What is your Main Idea (Thesis Statement)?

A thesis statement is the main idea of your paper. Developing a working thesis should be among your first priorities. "Working" is the operative word here; your thesis may change through the writing and research process, but it is imperative to start with a definite plan in mind.

Ask questions Mulling over a topical checklist can help you circumvent writer's block; it can also help you discover a number of possibilities for developing a thesis. While thinking through these questions, consider whether you want to inform or persuade your readers.

1.
Exactly what is my subject? Can my paper inform or persuade my audience on this point? Should I emphasize the positive or the negative aspects of my subject?
2.
Can my subject be divided up into parts? Is one aspect more important or more relevant to my audience than others? What point should I stress in my thesis? How should I organize the paper to achieve this emphasis?
3.
What does my subject remind me of? Is my subject—whether a person, a thing, or an event—similar to another subject that may be familiar to my readers? Are there any unexpected and enlightening similarities? Is the comparison favorable or unfavorable? Does this comparison make my subject easier to understand? How can I use these comparisons to clarify my point for my reader?
4.
If my subject is an event or object, what caused or created it? Would understanding the cause or a precedent make it easier for my audience to understand my subject?
5.
What effects has my subject had or is it likely to have? Are the effects important or unexpected?

Developing a working thesis Once you’ve chosen a topic, you need to decide what you’re going to say about it. Remember the working thesis should have two parts: the topic itself and your comment on the topic. You can make the thesis more explicit later, but for now, get the basics down. For example: “The use of public school vouchers by the states should not only be allowed but encouraged by the federal government.” Note that the chosen topic is at the first of the sentence, and what the writer wants to say about it is at the end. This working thesis is enough to get you started. You can begin researching and reading about the topic, gaining information to support the above claim.

An explicit thesis statement When your research is underway, you can make the thesis statement more explicit by articulating the lines of argument, analysis, or explanation, depending upon what you need for the type of paper you
are writing. You can complicate the language and make the thesis more interesting later. For now, using the following template may help you get started on your writing project.

In this essay, I plan to (argue, defend, explain, demonstrate, analyze) that ____________________ because (1)_______________, (2)_________, and (3)_______________.

When this formula is applied to the sample working thesis stated earlier, it becomes:
In this essay, I plan to argue that the use of public school vouchers should be encouraged by the federal government because public schools will be forced to improve if they have to compete for students, because students should be able to have access to the best education possible, no matter where they live, and because the future of our country depends on quality education for everyone.

Refining the thesis statement After working on the paper and building an introduction, the thesis can always be reworded, or refined.

While the use of school vouchers is currently up to the discretion of the states with no interaction or interference from the federal government, the country would be best served if the government would not only recommend but encourage the use of vouchers.

Notice that the lines of argument are not articulated in this version of the thesis statement. If you’ve created an outline or developed an explicit thesis and are sure where you’re going with the rest of the paper, this is an acceptable way to approach the assignment. The obvious danger in this method is the temptation to wander or stray off topic.

One way to curb that tendency is to go ahead and fully detail your plan for the paper in the thesis statement. You may prefer this method even if you don’t tend to wander off track! Consider this version of our sample thesis:

While the use of school vouchers is currently up to the discretion of the states with no interaction or interference from the federal government, the country would be best served if the government would encourage the use of vouchers; if more people used vouchers, public schools would be forced to improve because they would be competing for students, students would have access to quality education, no matter where they lived, and the future of our country depends on a quality education for all its citizens.

You’re probably thinking, “But that’s too long!” It is a long sentence, but it’s a grammatically correct sentence. And really, a thesis doesn’t have to be just one sentence. A period could easily replace the semi-colon after “vouchers” and before “if more people.” Sometimes for longer papers, a thesis paragraph is perfectly appropriate.

The bottom line is, keep your options open—develop a working thesis and then an explicit thesis to guide you, but allow yourself the freedom to write the type of thesis that’s right for your writing assignment. Think of the thesis statement as an umbrella shielding your whole paper. If a portion of your paper falls outside the umbrella, either cut it out or extend the breadth of your umbrella.

I'm Here to Help You Help Your Children

Dear Parents:
As the Writing Coach, I offer a full complement of writing and reading coaching for children from 9 to 18 years old. Getting the right tutoring early on can make a huge difference in academic achievement in middle and high school, and in college, too. Good communication skills are essential at any grade level.

Besides being a professional writer for most of my life, I am a college writing professor. I have also conducted many seminars and workshops for parents and children to help improve children's academic outcomes through improved communication skills. In addition, I have been privately tutoring children and young adults for many years in our area.

