your thesis statement: the only sentence worth more than a thousand words {click mouse to continue}

Your Thesis Statement:

The Only Sentence Worth More

Than A Thousand Words

{Click Mouse to Continue}{Click Mouse to Continue}

Your Introduction Paragraph

Attention Grabbing

Brief E

xplanation

of to

pic

ThesisThesis


First, grab you readers attention with a general First, grab you readers attention with a general

statement about your topic .statement about your topic .

End your introduction with a strong statement/claim that tells your End your introduction with a strong statement/claim that tells your reader what you intend to prove to them about your topic.reader what you intend to prove to them about your topic.

Then, give your reader a brief explanation (2-5 sentences) Then, give your reader a brief explanation (2-5 sentences) of what you will be explaining about your topic.of what you will be explaining about your topic.

What to think about…• Define a problem and state your opinion about it • Put forth a possible solution to a problem • Look at an issue/topic from a new, interesting

perspective • Theorize how the world might be different today if

something had or had not happened in the past • Put out your ideas about how something was

influenced to be the way it is or was.

First, let’s look at First, let’s look at

what a Thesis Statement what a Thesis Statement

is NOT!is NOT!

Thesis Statements Are Not

As Hard As You May Think…


Your topic tells your reader what you are talking about. For Example:

I will discuss WWI.

This is not a thesis, This is not a thesis, it is only a it is only a topic.topic.

Your Thesis Statement is NOT Your Thesis Statement is NOT Your Topic!Your Topic!

Your thesis tells your reader your position on your topic. For Example:

WWI was a direct result of the alliance system; had it not been for the alliance in place previous to the start of the war, WWI may have not involved as many countries.

This is a successful This is a successful Thesis StatementThesis Statement{Click Mouse to Continue}{Click Mouse to Continue}

Surprisingly, your thesis should be an arguable OPINION - NOT A FACT!

WHY? …Because that is what makes your paper interesting to your reader!

Your thesis should always be a statement that demands PROOF!

If not, what will you write in the following pages?

The Thesis Statement is NOT The Thesis Statement is NOT JUST A FACT About Your Topic!JUST A FACT About Your Topic!

You spend the rest of your paper CONVINCING your reader of why YOUR OPINION is TRUE!

Your thesis prepares your reader for the facts that will prove your opinion about your topic to be true-it can not be a fact itself.

Your Thesis Your Thesis Should Take A Should Take A

STAND!STAND!


That is a fact, not a strong thesis!

Now, that is

a strong thesis!

Let’s Look At An Let’s Look At An ExampleExample


Since the Native Americans taught the colonial settlers how to cultivate the land using only primitive tools, the early settlers were able to survive the first decade they landed in America.

Native Americans have the ability to live off of the land without any modern technology.

What a Thesis Statement is…

It is the sentence that answers your readers biggest question:


By telling your reader your point in the first paragraph, you set the tone and make sure they are not frustrated and

confused while reading the rest of

your paper.

What a Thesis Statement is…

Now That You Know What A Thesis Statement Is,

Let’s Look At What Makes A Strong Thesis Statement…

It Tells your Reader Your Topic

It Tells the Reader a Fact About Your TopicIt Tells the reader your Point

Which of the following is TRUE about your THESIS STATEMENT?


Requirements For a Strong Thesis:

1.1. It should not It should not be TOO be TOO BROAD!BROAD!

2.2. It should not It should not be TOO be TOO NARROW!NARROW!

3.3. It should not It should not be TOO be TOO VAGUE!VAGUE!

There Are Three (3) There Are Three (3) Requirements For A Requirements For A

Strong Thesis Strong Thesis Statement.Statement.

Let’s look at each Let’s look at each of these of these

requirements a requirements a bit closer…bit closer…


A Strong Thesis Should A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Broad!Not Be Too Broad!

You may find You may find yourselfyourself

drowning in drowning in information, information,

unable to prove unable to prove your point!your point!


A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Broad!Broad!Let’s Look At An ExampleLet’s Look At An Example

That would definitely leave you drowning:

TOO TOO BROAD!BROAD!

The propaganda committee initiated by President Wilson was so effective that by the time President Roosevelt

was in office, he had millions of Americans volunteering during

World War II.

Much Better!Much Better!

That definitely is an opinion

narrow enough to be proven in an

essay!


People liked helping during World War II because of propaganda.

A Strong Thesis Should Not A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Narrow Either!Be Too Narrow Either!


You may find yourself trying to stretch your information and begin repeating yourself too much in the paper!

Let’s Look At An Let’s Look At An ExampleExample

Most girls living in the Midwest, in the town of

Oklahoma City, were married before they were 18 years old,

which caused them to be mothers at a young

age.

