developing a dynamic thesis. it should be a single assertive sentence that contains the writer’s...
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DEVELOPING A DEVELOPING A DYNAMIC DYNAMIC
THESISTHESIS
• It should be a single assertive sentence It should be a single assertive sentence
that contains the writer’s main that contains the writer’s main idea.idea.
• It suggests and controls the main It suggests and controls the main
organizationorganization of the paper. of the paper.
TEST TEST FOR A THESISFOR A THESIS
• UU - - UUnified (1 main idea)nified (1 main idea)
• RR- - RRestricted (Am I attempting too much?)estricted (Am I attempting too much?)
• PP- - PPrecise (Precise words set limits on recise (Precise words set limits on the topic)the topic)
• SS- - SSignificant (Explore an idea rather than ignificant (Explore an idea rather than state facts; answers the question “What state facts; answers the question “What about it?”)about it?”)
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TOPIC AND A THESISTOPIC AND A THESIS
• Topic is the general subject.Topic is the general subject.
• Thesis answers “What about it?”Thesis answers “What about it?”
• Topic #1Topic #1: war: war
• ThesisThesis: Although war is destructive, its : Although war is destructive, its
devastating physical and emotional challenges devastating physical and emotional challenges
force ordinary men and women to become heroes.force ordinary men and women to become heroes.
TOPIC #2TOPIC #2
• Accomplishment Accomplishment in “The Tortoise and the in “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Three Little Pigs”Hare” and “The Three Little Pigs”
• Thesis: Thesis: In “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the In “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the tortoise wins the race due to his endurance tortoise wins the race due to his endurance and focus; likewise, in “The Three Little and focus; likewise, in “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig builds a lasting house by Pigs,” the third pig builds a lasting house by showing patience and effort.showing patience and effort.
SAMPLE REVISIONSAMPLE REVISION
• In “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the tortoise wins the race In “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the tortoise wins the race
due to his endurance and focus; likewise, in “The Three due to his endurance and focus; likewise, in “The Three
Little Pigs,” the third pig builds a lasting house by Little Pigs,” the third pig builds a lasting house by
showing patience and effort.showing patience and effort.
• ““The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Three Little Pigs” The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Three Little Pigs”
prove that personal accomplishment relies on the virtues prove that personal accomplishment relies on the virtues
of good work ethic.of good work ethic.
• Nothing is as crucial to writing a good essay Nothing is as crucial to writing a good essay
as developing a good as developing a good thesisthesis. It doesn’t . It doesn’t
really matter how good your grammar is, or really matter how good your grammar is, or
how well you can use a metaphor; if your how well you can use a metaphor; if your
reader doesn’t know what you are trying to reader doesn’t know what you are trying to
prove, or doesn’t care, your essay will not prove, or doesn’t care, your essay will not
carry much weight.carry much weight.
• In order to allow your reader to know In order to allow your reader to know
what you are trying to prove, your thesis what you are trying to prove, your thesis
must be must be clearclear. That means you need to . That means you need to
know what you are attempting to argue, know what you are attempting to argue,
and need to say it and need to say it simply and gracefully.simply and gracefully.
• In order to make your reader care about In order to make your reader care about your thesis, you need to make it dynamic your thesis, you need to make it dynamic – the opposite of static. A static thesis is – the opposite of static. A static thesis is descriptive – it simply describes what is in descriptive – it simply describes what is in the book or books. the book or books.
• Here are some samples of potential thesis Here are some samples of potential thesis statements and their effectiveness:statements and their effectiveness:
DESCRIPTIVE THESISDESCRIPTIVE THESIS
• Both novels have a young male Both novels have a young male
protagonist with a smothering protagonist with a smothering
mother and a dead brother, and the mother and a dead brother, and the
protagonist runs away to war.protagonist runs away to war.
• (Level 1 for this 4U assignment)(Level 1 for this 4U assignment)
DYNAMIC THESISDYNAMIC THESIS
• A A dynamic dynamic thesis looks at what is in the thesis looks at what is in the
books and sees a pattern or makes an books and sees a pattern or makes an
observation connecting the two works observation connecting the two works
and explains why it is significant; rather and explains why it is significant; rather
than being descriptive, the dynamic than being descriptive, the dynamic
thesis is analytical.thesis is analytical.
