THESIS DRIVEN ESSAY OR PAPER
Barbara Paynter
STATEMENT PLUS 2-4 ARGUMENTS
Expressed in 1 to 2 sentences and found in the 1st paragraph.
STEP #1 –
This is your thesis.
It will provide the skeleton for your essay or paper. All
that is contained in the thesis must be presented in the paper or essay, and all
that is presented in the paper or essay must be in
the thesis. You can’t put flesh on a
skeleton where there are no bones.
The paper or essay supports your thesis.
If it is done well it proves your statement.
Remember that your statement must be
something that can be argued. If all know your statement is true, then it is not a good basis for a paper or essay of this
type. This is a model for a thesis driven paper or
essay.
STATEMENT(Your declaration)
FIRSTARGUMENT
(usually your 2nd
strongest)
SECONDARGUMENT
(usually your weakest)
THIRDARGUMENT
(usually your
strongest)
STEP #2
Take your 2ND STRONGEST ARGUMENT
and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.
This can range from one paragraph to several
pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and
secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes,
Pink Monkey, etc.
These sites are useful and can help you form your
thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc
(all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
FIRSTARGUMENT
(usually your 2nd strongest)
FIRST PROOF
(usually your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND PROOF
(usually your
weakest)
THIRD PROOF
(usually your
strongest)
STEP #3
Take your WEAKEST ARGUMENT and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.
This can range from one paragraph to several
pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and
secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes,
Pink Monkey, etc.
These sites are useful and can help you form your
thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc
(all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
SECOND ARGUMENT (usually your weakest)
FIRST PROOF
(usually your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND PROOF
(usually your
weakest)
THIRD PROOF
(usually your
strongest)
STEP #4
Take your STRONGEST ARGUMENT and PROVIDE PROOFS for that argument.
This can range from one paragraph to several
pages. The proofs are the in-text (primary) and
secondary (others talking about the text or subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author or at least comes from a credible organization or educational institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as SparksNotes, enotes,
Pink Monkey, etc.
These sites are useful and can help you form your
thesis, but they are NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia, Ask.com, etc
(all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
THIRD ARGUMENT (usually your strongest)
FIRST PROOF
(usually your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND PROOF
(usually your
weakest)
THIRD PROOF
(usually your
strongest)
STEP #5
STATEMENT PLUS 2-4
ARGUMENTS ARE
EXPRESSED AGAIN AT THE
END.
You have told them what you were going
to tell them (Step #1), you told them (Step #2- Step #4) and now you are
telling them what you told them (Step #5).
You also may want to leave them with something. The Ta-da. Make it a statement that will make the reader
think about what you have said.
STATEMENT(Your declaration)
FIRSTARGUMENT
(usually your 2nd
strongest)
SECONDARGUMENT
(usually your weakest)
THIRDARGUMENT
(usually your
strongest)
TA-DA(a little something to think about)
During the FIRST QUARTER in this class you
will receive INFORMATION,TOOLS,
AND PRACTICE IN ALL THE SKILLS you will need to
construct a QUALITY LITERARY ANALYSIS
RESEARCH PAPER at the end of the course.
Some of you are already familiar with this type of paper and are experts at how to cite a paper using
MLA.
OTHERS…NOT SO MUCH.
We will all work through the process together. I ask
patience from those who “KNOW ALL THERE IS TO
KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS” and the
undivided attention of those who are yet to learn
the ropes.
TOGETHER – WE CAN DO IT!!
The FINAL PAPER in this class will be a LITERARY
ANALYSIS RESEARCH PAPER, dependent on a
student constructed defensible thesis about literature (novels, plays, short stories, or poetry).
It is highly suggested that you begin thinking about
the literature you are already familiar with, and pay close attention to the
literature we will be covering during the first
quarter. START NOW EXPLORING THE FORMATION OF YOUR THESIS, SO THAT
YOU WILL BE READY LATER.
You may want to pick works for your QRA
READING that would help in this pursuit.
REMEMBER THAT AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES ARE EASIER TO FIND FOR
CLASSIC LITERATURE. Professors are not
analyzing contemporary works.
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