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Putting the T-E in TIDE

:)

( Topic/Thesis & Ending/Conclusion)

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Introductory Paragraphs

•Whether you're writing a five-paragraph essay, a research report, an entry on Facebook, a contest entry, or a Valentine message to your secret crush, you want to make a good impression.

Your goals in writing the introduction to your essay are similar to your goals for the whole essay. In general, you want to interest the reader and make a convincing argument for your point of view. Specifically though, the introduction has some particular goals. Here are goals for you to seek in writing an introduction to any piece of writing:

1.Grab the reader's attention. (1-2 sentences)2.Provide any necessary background information. (2-3 sentences)3.State your thesis clearly and concisely. (1 sentence)•Establish an appropriate tone and level of formality of the essay

1.Grab the reader's attention. (1-2 sentences)2.Provide any necessary background information. (2-3 sentences)

-Use the background information on Rome that you have from your notes/in the packet

- Give the reader some background info on Rome (what Rome was like right before it started to decline)

3.State your thesis clearly and concisely. (1 sentence)-Your thesis should answer the question “What were the

Primary Reasons for the Fall of Rome?”

4.Establish an appropriate tone and level of formality of the essay

Thesis StatementThesis Statement• The summary sentence that supports your The summary sentence that supports your

opinions and ideasopinions and ideas

• The The LASTLAST sentence in the introduction paragraph sentence in the introduction paragraph

•For Example, it should answer the question- “What For Example, it should answer the question- “What were the Primary Reasons for the Fall of Rome?”were the Primary Reasons for the Fall of Rome?”

Why should your essay contain a Thesis Why should your essay contain a Thesis Statement? Statement?

To put your To put your main ideasmain ideas into one into one summary sentencesummary sentence

To better organize and develop the To better organize and develop the opinion/argument of your essayopinion/argument of your essay

To provide your reader with a To provide your reader with a “guide”“guide” to your argumentto your argument

How to Generate a Thesis StatementHow to Generate a Thesis Statement

The Thesis should answer a single The Thesis should answer a single question that will give the main idea question that will give the main idea of your essay.of your essay.

Question= What were the primary reasons Question= What were the primary reasons for the fall of Rome?for the fall of Rome?

Your first step is to understand the specific Your first step is to understand the specific question.question.

The The answeranswer to the question is the thesis to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.statement for the essay.

ExampleExample

Question: Question: “What are the potential “What are the potential benefits of using computers in an benefits of using computers in an eighth grade class?”eighth grade class?”

Answer/THESIS: Answer/THESIS: “The potential “The potential benefits of using computers in an benefits of using computers in an eighth grade class are …” eighth grade class are …” (3 (3 reasons/ideas)reasons/ideas)

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence from a Weak Onefrom a Weak One

A strong thesis takes some sort of A strong thesis takes some sort of stand. (gives your opinion) stand. (gives your opinion)

A strong thesis expresses A strong thesis expresses a main ideaa main idea and is and is specific.specific.

Strong Thesis StatementStrong Thesis Statement

Question: Question: Should middle school’s Should middle school’s serve soda at lunch?serve soda at lunch?

Answer: Answer: Middle School’s should not Middle School’s should not serve soda at lunch because of soda’s serve soda at lunch because of soda’s high sugar content which contributes high sugar content which contributes to poor nutrition, and bad behavior in to poor nutrition, and bad behavior in class.class.

HINTHINT

Many clear and engaging thesis Many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like statements contain words like “because”, “since”, “so”, “although”, “because”, “since”, “so”, “although”, “unless”, and “however”.“unless”, and “however”.

Forming a ThesisForming a Thesis

Read the question.Read the question. Figure out your opinion.Figure out your opinion. Brainstorm to find 3 reasons to Brainstorm to find 3 reasons to

support your opinion. support your opinion. Form the thesis statement that Form the thesis statement that

answers your question by answers your question by restatingrestating the question.the question.

The The three reasonsthree reasons should also be should also be included in the thesis.included in the thesis.

ExampleExample

Should cell phones be allowed in Should cell phones be allowed in school?school?

On your paper brainstorm 3 reasons On your paper brainstorm 3 reasons why cell phones should or should not why cell phones should or should not be allowed at school.be allowed at school.

Write your thesis statementWrite your thesis statement

Cell phones should be allowed in Cell phones should be allowed in school because REASON 1, REASON 2, school because REASON 1, REASON 2, REASON 3.REASON 3.

PracticePractice

1.1. Should schools keep detentions Should schools keep detentions (LOP) or eliminate them?(LOP) or eliminate them?

2.2. Should teachers in 7Should teachers in 7thth grade give grade give homework?homework?

3.3. Should schools change to year round Should schools change to year round school?school?

The ending of your essay!

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to write, and many writers feel that they have nothing left to say after having written the paper. A writer needs to keep in mind that the conclusion is often what a reader remembers best.

A conclusion should

stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader.

Suggestions

Answer the question "So What?" Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your paper was meaningful and useful.

Synthesize, don't summarize Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They

have read it. Show them how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit together.

Redirect your readers Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a way to

use your paper in the "real" world.