We will begin on time.Meanwhile, enjoy

chatting.

We will begin on time.Meanwhile, enjoy

chatting.

What is a thesis statement?

Thesis Statement = Topic + Point (Main Idea) Your thesis statement is merely your topic

plus whatever point you are making about your topic.

Begin by looking at your prewriting. What do you want to say ABOUT your topic? What do you want your reader to know? What point do you want to make about your topic?

The Thesis

Should be ONE or TWO complete SENTENCES.

It CANNOT be a question. If you find yourself with a question,

answer it. The answer may be your thesis.

The thesis is the glue which binds the essay together. It is the point of the essay. It's what the essay is about, what it intends to prove. The thesis controls or limits the essay.

Have any of you ever used MapQuest? When using MapQuest, what two things

must you have or know?

YOU NEED TO HAVE

Starting Address Ending Address

Get Directions

Think of your thesis statement as using Map Quest

Starting Address Ending Address[Topic] [Point]

Get Directions

Your starting address (topic) may remain the

same, but as you chance your ending address

(your point), your directions change.

Starting Address Ending Address[Topic: Relatives] [Point: Can create

problems]

Starting Address Ending Address[Topic: Relatives] [Point: Will

support you in times of trouble]

DIRECTIONS = OUTLINE

Get Directions

Get Directions

You will get different sets of directions for the following trips:

Trip #1

Starting Address Ending Address[Fort Myers] [New York City]

Trip #2

Starting Address Ending Address[Fort Myers] [San Diego]

Get Directions

Your thesis statement is like using MapQuest or buying airline tickets. You must know where you are starting

from and where you are going. Your topic is where you are starting from.

However, if you do not know where you want to go (your point), you can not get directions or buy tickets.

You’ve been given topics, so all you need is a point.

• A topic is not enough. • What point will you make about your topic? • This is an informative essay, so you

must inform or teach the reader about some aspect of your topic. How do you figure that out?

• This is where prewriting comes in.

How Do You Find Your Point?

Once you've decided on a topic and have done a little research, it's time to begin writing.

(Easier said than done! LOL)It is difficult to write if you have NOTHING to write about! This is where prewriting comes in handy.

What is Prewriting? Why should you use it?

Use prewriting techniques to help you decide on a topic, or if you already know your topic, to generate ideas or formulate your thesis.

There are different methods of prewriting. You should select the one that works best for you.

Prewriting

--is the first step in the writing process --can help you find your point

What are some of the strategies for prewriting?

Methods You Can Use to Find Your Point: Freewriting

• Start by typing or writing down everything you know about your topic. When you run out of things you know, ask questions that you'd like to have answered.

Freewriting Free writing, like brainstorming,

involves writing down anything that pops into your mind. However, free writing is usually in sentence form instead of just words and phrases. When you use this technique, do not worry about grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. Just write!

The problem with free writing is that it lacks organization. Since you are going to have to rewrite, be sure to leave room for changes.

Freewriting (continued)

• When you use free writing, write down whatever comes into your mind. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling or even if your writing makes sense. When you are done, read your free writing, looking for ideas.

• Choose one sentence and research it. Examples:– The U.S. is proposing to build a wall

between Mexico and the U.S. • You could write an essay informing the reader

about that.

– OR: How do you come illegally?• Answering that question could be your essay.

Sample Free Writing

• Illegal immigration means coming to the country illegally. What makes it illegal? How do you come illegally? How do they get here? I heard the government was going to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. I also heard that illegals had built a tunnel. Some people say that it's a war zone down there. Do we have the same problems with Canada? What about our large coast line. I heard people are sneaking in by ship. Some have even landed on Sanibel. That's just down the road from me!

Finding your point: Brainstorming Brainstorming or Listing is an easy technique

that many people use.

To brainstorm, write down anything that pops into your mind about the topic. Don’t use complete sentences, just words and phrases.

When you’re done, read what you have written and put the information into categories.

Finding your point: Clustering, Webbing, Bubbling, Mapping This is a form of brainstorming, but when you cluster,

the topic is sorted for you. There are several formats of clustering. The basic one is to

draw a shape in the center of your paper. Put your topic in this shape.

uses

history

chocolatehealthbenefits

how itis made

Finding Your Point: Questioning

• Brainstorm answers to WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY.

• WHO: People from other countries who come to the U.S. They're coming here illegally. Possibly terrorists, too.

• WHAT: They're coming here illegally. What does that mean? How do you come here legally?

• WHERE: They're coming from Mexico, Central America, S. America, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Arab nations. Maybe other places.

• HOW: How are they getting here? Car? Boat? Plane? Walking?

Questioning

Questioning helps you to find a direction. Ask "Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How" about your topic. The answers will help you to find your point or to prove your point.

Choose one question to answer

• WHEN: It's happening now. How long has it been going on? Have there always been laws restricting immigration? Is it different now than before, or are we just more worried about it now?

• WHY: Why are they coming here? Money? Freedom? Fleeing from oppression? Running drugs? Terrorists?

• Select one of the questions (who, what, when, where, why). – Why: Why are they coming here?– Answering that question could be your

essay.

Let's practice thesis statements. For example, suppose your topic is "relatives"

(family) and you've used prewriting to jot down a number of ideas.

You can now begin developing a working thesis statement.

What would YOU want people to know about YOUR relatives???? Anyone?

Sample thesis statements about relatives. You might say:

Relatives can be a source of support in troubled times.

Relatives can make or break a holiday family reunion.

Relatives can be troublesome and interfering. All of these are possible thesis statements that

could be developed into full essays.

RESEARCHING

• Let's go over how to research how to find a specific article. For example, let's use the article "It's Not What You Say" by Jonathan Hershberg.

• Here are some things you can try:• 1. In the search box, type the article title:

"It's Not What You Say" using quotation marks.

• 2. If that doesn't work, remove the quotation marks.

• 3. If using the article title doesn't work, add the plus sign (+) and the name of the author. For example: "It's Not What You Say" + Hershberg.

Researching (continued)

• 4. If that doesn't work, try the word AND instead of the + sign. For example: "It's Not What You Say" and Hershberg.

• 5. If you still haven't found the article, try a comma instead of AND or +.

• 6. Next try using just the author's last name.

• As you can see, when researching, you'll need to try varying combinations until you find what you are looking for.

Research

• The Kaplan Library is an excellent source of information. – You can learn more about how to use the KU

Library by viewing the Kaplan Library Presentation, located under the Course Home tab.

– Also, in doc sharing there are directions for using the library.

• You will be required to cite your sources using APA Citation. – You will learn more about APA Style in another

seminar.

Writing Tip: than & then• The word THEN is defined as • (1) Next in time, space, or order:

– I watched the late movie and THEN went to bed.

• (2) At that time: – I was still in school THEN.

• (3) In addition; moreover; besides: – It costs $20, and THEN there's the sales

tax to pay. • (4) In that case; accordingly:

– If traffic is heavy, THEN allow extra time. • (5) As a consequence; therefore:

– The case, THEN, is closed.

Than

• The word THAN is used to compare two or more things: – She is taller THAN he is.

• As you can see, THEN has a lot of meanings, but THAN is used only for comparison. If you find you are confused, ask yourself if you are comparing anything. If not, choose THEN.