila

7. Filipino multi- media artists are globally competitive

8. claiming that Philippine animation will not be globally competitive

What is the difference?

Nuclear energy is an alternative source of power that may be used to fuel the industry in the Philippines

Nuclear energy should replace electricity to fuel the industry in the Philippines.

A thesis for an Informative Paper

Nuclear energy is an alternative source of power to fuel the industry.

A Thesis for an Analytical Argumentative Paper

Nuclear energy should replace electricity to fuel the industry in the Philippines.