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What’s a Thesis?The Basics of Essay Writing
Kevin MobergKevin MobergWriting Center and Supplemental Instruction CoordinatorWriting Center and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator
Academic Success CenterAcademic Skills Enhancement Workshop Series
Academic Success Center
Um, what’s an essay?
A brief written work that examines a topic from the author’s own point of view, taking into account the writer’s personal experiences and his/her reflections upon them
Academic Success Center
Um, what’s an essay?
• Assigned in a variety of courses• Assigned for a variety of purposes
– Learn by writing– Write to show what you’ve learned– Persuade– Describe– Explain– Retell– Evaluate
Academic Success Center
Essay writing: the steps in the process
1. Prewriting
2. Writing
3. Rewriting
4. Editing
5. Publishing
planning it writing it revising/improving it polishing/correcting it turning it in
Academic Success Center
Writing Center
• Housed in Academic Success Center on the lower level of Stoxen Library
• Staffed by students trained as peer tutors
• Free and open daily for appointments (drop-in visits possible, too)
Mondays9:00-12:00 &
1:00-4:30Tuesdays9:00-4:30
Wednesdays9:00-4:30Thursdays9:00-4:30Fridays
10:00-3:00
Academic Success Center
Prewriting
1. Brainstorm topics and choose one1. Listing
2. Freewriting
3. Web diagram
2. Prepare outline of ideas
3. Write thesis statement
Academic Success Center
Let’s practice!
Listing
Academic Success Center
Let’s practice!
Freewriting
Academic Success Center
Let’s practice!
Webbing
Academic Success Center
Let’s practice!
Outlining
I.
A.
B.
C.
II.
III.
IV.
Academic Success Center
Um, what’s a thesis statement?
• It is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• It directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
• It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
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Let’s practice!
Thesis statement
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Writing
1. Write the body1. Write the main points
2. Write the subpoints
3. Elaborate on the subpoints
2. Write the introduction
3. Write the conclusion
Academic Success Center
On-line resource
• http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/composition.htm
Academic Success Center
Academic Success Center
Academic Success Center
Academic Success Center
Rewriting
• Allow some time so you may reread your writing with more objectivity.
• Check your essay– Addresses the assignment?– Has good order/organization?– Makes sense?– Flows smoothly?
• Remove what doesn’t work, add ideas to improve it, reorder for stronger impact, etc.
Academic Success Center
Writing Center
Did you
use it?!
Academic Success Center
Editing
• Run spelling checker and grammar checker.
• Have a friend read it with an eye out for errors.
• Look carefully for the kinds of error you have made on past assignments; refer to professor’s comments on previous essays.
Academic Success Center
Publishing
• Turn it in on time!• Consider submitting it for essay contests
or publication in appropriate journals. Ask your professor about these opportunities.
• When you receive it with the professor’s feedback, save it and refer to it—and the comments—the next time you write an essay . . . Always aim to learn from one essay to improve the next one you write!
What’s a Thesis?The Basics of Essay Writing
Academic Success CenterAcademic Skills Enhancement Workshop Series
Writing CenterLower level of Stoxen Library
483-2999