Though this may be interesting, it would take some tugging to stretch it

into an entire essay!

At the turn of the 19th century, females were viewed as

adults by the time they were teenagers,

which caused their lifestyle to be vastly

different than the teenagers in the

2000s.

That looks like a thesis That looks like a thesis statement we wouldn’t statement we wouldn’t

have to stretch far!have to stretch far!


A Strong Thesis A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Should Not Be

Vague!Vague!

Your paper Your paper will will

not make not make any any

sensesense


Requirements For a Strong Thesis:

A Strong Thesis Should Not Be A Strong Thesis Should Not Be VagueVagueLet’s Look At An Let’s Look At An

ExampleExample

Getting rid of welfare in the United States is a horrible

idea.

The word HORRIBLE is

hard to define! It makes this

thesis

Too VAGUE!Too VAGUE!

If the United States were to eliminate the welfare

system, it would aggravate an already

severe homeless problem and cause a rise in crime.

To Fix ItTo Fix It

Define the term “horrible idea” for

your reader. Outlining the major points of your essay

would also help.


Where To StartOnce you have gathered Once you have gathered

your information, Ask your information, Ask Yourself a Few Questions:Yourself a Few Questions:

What would my

reader want to know

about my topic?

What is the most important thought

that I have about my

topic?

What will be the point of my paper?

What has my research shown

me about my topic?


Remember Remember the the

structure structure of yourof yourTHESISTHESIS{Click Mouse to Continue}{Click Mouse to Continue}

A Working Thesis

A Working Thesis is Made Up of Two Parts:A Working Thesis is Made Up of Two Parts:

ANDAND

were viewed as new technology that changed how wars were fought, especially since the day the Atomic Bomb was released from a plane over Japan.

Planes

For Example:For Example:


2.2. Is it TOO NARROW?Is it TOO NARROW?

3.3. Is it TOO VAGUE?Is it TOO VAGUE?

Refining Your Working Thesis

To turn your Working Thesis into a To turn your Working Thesis into a Final Thesis Statement, compare it to Final Thesis Statement, compare it to the requirements for a strong thesis the requirements for a strong thesis

statement:statement:1.1. Is it TOO BROAD?Is it TOO BROAD?


IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO REWORD YOUR THESIS, ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU’VE

FOUND MORE INFORMATION!

Review:How Do You Write A Thesis Review:How Do You Write A Thesis Statement?Statement?

1.1. Start off with your TOPIC!Start off with your TOPIC!

2.2. Before trying to decide on a thesis, choose a topic you are Before trying to decide on a thesis, choose a topic you are interested in researching!interested in researching!

3.3. Once you have gathered some information, ask yourself a Once you have gathered some information, ask yourself a few questions:few questions:

• What is the most important thought that I have about What is the most important thought that I have about my topic? my topic?

• What has my research shown me about my topic?What has my research shown me about my topic?

• What would my reader want to know about my topic? What would my reader want to know about my topic?

• What will be the POINT of my paper?What will be the POINT of my paper?

4.4. Use your answers to write a thesis.Use your answers to write a thesis.

5.5. Edit your thesis several times until it meets all the Edit your thesis several times until it meets all the requirements. requirements.

6.6. Is it too broad? Is it too narrow? Is it too vague?Is it too broad? Is it too narrow? Is it too vague?

7.7. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, What is your opinion?!AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, What is your opinion?!


Research 101!!Researching Steps and Tips

Why use note cards and an outline?• It helps you to...

– stay on course and not get off-track when you put your final product together.

– see if you have enough (or too much) material to support your thesis statement.

– figure out the order in which your subtopics will appear in your final product.

• Figure out the most logical flow of information, the best order for the information to be in.

• It is useful to take notes on index cards because it gives you the flexibility to change the order of your notes and group them together easily.

• Start with an introduction and end with a conclusion

How to Create Note Cards1. Write the subtopic heading of the note at the

top Left of each note card.2. Cite author/page number in upper right

hand corner

3. Use 1 fact or detail that supports your main idea on each card.

4. The notes on a single note card should be from the same source and on the same topic.

5. Only write information directly related to your thesis.

6. Your note cards should have main ideas.

7. Distinguish between 'fact' and 'opinion'.

8. Use the word 'over' to indicate information on the back of the card.

9. Write only essential words, abbreviate when possible.

10. Be accurate: double check direct quotes and statistics.

11. Identify direct quotes with quotation marks and the person's name.

12. Use ellipsis points (...) where you leave out non-essential words from a quote.

13. Bracket your own words [ ] when you add them into a quote. This is sometimes needed for the quote to make sense.

14. Produce your final product from your own notes cards and you have a better chance of not plagiarizing your project

15. make sure you can tell which topic the information refers to

16. make sure you can identify the source and the page for each piece of information

Let’s Look at an example... Our topic is Propaganda…

• Thesis: The propaganda committee initiated by President Wilson was so effective that by the time President Roosevelt was in office, he had millions of Americans volunteering during World War II.

