Lesson 2 _ Topic and Thesis Statement PDF

 Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 LEARNING CONTENT FOR M...

 Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 LEARNING CONTENT FOR MODULE 2 Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence PP Motivation Takeaway: When you think of an umbrella, you think of a lot of things it can offer, right? Generally, it covers us from the heat of the sun or from being wet due to rain. Well, the thesis statement works the same in academic papers. You may think of a thesis statement as an umbrella: everything that you carry along in your essay has to fit under this umbrella, and if you try to take on packages that don’t fit, you will either have to get a bigger umbrella or something’s going to get wet. A thesis statement is a critical component of a well planned, well-thought out, and a well-executed essay. Although forming a thesis statement can be a difficult process, it is important because it gives the essay a direction and a focus. Everything in the EA essay must fit under the umbrella. If something does not fit under the umbrella, then it does not belong in the essay or the umbrella must be expanded to include the extra cargo. Have you ever known a person who was not very good at telling stories? You probably had trouble following his train of thought as he jumped around from point to point, either being too brief in places that needed further explanation or providing too many details on a meaningless element. Maybe he told the end of the story first, then moved to the beginning and later added details to the middle. His ideas were probably scattered, and the story did not flow very well. When the story was over, you probably had many questions. Just as a personal anecdote can be a disorganized mess, an essay can fall into the same trap of being out of order and confusing. That is why writers need a thesis statement to provide a specific focus for their essay and to organize what they are about to discuss in the body. Just like a topic sentence summarizes a single paragraph, the thesis statement summarizes an entire essay. It tells the reader the point you want to make in your essay, while the essay itself supports that point. It is like a signpost that signals the essay's destination. You should form your thesis before you begin to organize an essay, but you may find that it needs revision as the essay develops. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 2  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 PP Let’s recall… A hook. Write a strong opening sentence capturing readers’ attention. A topic. Tell readers about the focus of your essay. A thesis. State your opinion on the topic. Do not confuse thesis statements with introductions, as most students asking how to start an essay do! An essay thesis closes your introduction rather than substitutes it. Hook readers first, then introduce your topic, and only then state a thesis. In other words, it’s the heart of your essay. It explains to the reader what your paper will be about. EA ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 3  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 THE THESIS STATEMENT As a writer/reader, the Thesis Statement is the one statement that you need. It provides you direction in gathering information for your paper you are going to write or from the paper that you are going to read. It also determines what ideas should be fleshed in the paper you are going to write or what ideas are to be expected from the paper that you are going to read. With a thesis statement, the focus of the paper is established (Plata, Mirador, Dayag, & Chua, 2002). Thesis statement is best described with the image below: PP EA A Strong Thesis Statement A strong thesis statement contains the following qualities. Remember SPAFAC Specificity. A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic. For example, health care is a broad topic, but a proper thesis statement would focus on a specific area of that topic, such as options for individuals without health care coverage. Precision. A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. If the specific topic is options for individuals without health care coverage, then your precise thesis statement must make an exact claim about it, such as that limited options exist for those who are uninsured by their employers. You must further pinpoint what you are going to discuss regarding these limited effects, such as whom they affect and what the cause is. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 4  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 Ability to be argued. A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. A factual statement often is not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis statement contains a point of view that can be supported with evidence. Forcefulness. A thesis statement that is forceful shows readers that you are, in fact, making an argument. The tone is assertive and takes a stance that others might oppose. Ability to be demonstrated. For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. You can rely on personal observations in order to do this, or you can consult outside sources to demonstrate that what you assert is valid. A worthy argument is backed by examples and details. Confidence. In addition to using force in your thesis statement, you must also use confidence in PP your claim. Phrases such as I feel or I believe actually weaken the readers' sense of your confidence because these phrases imply that you are the only person who feels the way you do. In other words, your stance has insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative stance on the matter persuades your readers to have faith in your argument and open their minds to what you have to say. EXTRA TIP: Ask yourself this question upon reading a statement: “So what?” If your first response upon reading a statement is, “So what?” then there’s a for you, the writer, to EA clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements Each of the following thesis statements meets several of the requirements of SPAFAC 1. The societal and personal struggles of Troy Maxon in the play Fences symbolize the challenge of black males who lived through segregation and integration in the United States. 2. Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet spoils the outcome for the audience and weakens the plot. 3. J. D. Salinger's character in Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, is a confused rebel who voices his disgust with phonies, yet in an effort to protect himself, he acts like a phony on many occasions. 4. Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements, and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown. 5. Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing future drug addicts. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 5  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 6. In today's crumbling job market, a high school diploma is not significant enough education to land a stable, lucrative job. Making Strong Thesis Statements You can find thesis statements in many places, such as in the news; in the opinions of friends or teachers; and even in songs you hear on the radio. Become aware of thesis statements in everyday life by paying attention to people's opinions and their reasons for those opinions. Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays. PP Now that you have read about the contents of a good thesis statement and have seen examples, take a look at the pitfalls to avoid when composing your own thesis: A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay. Weak thesis statement: My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge. A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side. Weak thesis statement: Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books. A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with EA or provides a dead end. Weak thesis statement: Advertising companies use sex to sell their products. A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad. Weak thesis statement: The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging. TIPS ON THESIS STATEMENT REVISION The best way to revise your thesis statement is to ask questions about it and then examine the answers to those questions. By challenging your own ideas and forming definite reasons for those ideas, you grow closer to a more precise point of view, which you can then incorporate into your thesis statement. Ways to Revise Your Thesis You can cut down on irrelevant aspects and revise your thesis by taking the following steps: 1. Pinpoint and replace all nonspecific words, such as people, everything, society, or life, with more precise words in order to reduce any vagueness. Working thesis: Young people have to work hard to succeed in life. Revised thesis: Recent college graduates must have discipline and persistence in order to find and maintain a stable job in which they can use and be appreciated for their talents. