Tesis Statement (Writing)

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Session 4 Title :Thesis StatementBody developmentConcluding Paragraph

During this session we will be looking at the most important sentence in theintroduction, the thesis statement. It states the specific topic and often lists themajor subtopics that will be discussed in the body of the essay. The bodydevelopment as the name suggests, develops the thesis statement in the essay. Thefunction of body paragraphs is to explain, illustrate, discuss or prove the thesisstatement. The concluding paragraph is where writers usually summarise the mainpoints discussed in the body of the essay or rewrite the thesis statement in differentwords before adding their final comments on the subject.

ACTIVITY 1: To read the write up on The Introductory

Paragraph/The Thesis Statement and to identify the

thesis statement for each of the four strategies used in

writing an introductory paragraph.

a)Read The Introductory Paragraphs/Thesis statements (Notes and tasks) in Handout

1A below.

b) In pairs, identify the thesis statement for each of the four strategies used in writingan introductory paragraph.


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THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

The introductory paragraph is generally one paragraph that introduces the topic and presents

the thesis statement to provide the gist of the following body paragraphs. The thesis statement

of the essay is usually found at the end of the introductory paragraph. It is important that the

introductory paragraph be interesting enough to capture the readers attention and interest to

continue reading the essay. Here are four strategies:

Start with a General Statement. Starting with a general statement helps readers

gradually focusing on the thesis statement.

Bookstore shelves today are crammed with dozens of different diet books. The

American public seems willing to try any sort of diet, especially the ones that

promise instant, miraculous results. Authors are more than willing to invent new

fad diets to cash in on this craze. Unfortunately, some of these fad diets are

ineffective or even unsafe. One of the worst fad diets is the Palm Beach plan.

It is impractical, doesnt achieve the results it claims, and is sure route to poor

nutrition.

Start with Questions. Starting with questions probes the readers to start thinking about

possible answers.

What is love? How do we know that we are really in love? When we meet that

special person, how can we tell that our feelings are genuine and not merely

infatuation? And if they are genuine, will these feelings last? Love, as we know,

is difficult to define. But most people agree that true and lasting love involves

far more than mere physical attraction. Love involves mutual respect, the desire

to give rather than take, and the feeling of being wholly at ease.

Start with a Quotation. Starting with a quotation can make your introduction lively. It

can be a popular saying or proverb, a current advertising slogan, or a favourite

expression used by friends or family.

HANDOUT 1A s


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Fish and visitors, wrote Benjamin Franklin, begin to smell after three days.

Last summer, when my sister and her family came to spend their two-week

vacation with us, I became convinced that Franklin was right. After only three

days of my familys visit, I was thoroughly sick of my brother-in-laws corny

jokes, my sisters endless complaints about her boss, and their childrens

constant invasions of our privacy.

Start with an Anecdote. Starting with an anecdote or brief stories makes an essay

interesting and appealing. The anecdote should be brief and related to your thesis.

Early Sunday morning, the young mother dressed her little girl warmly and gave

her a candy bar, a picture book, and a well-worn stuffed rabbit. Together, they

drove downtown to a church. There, the mother told the little girl to wait on the

stone steps until other children began arriving for Sunday school. Then, the

young mother drove off, abandoning her five-year old because she couldnt cope

with being a parent anymore. This incident is one of thousands of cases of child

neglect and abuse that occurs annually. Perhaps, the automatic right to become

a parent should no longer exist. Would - be parents should be forced to apply

parental licences for which they would have to meet three important conditions.

Source: Adapted from Langan, J. (2000) College Writing Skills (5th

Ed. Boston: McGraw- Hill: Reprint

with permission.

The Thesis Statement

In an essay, the thesis statement is the sentence containing the central idea. It is the

most important sentence and it is usually the last sentence in the introductory

paragraph. A thesis statement consists of a topic and a controlling idea that contains

an expression of an attitude, opinion or idea about the topic, for the entire essay.

Here are several guidelines:


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A thesis statement expresses a complete thought, thus a complete sentence. It

should not be written as a question.

Incorrect: My fear of heights.

Correct: My fear of heights has wretched my life.

A thesis statement expresses an opinion, attitude or idea. It is not simply an

announcement.

Incorrect: I want to talk about deforestation in Borneo.

Correct: Deforestation in Borneo disrupts vegetation, animals and human lives.

A thesis statement needs to be explained or proved. It should not simply express a

fact.

