Scribd
Upload
19 views12 pages

Student Copy - Outline and Thesis Statement

Uploaded by

pesquisainterdisciplinarii
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views12 pages

Student Copy - Outline and Thesis Statement

Uploaded by

pesquisainterdisciplinarii
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

Crafting an Outline and

Thesis Statment
June 11, 2015

Presented by: Katie Bussiere & Drew Wildes


UFPR ETAs 2015
Why are Outline and Thesis Statement
important?
● The Outline is the overall plan of what
you want to write. It is where you prioritize
and organize ideas that you brainstormed
and researched.

● The Thesis Statement (or “thesis”) states


the main point or claim of your paper
Outlining
● Main Components: Introduction, Body,
Conclusion
● Literature Reviews and Roadmaps
● Organization can vary: chronological, small to
large, strong to weak, most important to least
important, most obvious to least obvious,
concrete to abstract
● Build outward, not linearly
● Use it to direct your research
Outline Exercise
● The point of this exercise is not finding
specific details. No research is required.
● You should write down only what you would
PLAN to say.
● Note that there are two options. We
encourage you to choose one that will be
challenging for you.
Thesis Statement
● Thesis is the main component that
helps the writer occupy his/her niche
● It must take a stance, choose a side,
and provide a reason for your
argument.
● It is informed by the research and
brainstorming that you have already
done.
Thesis Checklist
Avoid the Following!
● A thesis is not a title:
a. Homes and schools (title) vs. Parents ought to participate more in the education of their
children (good thesis).

● A thesis is not an announcement of the subject


a. My subject is the incompetence of the Supreme Court vs. The Supreme Court made a
mistake when it ruled in favor of George W. Bush in the 2000 election.

● A thesis is not a statement of absolute fact


a. Jane Austen is the author of Pride and Prejudice.

● A thesis is not the whole essay


a. A thesis is your main idea/claim/refutation/problem-solution expressed in a single
sentence or a combination of sentences.
Examples of Thesis
● A good thesis is unified:
○ NOT: Detective stories are not a high form of literature, but people have always been
fascinated by them, and many fine writers have experimented with them
○ BETTER: Detective stories appeal to the basic human desire for thrills (concise).

● A good thesis is specific:


○ NOT: James Joyce’s Ulysses is very good.
○ BETTER: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the
unconscious.

● Try to be as specific as possible (without providing too much detail):


○ NOT: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the
unconscious. vs.
○ BETTER: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the
unconscious by utilizing the findings of Freudian psychology and introducing the
techniques of literary stream-of-consciousness.
Four types of claims
➢ Claims of fact or definition: argue about what the definition of something is or whether
something is a settled fact.
○ What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal,
long-term cycles of climate change.

➢ Claims of cause and effect: argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or
event to occur.
○ The popularity of SUV's in America has caused pollution to increase.

➢ Claims about value: claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not,
how we would rate or categorize something.
○ Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.

➢ Claims about solutions or policies: argue for or against a certain solution or policy
approach to a problem.
○ Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska, we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil
consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources.
Compare the two theses
● There are many homeless people in New
York City that need help.

● Without government-funded social


programs, the homeless people in New
York City would suffer tremendously in
securing food and shelter.
Compare the two theses
● Hebrew was a dead language that was later revived and is
now used today.

● The history of Hebrew tells a fascinating story of the death


and life of a language and gives insight into some conditions
and factors that are favorable for language revival, such as:
strong ties to a people group, preservation in literature, a
dedicated champion, and targeting children as the primary
vehicle for bringing the language back into daily use.
Create a Thesis
● Devise a thesis for each of the following prompts:
○ Many people volunteer their time to help others, either through non-
profit organizations, churches, or other charitable venues. Write an
essay convincing readers to find a charity and volunteer their time.

○ Write an essay convincing readers to break a specific habit that is


harmful to their physical, emotional, or financial health. Examples:
cigarettes, fast food, shopaholic

○ In Brazil, citizens are required to serve in the military for a short


amount of time. Do you support this policy? Why or why not? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Create a Thesis
● Prompts Continued
○ Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi are two important
figures known for their fight against prejudice and injustice. Write an
essay comparing them. (Hint: think about their methods and ideology)

○ Many countries are seeking to utilize renewable sources of energy,


such as wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric. Choose one renewable
resource and write an essay describing why Brazil should pursue this
source of energy.

You might also like