Transcript Writing Bootcamp - Thesis and Topic Sentences

Writing Boot Camp! Pt. 1
Introductions, Thesis Statements,
AY! This is and
General
with PART 1 of your
TopicCSentences
GOSH DANG Writing Bootcamp.
Today we will learn how to:
Critical Writing...Huh?
• Critical writing might be defined in many
ways, there are three concepts that you need
to understand before you begin to write:
– Critical writing is writing done by scholars for
other scholars.
– Critical writing is devoted to topics and questions
that are of interest to the academic community.
– Critical writing should present the reader with an
informed argument.
But ‘Where do I start?’ you might
ask...
Start with a thesis statement!
The Thesis Statement
• Before Writing a Thesis…
– Q: Who is my audience?
– A: Someone who is familiar with the text or
concept but not with my argument.
– Q: What is my purpose?
– A: To outline and defend my argument using
textual evidence. Finally, my purpose is to state
why my argument is important.
The Thesis Statement
• What is it really?
– Presents your perspective, opinions, or thoughts on a
subject or issue. You cannot write an essay without one.
This is your POSITION in ONE sentence.
– A simple formula to follow: SUBJECT + YOUR UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE = A QUALITY THESIS
• DO NOT:
– List your body paragraphs
– Use “In my opinion” or any variation of the phrase
– State a simple fact
• DO:
– Try to incorporate the title of the book and the author
– Be sure your thesis proposes an argument that connects to
the prompt
Thesis Statements: Good vs. Bad
A good thesis is…

Limited to one main idea

Your take with NO FLIMSY LANGUAGE

Follows the formula of a quality thesis
statement.
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Good examples:
In The Tempest the expression of
memory emphasizes what is missing in
characters and ultimately motivates the
characters to take action to make their
lives more complete.
Shakespeare uses the color black to
illuminate moments in which Macbeth
makes decisions at odds with what his
conscience tells him to do.
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In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest
Hemingway, Santiago’s relationship with
Manolin demonstrates the power of
human connection
A bad thesis is…
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Long and overly complex
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Includes more than one idea
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“In a world where love seems to concrete,
Tim O’Brien is able to outline how intensely
convoluted love can get when you remove
it from everyday life and put it in the
wartime context.”
“In The Things They Carried, the author
describes how fear, love, and
courageousness can be found in the war
setting.”
FLIMSY

“A few characters in The Things They Carried
demonstrate their willingness to endure
physical pain over mental anguish.”

“Various characters in The Things They Carried
demonstrate their willingness to sometimes
endure physical pain over mental anguish.”
I have a thesis!
Where do I go from here?
Organize your evidence!
Get Your Mess in Order
• Even highly compelling evidence won’t
illustrate the validity of your thesis or achieve
your purpose if it isn’t organized properly.
• When moving to the organizing stage, you
should have in front of you the following
material:
– Your evidence
– Your working thesis
– Any brainstorms or notes from class
Get Your Mess in Order
• Look through your evidence and group them
by connecting related items together.
• Remove any quotes that are unrelated to your
thesis. Add new ones that are.
• Label these main topics with roman numerals
(I, II, III, and so on).
• Let the order of numerals indicate the best
sequence.
Get Your Mess in Order: Process Reqs
• To see your evidence more clearly, you can
take a number of approaches. Here are a few
that may work for you:
– Write each piece of relevant evidence on a 3x5
card and stack the cards in piles, grouping related
ideas as you go.
– You may color code each quote that connects to
your supporting topics.
– You may type them into a Google Doc and group
them that way.
Sample Organized Mess
I.
Working thesis: In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest
Hemingway, Santiago’s connection with Manolin
demonstrates the power of human connection.
II. Topic 1: Santiago & Manolin’s past
a) Quote
b) Quote, etc.
III. Topic 2: Santiago’s need for Manolin when he’s on the boat
a) Quote
b) Quote, etc.
IV. Topic 3: Santiago loses the fish – Manolin could have
helped?
V. Topic 4: Santiago’s turn around after Manolin’s return
Topic Sentences
• What are they? They are the thesis
statements of your body paragraphs (1
sentence each paragraph).
• A good topic sentence does a few things:
– Relates to the thesis
– Sets up a claim, assertion, argument, or evaluation
– Contains a main idea about the topic/position that
will be developed in the sentences that follow.
(This main idea will evolve from the supporting
topics you planned in the previous step)
Topic Sentences: Strong vs. Weak
Strong
Weak

Promises what follows (can’t be a
question)

Uses phrases such as “I think” or
“In my opinion”

Is an argument that supports the
thesis—in other words needs to
be proven. Is not a fact.

Is a fact from the text **

Repeats the thesis statement

Leads the reader from the thesis
statement through a logical
progression to the conclusion

Needs to be clear and specific, so
that it can set up the rest of the
paragraph for the reader.
Sample Writing Skeleton
Writing an essay about the issue of “power” in The Old Man and the
Sea

Revised thesis statement: “In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest
Hemingway, Santiago’s relationship with Manolin demonstrates the power
of human connection.”

Topic sentence 1: “After the death of his wife, Santiago’s relationship with
Manolin became the most important one in his life.”
Quote. Quote. Quote.
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Topic sentence 2: “Manolin’s importance to Santiago becomes even more
evident as he battles the marlin.”
Quote. Quote. Quote.
Topic sentence 3: “In addition the battle with the fish, Santiago’s need for
Manolin is apparent as he fights off the sharks.”
Quote. Quote. Quote.
Topic sentence 4: “Finally, we see Santiago’s hope return once Manolin
swears to fish with him again.”
Quote. Quote. Quote.
Sample Writing Skeleton
Writing an essay about the issue of “love” in The Things They Carried

Thesis statement: “In TTTC, Tim O’Brien demonstrates how love becomes
complicated in the context of war.”

Topic sentence 1: “The earliest, and most complicated, example of this is
Jimmy Cross’ love for Martha.”
Why? Example. Analysis. Transition. Example. Analysis.
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Topic sentence 2: “Unrequited love is not the only form of this sentiment
that becomes complicated; brotherly love also becomes skewed.”
How? Example. Analysis. Transition. Example. Analysis.
Topic sentence 3: “Finally, we see how paternal love, even after the war,
feels the effects of combat.”
Where? Example. Analysis. Transition. Example. Analysis.
Conclusion topic sentence: “Tim O’Brien is able to show the reader that it’s
not only the violence that characterizes a war.”
Thesis development. Leave reader with something to take away.
Hot dog! I have a THESIS and
TOPIC Sentences! Now what?
Create your introduction!
Introductions
• An introduction is often the most difficult part of
the essay to write. That’s why you need to know
WHAT you’re writing about, so that you can work
to draw the reader in.
• An intro includes:
– Broad Hook - Works to hook the reader in by creating
a relatable connection (1 Sentence).
– The link between the very broad hook and your
thesis statement. References the components of your
paper which will be further developed within the body
paragraphs (2-3 sentences).
– And finally, your THESIS STATEMENT.
Let’s Put It to Work
• Read the following essay was written in response
to the following prompt.
Siddhartha has many "helpers" or guides throughout his quest for
enlightenment. Choose either one or more of these individuals (including the
river) and discuss how they were relevant to the outcome of Siddhartha's
journey/quest for enlightenment.
• HIGHLIGHT the following:
– The broad hook that draws the reader in.
– The thesis statement
– The topic sentences