1. The Thesis Machine
TPR and Polish

2. What is a THESIS Statement?
A road map for the rest of
the paper
It must be both arguable and
provable.
It is an assertion, a central argument around which the essay revolves.

3. Step 1: TOPIC State the topic under consideration. cats grades
Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

4. Topic
What’s a better pet? Cats or dogs?

5. Step 2: POSITION
State the specific issue in the form of a debating proposition—a “this is what I believe” statement
Cats should be subject to leash laws.
Grades are unnecessary in college.
Twain’s HF is about hypocrisy.

6. Step 2: Position
I believe _____ are better pets

7. Step 3: RATIONALE
Using a “because” clause, convert the resolution into a sentence that states your position on the issue and provides a main rationale for that position. A “this is what I believe and this is why” statement
Cats should be subject to leash laws because they are inveterate wanderers.
Grades are unnecessary in college because students learn more rapidly without them.
Twain’s HF is a book about one person’s ethical stand against the hypocritical practice of antebellum Southern society.

8. Step 3: Rationale
I believe cats are better than dogs because they are more independent and don’t need to be walked.

9. Step 4: POLISH & QUALIFY (WASABI clause)
Refine the rough thesis: Use WASABI and spice it up! Add any qualifications and consider dropping overt use of because.
A complex thought deserves to be written in a complex sentence (dependent clause + independent clause).
W: Whether, While, When
A: Although
S: Since
A: After
B: Because
I: If

10. Step 4: Polish and Qualify
Although dogs are used to protect homes, cats and their independent, hunting nature makes them the better pet.

11. WASABI
Because of the crowded nature of city life, the cat's instinctive wanderlust demands that it be restrained.
While there may be a legitimate need to evaluate the work of college students, the traditional grading system hinders learning and stifles creativity.
Although Huckleberry may not realize it, the Mississippi River serves as a symbol of freedom between the lands of chaos, hypocrisy and destruction in Mark Twain’s HK.

12. Evaluate on a 1-10 scale. Effective or not?
William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” is about a boy who disagrees with his father.
William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” is about a boy who is in the process of self-discovery.
In “Barn Burning” young Starty has to choose between showing loyalty to his father whi is breaking the law and doing what is just in the eyes of the law. The conflict between Sarty’s conscience and his loyalty to his father suggests that society’s laws are more important than remaining loyal to family.