English Writing Part 3: Thesis Focus John E. Clayton Nanjing University, Spring, 2005

Please Turn In Your Homework Journal 1 (name/student number/journal 1) Keep your essay for now

Syllabus 03/02 Introduction; Overview; Writing a good paragraph 03/09 Information Form; Essays – structure, thesis 03/16 Thesis Focus; Movie: Johnny LingoJournal 1 03/23 03/30 Movie: DaveJournal 2 04/06 04/13Journal 1 04/20 Mid-term exam 04/27 Business – letters, resumes, SOPJournal 2 05/04 Holiday 05/11 Journal 1 05/18 05/25 Journal 2 06/01 06/08 Final exam

Contacts Downloads: JEC EW2S 1 – Introduction JEC EW2S 1 – Introduction (smaller) JEC EW2S 2 – Essay Structure

American Essay Style Thesis Support Conclusion Support

Handout Hand out: Argumentative Essays for an American Audience

5 Paragraph Essay Structure Body Paragraphs Begin with a topic sentence Explain, define, clarify the topic sentence with facts, examples, descriptions, etc. End with a concluding sentence that draws the paragraph together Conclusion Say the thesis in a different way “Grab” the reader, so he/she will not forget. Might include a prediction, a recommendation or a solution Introduction Motivate and interest the reader State your position - thesis Tell a little more about what to expect

Thesis – What’s the Big Deal? American academic essays are usually "thesis-driven." This means that you, as the writer, must explain the main point of your essay at the start. An academic essay is not a mystery novel - your reader does not want to figure out the plot or search for clues.

Writing Differences The thesis-driven essay may be different from non-American writing forms, in which the thesis is often implied, delayed, or delivered at the end of the essay. Consider the thesis statement a concise version of the entire essay, which usually appears in the introductory section of an essay. A thesis provides the reader with a "road map," clearly laying out the route ahead.

Writing Differences Note that a thesis is an interpretation of a subject, not the subject itself. For Example: The subject of an essay might be Smoking, but the thesis must then offer a way to understand smoking that others might dispute.

Purpose of the Thesis The thesis states: - the goal of the argument - the reasons to support the argument. The essay must clarify or support your thesis.

Example 1 Subject: Smoking Argument: Smoking is harmful, and should be banned Primary goal: to ban smoking in public places. Reasons: it’s dangerous, harmful and annoying. Thesis: “Smoking should be banned from public places, because it is dangerous, bad for health, and very annoying to other people.”

Example 2 Subject: Reading books Argument: Books should remain a key resource for university students. Primary goal: to encourage students to read more printed books. Reasons: inexpensive, relaxing, always available. Thesis: “Even though we are bombarded with information today, we should continue to invest time reading old- fashioned paper books, because they are inexpensive, they can help us relax, and they won’t shut-down at 11:00pm.”

Example 3 Subject: Camping Argument: A university club should be established to focus on outdoor activities, especially camping. Primary goal: encourage the creation of a campus club to promote camping. Reasons: healthy, relaxing, good use of time. Thesis: “Even though some people say the university should be for academics only, the university should establish a club to promote camping, because it is a healthy, relaxing activity that uses time wisely.”

Classroom Exercise 1.Get in a group with one or two others. 2.Find an argumentative topic on the handout. 3.Create a thesis statement as you saw in the examples: 1.Subject 2.Argument 3.Primary goal 4.Reasons 5.Thesis

Johnny Lingo Location A South Pacific Island, early 20 th century Characters Mahannaa young girl Mo KeyMahanna's father Johnny Lingoan famous island trader Mr. Harrisa shop keeper Tulothe shop keeper's helper A husband would bargain for his wife with her father, in cows – trying to pay as little as possible.

Homework Assignment Think about “Johnny Lingo”, and the difference he made in Mahanna’s life, then: Write the introduction paragraph only (including thesis statement) to an essay entitled: “I Can’t Change Someone Else…or Can I?”