ESL 221ESL 221

October 5, 2009October 5, 2009

Research Question -> Research Question -> Thesis Thesis

The following are examples of Thesis The following are examples of Thesis Statements written by members of Statements written by members of this classthis class

Together we will critique these Together we will critique these statements to see how they might be statements to see how they might be improvedimproved

Example 1Example 1 RQRQ : : What is the most important What is the most important

issue facing college students today?issue facing college students today?

TS: An important issue facing college TS: An important issue facing college students today is the transition from students today is the transition from Highschool to College. A lot of Highschool to College. A lot of students struggle in their first year. students struggle in their first year.

Example 2Example 2 RQRQ : : What is the most important What is the most important

issue facing college students today?issue facing college students today?

TS: In recession, college students are TS: In recession, college students are facing the financial problem due to facing the financial problem due to overwhelming applications for lones overwhelming applications for lones and the late confirmation of loans and the late confirmation of loans

Example 3Example 3 RQRQ : : What is the most important issue What is the most important issue

facing college students today?facing college students today?

TS: Being a college student has to how TS: Being a college student has to how to take responsibilities on their own, be to take responsibilities on their own, be obligated to works they take charge, to obligated to works they take charge, to money they own and manage, and to money they own and manage, and to interpersonal relations they maintain.interpersonal relations they maintain.

Example 4Example 4 RQRQ : : What is the most important What is the most important

issue facing college students today?issue facing college students today?

TS: The three most important issues TS: The three most important issues facing college students today are facing college students today are making friends, earning good grades, making friends, earning good grades, and managing stress.and managing stress.

Responding to WritingResponding to Writing

Responses are the first step to Responses are the first step to developing a critical analysis of an developing a critical analysis of an articlearticle

By responding, we employ critical By responding, we employ critical thinking skills to reach a better thinking skills to reach a better understanding of a piece of writingunderstanding of a piece of writing

As a result, we are more able to use As a result, we are more able to use articles as sources in our essaysarticles as sources in our essays

In-Class ReadingIn-Class Reading Read “Responding to Writing” Read “Responding to Writing”

beginning on p. 15 is beginning on p. 15 is SourceworkSourcework Be sure to read the examples of Be sure to read the examples of

student responses on pp. 16 and 17student responses on pp. 16 and 17

Responding to ReadingResponding to Reading A response has two parts:A response has two parts:

An introduction, which includes the An introduction, which includes the author, title and idea you plan to discussauthor, title and idea you plan to discuss

Your response or reaction to the articleYour response or reaction to the article

Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses Personal Experience Personal Experience

Relates one or more ideas in the article to Relates one or more ideas in the article to something you have experiencedsomething you have experienced

ApplicationApplication Relates one or more ideas in the article to Relates one or more ideas in the article to

something you have read about or learnedsomething you have read about or learned Agree/DisagreeAgree/Disagree

Discusses one or more ideas in the article with Discusses one or more ideas in the article with which you strongly agree and/or disagreewhich you strongly agree and/or disagree

Group ActivityGroup Activity We will break the class up into three We will break the class up into three

groupsgroups First, read the article First, read the article Coping with Coping with

ProcrastinationProcrastination beginning on p. 21 beginning on p. 21 Then as a group you will write a one-Then as a group you will write a one-

paragraph response to the article using the paragraph response to the article using the format assigned to your group (Personal format assigned to your group (Personal Experience, Application, or Experience, Application, or Agree/Disagree) Agree/Disagree)

Why Do We Do This?Why Do We Do This?In order to be able to utilize information In order to be able to utilize information

from articles, we must gain a deep, from articles, we must gain a deep, critical understanding of the ideas in the critical understanding of the ideas in the articles. Responding to reading allows us articles. Responding to reading allows us the opportunity to think critically about the opportunity to think critically about writing and to go beyond simply writing and to go beyond simply skimming for main ideas. Doing so gives skimming for main ideas. Doing so gives us a better grasp on the ideas we might us a better grasp on the ideas we might use in our essays.use in our essays.

HomeworkHomework Read the article located at Read the article located at

http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_276185749.html/resources_printstory

Write a 2 paragraph response using Write a 2 paragraph response using any of the formats we discussed in any of the formats we discussed in class todayclass today

Type your response and bring it to Type your response and bring it to class Wednesdayclass Wednesday