| Resources
- Writing Process
Topic
vs. thesis statement
A topic is general and very broad. For example, you might write a paper
about pollution. You could write this paper for a LONG time unless you
narrow the field.
Ask
yourself questions:
What kind?
What geographical area?
What environmental anomalies?
Who is effected?specific age group?
A
thesis statement focuses on one particular section of
the broad topic and covers it in detail. A thesis statement is more than
a mere statement; it must be defensible.
Step
1: Make a statement
Pollution is a serious issue in urban centres....... |
BECAUSE
|
| Step
2: Outline your defense
a)
it leads to the release of dangerous chemicals into the air, water,
and soil
b)............................................................................................................
c)............................................................................................................
|
Thesis
statement |
Thesis
statement reveals: |
- central
message of the essay
-
should convince and persuade the reader
-
without a thesis, the essay lacks direction and purpose, and wanders
from point to point
|
- purpose
of the paper
-
relevance to the topic
-
indicates of direction of the essay
|
Introductions
Like any good reading material, the introduction should grab
the reader's interest or attention, so he or she will continue reading
your essay.
What does an introduction do?
•
sets the stage 
• establishes the context
• gets to the heart of things quickly
• includes thesis statement
Devices
•
relevant background information
• brief, interesting story/anecdote
• pertinent statistic(s)
• appropriate quotation
• analogy
• definition of term(s)
• identification of situation
What
to avoid in your Introduction:
•
"The purpose of my essay is ?"
• "I am going to write about?"
• cliches or commonplace ideas: "Since the dawn of time,
people have fallen in love."
• apologies: "I am not sure this is right, but this is my
opinion."
• repetition of the topic
The
Body of the Paper
If you remember SAY IT...SUPPORT IT.... EXPLAIN IT, you will have the
three essential components of every paragraph you write. Each paragraph
should have one idea which you introduce, support with material from other
sources, and synthesize. The last element is your defense or explanation
of the importance of the paragraph to your thesis.
Conclusions
•
Brings essay to an end
• Logically follows from thesis statement and discussion
Devices
•
Answers question in introduction
• Summarizes main points
• Calls for awareness, action, resolution from the reader
• Anticipates future possibilities
What
to avoid in your Conclusion:
•
Don’t trail off
• Don’t include new ideas or facts that belong in main body
of essay
• Don’t reword the introduction
• Don’t announce what you have done
• Don’t apologize
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Antigonish, Nova Scotia
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Tel: 902-867-5221
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