Subtopic (left hand corner)

Author and Page Number(right hand corner)

(This is also how your parentheticalDocumentation will look)

McLean 30Posters

Posters were hung in schools

... Effect= young men will join the armed forces

“Had it not been for posters, some of the brightest men

may not have ever joined after they graduated high

school. Then, America may not have been as successful

during WWII.”

One Set OfFacts

SupportingThe

Thesis

Quote fromThe author

How to Write an Outline• Why do it?

– to organize your paper. • What is it?

– phrases that identify the sections of your paper or project. – come from the words you select to label and then group

your own questions.

• How to do it:– Look over the questions you brain stormed– Decide on some words or phrases that are common to

groups of questions.– Turn those words or phrases into specific subtopic

headings.

10 History Writing Tips1. Don’t use contractions in formal writing.

2. Keep Capitalization Consistent.

3. Always use past tense to describe history.

4. Make it clear when using “he” or “she.”

5. Introduce your quotes.

6. Single space and indent when thequote is more than 4 full lines.

7. Use “percent” or “per-cent,” …..not “%,”“twenty,” …..not “20,” “dollar,” not “$.”

8. Use ellipses (…)

9. Use a dictionary!!!

10. Get punctuation right in quote marks.[“Blah blah blah,” not “Blah blah blah”,and “Yada yada yah.” not “Yada yada yah”.].

Quotation Basics• General rules…

• Don’t quote too often or too much• When quoting…

• DON’T FORGET TO SET QUOTATION MARKS!!!• Make sure the statement makes sense• Don’t make it longer than necessary• Don’t take up more than 2 or 3 lines• Identify the source BEFORE you quote

• NO: The strikers were “a dangerous mob.”• YES: According to D.H. Dyson, the plant manager, the

strikers were “a dangerous mob.”• Use ellipses (…) when you leave words out and brackets [ ]

when you add words that were not there before.• According to J.D. Rockefeller, “Selling oil made him

wealthy… [and] had a lot of power in America.”

How to Write Quotations• Short Quotation Example:

• The early settlers were not hostile to the Native Americans. As pointed out

in by the Claxton Banner in 1836: “Our Sioux neighbors, despite their fierce

reputation, are a friendly and peaceable people.”

• Short Quotation Example with Omission (use ellipses):• “As pointed out by the Claxton Banner in 1836: “Our Sioux neighbors… are

friendly and peaceable people.”

• Long Quotation Example:• The early settlers were not hostile to the Native Americans. As pointed out

by the Claxton Banner in 1836:

Our Sioux neighbors, despite their fierce reputation, are a friendly and peaceable people. No livestock have been disturbed,

and the outermost cabins are unmolested. We trust in God that our two peoples may live in harmony in this territory.

How to Use MLA Parenthetical Citation (In-text citation)

• In MLA style, referring to the works of others in your text is done by using what's known as parenthetical citation. Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place the author's name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s).

– Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).

• Your in-text citation will correspond with an entry in your Works Cited page, which, for the Burke citation above, will look something like this:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life,

Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, 1966.

Notice that the last name is written first. Also, it is indented and double spaced.

MLA Citation!(Includes the author and page number)

REMEMBER…• Each source that you use to help you write

your paper needs to be cited a specific way IN YOUR PAPER AND THE WORKS CITED PAGE.

• USE THE WEBSITES TO HELP YOU…– Citationmachine.net– http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/

01/(Make sure you chose MLA formatting)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

How to Write a Conclusion• Summarize the main points of essay

• Examine intro• Did you cover everything you said you’d cover?• Remind the reader of the significance of what they

read• Answer the “Why’s”

• This is where you state your opinion• Be more objective, but this is where you’d

emphasize why you chose this topic

• Don’t end with a quotation.• Respect your own work. End with YOUR thoughts.

How to Create a Works Cited Page• When in doubt…

• Use the Modern Language Association Format for Referencing Sources.

• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/06/

• ALPHABETICAL by author

• “No Author” is alphabetized according to the 1st word of the title • (except for “A”, “An”, “The”)

• Double space each entry and between each item

• Begin each entry @ left margin and indent any additional lines FIVE SPACES– Hanging Indent

http://www.library.georgetown.edu/guides/turabianfoot/turabianfoot.htm

your thesis statement: the only sentence worth more than a thousand words {click mouse to continue}

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