Thesis Writing Day 2

Warm-up Imagine you’re writing two different papers, each about a topic or subject that you are really passionate about. Write two (2) thesis statements those papers would be based on. Example: I am passionate about education funding, so my paper might use this as its thesis: “Public education funding should be increased in the state of Arizona by at least 15%.”

Supporting Arguments 3-step process: Claim (thesis) → Reasons → Evidence “Reasons” are sometimes called “supporting arguments” Without reasons, a claim is nothing more than an opinion Most thesis statements will typically have 2-4 supporting arguments (reasons)

Example Consider the following claim: “The school cafeteria does its job well.” To make this claim stronger, include supporting arguments (reasons): The cafeteria effectively feeds all students The cafeteria serves a variety of different options The cafeteria has never failed a health inspection

Review What is another word for claim? Thesis = claim What is another word for supporting argument? Supporting argument = reason

Thesis - Supporting Argument “Alignment”

“Alignment” Supporting arguments must be aligned to the thesis Example: Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Aligned: supporting arguments must logically connect to the thesis and STRENGTHEN the claim being made

Supporting arguments: Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Supporting arguments: Batters sometimes intentionally lean in to fastballs so they will be hit by a pitch and consequently be awarded first base. Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. Supporting arguments for thesis. Read them to yourself and think, which one is aligned and which one is not?

Supporting arguments: Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Supporting arguments: Batters sometimes intentionally lean in to fastballs so they will be hit by a pitch and consequently be awarded first base. Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. ALIGNED 1 is aligned, 2 is not aligned. To answer WHY let’s go back to the thesis. NOT ALIGNED

Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Using this thesis, boil it down to its most basic component.

Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. “The win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves” is the essence of their argument. Now that we’ve identified that, let’s go back to the supporting argument.

Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is even more extreme in baseball because baseball players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. Based on the part we highlighted in purple (the essence of the thesis/argument), why is that supporting argument not aligned? Think about it for 30 seconds. Talk about it with your table partner for 60 seconds. Ask for answers. Answer: The thesis is saying that baseball is UNIQUELY extreme because of the injuries players risk to themselves. Is using steroids unique to baseball? No, players in many different sports take health risks by using steroids. This weakens the argument because it proves that NO, baseball is not UNIQUELY extreme. How could the thesis be rewritten to align with the supporting argument regarding steroids?

Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. Thesis: While cheating has become epidemic in most sports, the win-at-all-costs mentality is so extreme across most sports that players often risk injury to themselves--not just opposing players--so they or their teams can have an advantage. Baseball players also take health risks when they use steroids. Here’s one way the thesis could be rewritten. Does the supporting argument align to the thesis now? Yes.

Essay/DBQ Format

Writing Format Title (Topic) Paragraph 1: Intro with thesis, list of supporting arguments, and context Paragraph 2: Supporting argument 1 with evidence Paragraph 3: Supporting argument 2 with evidence Paragraph 4: Supporting argument 3 with evidence Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Body Paragraph 1 – Topic sentence (first sentence that introduces the topic of the paragraph) = 1st supporting argument Evidence proving the supporting argument makes up the rest of the paragraph Paragraph 2 – Topic sentence = 2nd supporting argument Evidence Paragraph 3 – Topic sentence = 3rd supporting argument Topic sentence = first sentence that introduces the topic of the paragraph. Should be your supporting argument. What is the rest of the paragraph going to be? Evidence to prove the supporting argument. Repeat.

Intro Paragraph Broad Context Historical Context Thesis Like a funnel. Broad context: time period, region, topic—when? Where? What? Historical context: elaborate and explain immediate historical setting Thesis: Specifically address all parts of the prompt and provide three main points (reasons/supporting arguments)

Concluding Paragraph Extend Thesis Highlight Main Points Pyramid. Thesis: Restate/rephrase your thesis Highlight: What was the significance of the main points in your essay? Extend: Wrap it up nice and neat—potentially link it to another historical period or modern day; DO NOT ADD NEW INFORMATION IN CONCLUSION

Thesis Writing Exercise 3 Write two (2) arguable thesis statements, each with at least three (3) supporting arguments. They do not need to be complicated. The important thing is that your thesis and supporting arguments logically align. Example: Thesis: Random drug testing should not be allowed in high schools. Supporting Arguments: It is a violation of privacy It wastes taxpayer money because most students know (or can figure out) how to “cheat” the tests It instills unnecessary fear and anxiety in students and consequently affects their academic performance in a negative way

Thesis Writing Exercise 4 Listed with the two (2) thesis statements below are possible supporting arguments. However, one (1) does not align logically with the thesis. Circle each supporting argument that does not align. The media should as hard on non players as they are on players when it comes to cheating in baseball Gamblers do a lot of damage to the sport. Fans steal signs from opposing teams and relay them to players and coaches. Non-starting players also steal signals. Groundskeepers have been known to “fix” fields for a home-team advantage. Kansas is a great place to live. The state has great roads and traffic is seldom congested. Kansas City offers many fun attractions, especially east of State Line Road. It has many community colleges that enhance local economies. Kansans have a rich history of looking out for one another. Next… Revise the thesis statements above so they “cover” all four (4) supporting arguments.