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 6  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 The revised thesis makes a more specific statement about success and what it means to work hard. The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. By replacing those general words like people and work hard, the writer can better focus his or her research and gain more direction in his or her writing. 2. Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis. Working thesis: The welfare system is a joke. Revised thesis: The welfare system keeps a socioeconomic class from gaining employment by alluring members of that class with unearned income, instead of programs to improve their education and skill sets. A joke means many things to many people. Readers bring all sorts of backgrounds and PPperspectives to the reading process and would need clarification for a word so vague. This expression may also be too informal for the selected audience. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for joke. The writer should ask himself or herself questions similar to the 5WH questions. (See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for more information on the 5WH questions.) By incorporating the answers to these questions into a thesis statement, the writer more accurately defines his or her stance, which will better guide the writing of the essay. 3. Replace any linking verbs with action verbs. Linking verbs are forms of the verb to be, a verb that simply states that a situation exists. Working thesis: Kansas City schoolteachers are not paid enough. EA Revised thesis: The Kansas City legislature cannot afford to pay its educators, resulting in job cuts and resignations in a district that sorely needs highly qualified and dedicated teachers. The linking verb in this working thesis statement is the word are. Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. Readers might wonder, “Why are they not paid enough?” But this statement does not compel them to ask many more questions. The writer should ask himself or herself questions in order to replace the linking verb with an action verb, thus forming a stronger thesis statement, one that takes a more definitive stance on the issue: Who is not paying the teachers enough? What is considered “enough”? What is the problem? What are the results 4. Omit any general claims that are hard to support. Working thesis: Today’s teenage girls are too sexualized. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 7  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 Revised thesis: Teenage girls who are captivated by the sexual images on MTV are conditioned to believe that a woman’s worth depends on her sensuality, a feeling that harms their self-esteem and behavior. PERHAPS the most common mistake that undermines the strength of a thesis statement in the essay is making a descriptive thesis instead of an argumentative one. Descriptive thesis is a statement that simply names the topic but doesn’t present any claim and major points. Example: Let’s say you write an essay about the relevance of uniforms at schools. A descriptive thesis statement would be: PP “This paper will discuss whether students have to wear school uniforms because this issue has two sides and the arguments on both are compelling.” Your argumentative thesis statement may be as follows: “Though uniforms are told to enhance community spirit and unity, educational institutions should not force students to wear them. This idea is based on the fact that uniforms limit students’ freedom of expression, and this is especially supported by the fact that limiting the freedom of expression is a violation of human rights.” Why the descriptive one doesn’t work? Because it simply duplicates the title of your paper and does not enlighten on the work you are supposed to do as a student. Sometimes, the descriptive thesis is called an expository thesis statement. The next part of this module will explore on the different types of thesis EA statements. TYPES OF THESIS STATEMENT 1. Argumentative Thesis Statement: Making a Claim - it states the topic of your paper, your position on the topic, and the reason you have for taking that position. PopQuiz1: Underline what the topic, position and reasons of the thesis statement below: 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. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 8  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 2. Analytical Thesis Statement: Analyzing an Issue – it states the topic of your paper, what specifically you analyzed and the conclusion (s) you have reached as a result of that analysis. PopQuiz2: Underline what was analyzed, the topic and conclusion of the thesis statement below. 3. PP An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds. Expository Thesis Statement: Explaining a Topic – it states the topic of your paper and lists the key aspects of your topic that will be discussed in the paper. EA ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 9  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 PopQuiz3: Underline the topic and key aspects of the thesis statement that follows: The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers. PP Why do you think so? THE TOPIC SENTENCE EA A topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph: it serves as a mini-thesis for the paragraph. You might think of it as a signpost for your readers—or a headline—something that alerts them to the most important, interpretive points in your essay. When read in sequence, your essay's topic sentences will provide a sketch of the essay's argument. Thus topic sentences help protect your readers from confusion by guiding them through the argument. But topic sentences can also help you to improve your essay by making it easier for you to recognize gaps or weaknesses in your argument. ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 10  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 Placement of Topic Sentences A topic sentence can appear anywhere within a paragraph or can be implied (such as in narrative or descriptive writing). In college-level expository or persuasive writing, placing an explicit topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph (the first or second sentence) makes it easier for readers to follow the essay and for writers to stay on topic, but writers should be aware of variations and maintain the flexibility to adapt to different writing projects. There are three places you may locate the topic sentences: 1. At the beginning of the paragraph 2. At the end of the paragraph 3. In the middle of the paragraph PP How to write a topic sentence? A well-written paragraph contains a topic sentence. A topic sentence controls the main idea discussed in a paragraph. It provides the reader with a summary of the key idea and the point of view the writer is expressing. It is often the first sentence as it acts as an introduction to what follows, making it easier for the reader to follow. For the writer, topic sentences help you to ensure that each paragraph relates directly to the assignment topic. They help you to organize your ideas logically and to check that you have included appropriate and relevant support material. EA ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 11  Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Km. 7, MacArthur Highway Bangkal, Talomo, Davao City S.Y: 2021-2022 Content lifted from: 1. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-esc-wm-englishcomposition1/chapter/placement-of-t opic-sentences/ 2. https://bid4papers.com/blog/thesis-statement/ 3. https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/topic-sentences PP EA ADDU Senior High School | English for Academic and Professional Purposes | pg. 12