GE 117 Composition I

Week 5 – Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Week 5 – Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Let’s Review from Week 4 First!

- Revision, Editing, and Proofreading

Week 4 Review

Revision:

Adding to, Subtracting from, or Reshaping a Rough Draft so it meets your planned objectives more clearly and precisely.

Week 4 Review

Revision

- Have I met my planned objectives?

- Are all main ideas expressed clearly?

- Is my tone and diction appropriate for my audience?

- Is there a clear thesis statement supported by specific examples?

Week 4 Review

Editing:

The repair of grammatically incorrect sentences so that ideas may be expressed more clearly and succinctly. Editing focuses on sentence structure and syntax.

Week 4 Review

Editing

Common mistakes that require editing:

- Subject/Verb disagreement

- Improper verb tenses or tense switches

- Run on Sentences (Comma splices)

- Incomplete sentences (Fragments)

- Pronoun/Antecedent disagreement

Week 4 Review

Proofreading:

The correction of “surface errors,” including spelling mistakes, missing or incorrect punctuation, and misused or mistaken words

Week 4 Review

Proofreading

- Use Spell and Grammar Checks

- Watch out for homonyms such as “Their”, “They’re” and “There”

- Work off of typed, double spaced text to make errors and corrections visible

- Know thyself and allocate time needed

Week 5 – Thesis Statements and Using EvidenceLike, what’s happening today, man?

Week 5 Objectives

1) Identify the elements of a Thesis Statement.

2) Describe the Function of a Thesis Statement in an essay.

3) Describe the characteristics of effective evidence to support a Thesis.

Week 5 – Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Q: What is a Thesis Statement?

A: A Thesis Statement is a singular sentence, usually found in the first paragraph of an essay, that clarifies the subject matter of the essay as well as the author’s thoughts, feelings, or opinions towards that subject.

Thesis=topic+stance

Week 5: Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements Have 2 Parts

Part 1: A topic that is specific enough to appropriate for the scope or size of the paper. A vague or general topic CANNOT be included in a Thesis Statement because it’s more suited for a book or a series of books. Essays need specific, narrow topics.

Week5 – Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements

Part 2: An indication of the author’s attitudes, beliefs, or opinions regarding the Specific Topic. A Thesis Statement must be debatable or arguable. A reasonable reader should be able to disagree with a Thesis Statement or it’s not a Thesis Statement.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements

Avoid these common mistakes in writing a Thesis Statement (See Pages 41-42 in Longman Writer):

1) Writing a Factual Statement

2) Writing an Announcement

3) Writing a Vague or General Statement

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements

Mistake 1: Writing a Factual Statement

- A Thesis Statement is arguable and invites “discussion” between writer and reader. A Factual Statement just “is” and offers nowhere to progress to. A Fact supports a Thesis, not replaces it.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis StatementsMistake 2: Writing an Announcement - Avoid referring to the fact that you are writing

a paper. “My paper will be about…” or “I will discuss…” indicate the Topic but don’t reveal any Attitudes, Beliefs, or Opinions.

It’s needlessly self-referential and overly wordy!!!!!!!!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis StatementsMistake 3: Writing a General Statement - Thesis Statements have Specific and

Narrow Topics. An overly vague, general statement may reveal Attitudes, Beliefs, or Opinions, but it has a Topic that is too broad for the scope of an essay.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements

Thesis Statement Placement

- Usually contained in the First Paragraph of an essay (usually first/last sentence)

- Serves as a road map for the reader so they know what to expect as they read further.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Thesis Statements

NOW LET’S PRACTICE!!!!!

In-Class Activity: Longman Writer Page 43, Activity 1. Identify which are Thesis Statements and which are not!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Since a Thesis Statement is essentially arguable, a writer must provide various types of support in an attempt to justify or “prove” his/her Thesis to the reader.

These various forms of support are called Evidence.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Different Types of Evidence:

- Examples - Reasons

- Facts - Details

- Numbers - Statistics

- Anecdotes - Experiences

- Quotations - Expert Opinion

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

The role of Evidence in writing is much like it’s role in a courtroom. It’s function is to persuade the reader (or juror) into adopting a certain set of beliefs. Without Evidence, a reader has no reason to believe or accept a writer’s thoughts.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence answers these kinds of Q’s:

- How do I know that to be true?

- Why should I believe that?

- Say’s who?

- What proof do you have?

- Does anyone else agree with you?

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Good Evidence has common characteristics:

- Relevant and Unified - Specific

- Adequate - Dramatic

- Accurate - Representative

- Researched Evidence is Documented

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Relevant and Unified:

- Relevant means it pertains to the subject matter. Unified means that the evidence supports the thesis in the same manner. Evidence should not contradict or undermine another form of Evidence. Readers will know if you’re trying to fake something. Don’t be fakie.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Specific:

- Specific Evidence creates “word pictures” that are clear to the reader and allow him/her to make sense of what you’re saying. It allows you to predict the reader’s response. Vague evidence is unpredictable in terms of a reader’s responses – you won’t know!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Adequate:

Adequacy refers to the amount of evidence supplied. Readers (and jurors!) need more than just 1 form of evidence. What if they don’t accept it? Do you have other forms of evidence as a “back-up” plan? Never rely on just one piece of evidence. It could backfire!!! Ladies and gentlemen…my client is….innocent I tell you…innocent!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Dramatic:

- Writers (like lawyers) should strive to Dramatize reality by emphasizing particular details that have significance or support the Thesis effectively. Boring evidence = boring writing. But don’t Distort reality in an attempt to Dramatize it! Think John Stockton. He knew how to draw those foul calls.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Accurate:

While Evidence should be Dramatic, avoid the temptation to fabricate, distort, or lie! Where do liars go? That’s right.

False evidence may “seem” to support your Thesis, but it doesn’t and it costs a writer his or her Integrity and Credibility!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Evidence is Representative:

Evidence should be typical, usual, or repeatable in the mind of the reader. Exceptions to the rule or unlikely scenarios may be true in a singular case, but one cannot expect them to hold true in the majority of cases. Neither will readers!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Using Evidence

Researched Evidence is Documented:

- Researched Evidence is documented so you can avoid plagiarism, demonstrate that you have researched the subject matter, and invite skeptical readers to check your sources and retrace your research steps.

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

NOW LET’S PRACTICE!!!!

In-Class Activity: Longman Writer Page 52, Activity 2. Generate 3-4 pieces of evidence for each sample Thesis Statement!

Week 5- Thesis Statements and Using Evidence

Week 5 Homework Assignment - Childhood Revision—see my comments. Revise for unity,

organization, and coherence. Submit new revision and original draft. Don’t forget to mention your organizational method. Think about the shape of your paragraph. Does it feel complete? Does it feel somewhat self-contained?

- Write an Intro Paragraph w/ Thesis Statement. See hand out pp 35-36

- Write 3 body paragraphs, each on a different type of evidence supporting the Thesis.

- Write a Conclusion Paragraph that summarizes your main points.