Writing Boot Camp! Pt. 1 Introductions, Thesis Statements, and Topic Sentences AY! This is General C with PART 1 of your GOSH DANG Writing Bootcamp. Today we will learn how to: WRITE A COHERENT THESIS STATEMENT, COMPOSE LOGICAL TOPIC SENTENCES, AND CONSTRUCT A KILLER INTRODUCTION. NOW OPEN UP YOUR NOTEBOOKS AND GRAB A PENCIL YOU LAZY MAGGOTS!

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

Limited to one main idea Your take with NO FLIMSY LANGUAGE Follows the formula of a quality thesis statement. 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. In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago’s relationship with Manolin demonstrates the power of human connection Long and overly complex “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.” Includes more than one idea “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.” A good thesis is…A bad thesis is… Thesis Statements: Good vs. Bad

I have a thesis! Organize your evidence! Where do I go from here?

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 – Power Prompt 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

Sample Organized Mess – Does He Live?Prompt I.Working thesis: In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago’s death with Manolin by his side 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’s death with Manolin by his side

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 Promises what follows (can’t be a question) Is an argument that supports the thesis—in other words needs to be proven. Is not a fact. 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. Uses phrases such as “I think” or “In my opinion” Is a fact from the text ** Repeats the thesis statement StrongWeak

Sample Writing Skeleton 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. 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. Writing an essay about the issue of “power” in The Old Man and the Sea

Sample Writing Skeleton Revised thesis statement: In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago’s death with Manolin by his side 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. Topic sentence 2: “Manolin’s importance to Santiago becomes even more evident as he battles the marlin.” Quote. Quote. Quote. Topic sentence 3: “As Manolin mourns Santiago’s death, the reader understands the importance of their relationship.” Quote. Quote. Quote. Writing an essay about Santiago’s death in The Old Man and the Sea

Sample Writing Skeleton 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. 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. Writing an essay about the issue of “love” in The Things They Carried

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