Incorrect: Whales are mammals.

Correct: Whales are grouped as mammals because of several vital characteristics.

A thesis statement expresses only one idea towards one topic. The essay lacks

unity and coherence if a thesis statement contains two or more ideas.

Incorrect: Attending university in Melaka can be fun, and I have found that living with

a group of students is the best way to live while at university.

Correct: Attending university in Melaka can be fun.

b) In pairs, identify the thesis statement for each of the four strategies used inwriting an introductory paragraph (Handout 1A)

1. General statement:


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2. Questions:

3. Quotation:

4. Anecdote:

ACTIVITY 2: To write a thesis statement for each group of topic

sentences given.

a)Read the four guidelines on The Thesis Statement in Handout 1A.

b) Teachers write a thesis statement for the five groups of topic sentencesgiven in Handout 2 below.

Write a thesis statement for each group of topic sentences given.

1. Thesis statement: _____________________________________________________

Kim wore good luck charms everywhere she went.

I remember one night, during the Hungry Ghost Festival, she refused to go

out with us.

Kim used to read the horoscopes to plan her daily activity.


First, I tried avoiding the lanes packed with snacks in the supermarket.

Then, I started limiting myself to only a unit of any given snack.

Finally, I began keeping the snacks in a padlocked cupboard.


Under water, I see and hear strange and wonderful things.

I can enhance my scuba diving ability by taking professional courses.

My next adventurous type of diving would be ice diving

HANDOUT 2


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Firstly, I was a heavy cigarette smoker.

I also have a family history of relatives with cancer.

My unhealthy lifestyle was another factor.


Students can learn about other cultures.

Students can benefit in social interactions in the future.

Knowing a foreign language helps to understand ones own language better.

ACTIVITY 3: To read a sample essay on The Hazards of

Moviegoing by Diane Woods and transfer thesis

statement, topic sentences and restate thesis

statement of the sample essay into an essay

outline.

1. Read the essay entitled, The Hazards of Moviegoing by Diane Woods inHandout 3 below.

2. In groups of four, transfer the thesis statement, topic sentences andrestate thesis statement of the sample essay into an essay outline.

(Handout 4 )3. Be prepared to share your responses with the class on poster sheets.


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HANDOUT 3


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Outline for a five-paragraph essay

HANDOUT 4


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ACTIVITY 4: To write a concluding paragraph for each of the

two introductory paragraphs.

1. Read the write up on The Concluding Paragraph in Handout 5 below.

2. Form two groups, A and B.

3. Members of group A will write the concluding paragraph for IntroductoryParagraph 1.

4. Similarly, members of group B will write the concluding paragraph forIntroductory Paragraph 2.

5. The respective group representatives must be prepared to present theirconcluding paragraphs ( on poster sheets ) to the class.


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The Concluding Paragraph

The final paragraph in an essay is the conclusion, which tells the reader that you have

completed an essay. First, you write the summary of the main points discussed in the body of

the essay or rewrite the thesis statement in different words. Then, you add your final comments

on the subject ----- food for thought. Take this opportunity to make a strong, effective message

that the reader will remember.

The concluding paragraph consists of:

1. A summary of the main points, or a restatement of your thesis in different words.

2. Your final comment on the subject based on the information you have provided.

Read the model introductory paragraph below and then study the following concluding

paragraph of the same essay. Is the concluding paragraph a summary of the main points of the

essay or is it a paraphrase of the thesis statement? Is there a final message for the reader.

A Model of a Concluding Paragraph

HANDOUT 5

In short, although the twentieth century has indeed given some of us a lot of

advantages by making us richer, healthier and freer to enjoy our lives, it has, in my opinion,

not made us wiser. The twentieth century has also made our earth dirtier, our people less

humane, and our spiritual lives poorer. We wish to continue to enjoy the benefits of

technological advancement because they free us to pursue our other interests and goals.

However, we must make a concerted effort to preserve our natural environment for future

generations. Moreover, we should take the time now to make our lives more meaningful in

our increasingly impersonal, mechanized world.


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Task : Write concluding paragraphs for the following introductions.

(Tips on writing c

oncluding paragraphs)

STEP 1: Summarise the main points or paraphrase the thesis statement. Be sure to

begin with an expression signaling conclusion.

STEP 2: Add your comments as a final message to the reader.

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Tesis Statement (Writing)