DYNAMIC THESISDYNAMIC THESIS
• Though both novels show a young Though both novels show a young
protagonist reacting to a smothering protagonist reacting to a smothering
mother by running away to war, the first mother by running away to war, the first
novel reveals a character who repeatedly novel reveals a character who repeatedly
runs away and therefore never matures, runs away and therefore never matures,
while the second novel shows a character while the second novel shows a character
who reconciles his past and therefore who reconciles his past and therefore
finds renewed love.finds renewed love.
• Level 3Level 3
DYNAMIC THESISDYNAMIC THESIS
• Both characters suffer personal loss Both characters suffer personal loss
and strained parental relationships; and strained parental relationships;
however, their personal reactions to however, their personal reactions to
their home lives determine the extent their home lives determine the extent
to which they can reconcile their to which they can reconcile their
pasts and achieve personal success.pasts and achieve personal success.
• Level 4Level 4
• Changing a descriptive thesis to an Changing a descriptive thesis to an
analytical thesis is not always easy, and analytical thesis is not always easy, and
involves involves two key stepstwo key steps. Though both . Though both
steps are probably essential, they can be steps are probably essential, they can be
done in any order. Both require serious done in any order. Both require serious
thought.thought.
1.1. Look for cause and effect relationships Look for cause and effect relationships
in the action of the story, and look for in the action of the story, and look for
development of thedevelopment of the characters in the characters in the
storystory. .
“ “A” happens to “B”, so does “C”, and so on. A” happens to “B”, so does “C”, and so on.
The key here is to ask the questions “What The key here is to ask the questions “What
about it?”, “Why?”, and “To what effect?”about it?”, “Why?”, and “To what effect?”
2.2. Look carefully at the ending of theLook carefully at the ending of the
story, to see how it “turns out.”story, to see how it “turns out.”
Virtually all stories have their essence in the last quarter of the Virtually all stories have their essence in the last quarter of the
book, and often in the last few pages. The rest sets up the book, and often in the last few pages. The rest sets up the
part of the book where the author reveals the main point. The part of the book where the author reveals the main point. The
pattern, therefore, has its culmination in the end of the novel. pattern, therefore, has its culmination in the end of the novel.
Start by thinking about the ending, and then move backwards Start by thinking about the ending, and then move backwards
to determine why the story turned out as it did. What lesson to determine why the story turned out as it did. What lesson
do readers learn? Why is it an important lesson?do readers learn? Why is it an important lesson?
Young male protagonist
&
The essay looks like an equation.
Smothering mother
&
4 paragraphs each describing a characteristic of the book or what happens
Dead brother
&
No idea or argument
Arranging paragraphs in different order has little effect
Running away to war
= Essay
Lifeless essay
STATIC, DESCRIPTIVE THESIS
DYNAMIC ANALYTICAL THESISDYNAMIC ANALYTICAL THESIS
• BecauseBecause
• Therefore Therefore
• ThereforeTherefore
• HoweverHowever
• ThereforeTherefore
Dead brother
Smothering mother
Running away to war
Continues to run away
Stops running, faces difficulties
Remains immature Reconciles past, finds love
WHY IS THIS DYNAMIC?WHY IS THIS DYNAMIC?
• It goes into detail about how the events of It goes into detail about how the events of
the story affect the individual characters in the story affect the individual characters in
each novel.each novel.
How Can it be stronger?
• It should connect the actions of the characters with their outcomes and why it is significant.
UMBRELLA DYNAMIC ANALYTICAL THESISUMBRELLA DYNAMIC ANALYTICAL THESIS
• BecauseBecause
• HoweverHowever
• ThereforeTherefore
Dead brother= personal loss
Smothering mother= strained relationship
Continue running vs. Stop running
=
Personal reaction
Remains immature vs. reconciles past
=
Personal success?
+