I can offer your children various types of help with their writing, from conception to final draft, and guidance with grammar, syntax, diction, and spelling. Clear writing springs from clear thinking and thoughtful planning. Most students do not take the time to make sure their ideas are both clear and clearly expressed. Writing should be an adventure. Unfortunately, for many children it's a chore--something about which they feel inadequate. Some write without a clear destination or goal in mind (their writing is muddled), while others are so apprehensive about making "mistakes" that they are terrified to put their ideas down on paper. I can help them become more disciplined with their ideas and their writing--and still have fun doing it!

To get a better sense of your children's needs, I would be happy to speak with you in person. Specifically, I would like to know what writing issues you think your children are dealing with so I can craft a program that addresses their personal needs. You can contact me at adecrosta@gmail.com or phone me at 856-316-2541 when you have a chance. We can chat for a few minutes and decide on the best path forward.

I look forward to speaking with you on this important matter.


Sincerely,

Anthony A. DeCrosta, M.F.A.
The Writing Coach

Organization & Structure

PART III of III

Transitions: The Bridges of the Essay

Transitions are like bridges between your ideas. An essay without clear transitions is like a series of isolated islands; the reader will struggle to get from one point to the next. Good transition statements straddle the distances between paragraphs. They help to make connections in the reader's mind.

The most critical transition in your essay is the one into the final paragraph of your essay. Readers must clearly see how you arrive at your conclusion—or final idea. They want to know that the evidence or ideas you presented in the preceding paragraphs point inextricably to the conclusion you ultimately reach. If this flow is disrupted at any level—sentence, paragraph, or essay—you run the risk of turning off or confusing your readers.

Conclusions: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Your conclusion is your last chance to leave a lasting impression on your readers. Here are some tips about conclusions:
Make sure your conclusion relates to your main point. The end has to be true of the beginning, so don’t introduce a new topic in the conclusion.
Hearken back to the introduction in your conclusion. For example, if you started with an anecdote, consider ending with a different part of the story.
End gracefully. The conclusion should complete the points you’ve developed over the course of your essay. Restating every single one of your points is unnecessary and cumbersome.

Organization & Structure

PART II of III

The Overall Structure of the Essay

Just as every paragraph should contain a topic sentence, every essay should contain a single, powerful, engaging thesis statement. And just as every sentence within a paragraph supports the that paragraph’s topic sentence, every paragraph in an essay must support the thesis statement.
A thesis statement is the main idea of your paper. It does two things: 1) it explains your topic and 2) it reveals your attitude toward it.

Developing a working thesis should be among your first priorities. "Working" is the operative word here; your thesis may change through the research and writing process, but it is imperative to start with a definite plan in mind. Think of your working thesis as an hypothesis that may, and probably will, undergo changes along the way.

Once you hone in on your essay’s main thesis statement, you need to decide how to organize and structure the material of your essay. Structure does not need to be dry, boring, or academic.
There are many interesting ways to structure your essay. Following are descriptions and examples of some of the basic ways of organizing your thoughts for a logical, well-ordered presentation to your readers.

Organizing and Developing Paragraphs
You can organize the paragraphs of your essay by using any of the following schemes:
· Enumeration: Follow an ordered pattern of one, two, three, etc.
· Chronology: Use time to organize an event or tell a story or describe how a process unfolds.
· Space: In descriptions, start at the top and move to the bottom, or move from left to right, inside to outside, and so on.
· General to specific or abstract to concrete: Paragraphs are easier to understand when the general statement comes first and the supporting examples, evidence, or illustrations follow.
· Order of importance: You can either begin with the most important point or you can end with it, but decide on the importance of each point within the paragraph and order your paragraphs accordingly. Remember, you want your readers to follow you to your final destination.

You can develop each paragraph by using any of these options:
· Examples, illustrations, or testimony: These clarify your meaning and help your readers connect to what you are saying in a concrete way.
· Data: Facts and statistics are an excellent way to support or illustrate your point.
· Use the rhetorical modes to develop a topic within a paragraph:
o Narration: Tell an interesting story about the topic to engage your readers’ interest.
o Comparison-Contrast: How is one topic similar or different to another?
o Definition: Provide a definition of a topic to help your readers understand what exactly you are writing about and what your major point is.
o Division and Classification: Fit your topic into a class with similar things if doing so helps to clarify it.
o Illustration: Reveal your topic through clear examples.
o Cause-Effect: What caused it to happen and what effects are the consequences?
o Argument and Persuasion: Convince your readers to think of a topic, idea, or stance in a different way by providing strong evidence of your belief.

Understanding Paragraph Clusters
Every essay can be broken down into groups of related paragraphs, called paragraph clusters. Consider this point when you notice your paragraphs may be getting too long. For example, one paragraph might cover every step in a process. But if you want to include more details in your description of the process, then each step might be better covered in a single paragraph. In describing a building, for example, the first paragraph might describe the height, the next, the materials that compose the building, and a third, the building’s location.

Organization & Structure

PART I OF III
All essays require structure. A solid structure gives organizational shape to your thoughts, arguments, or stories; structure serves to orient your readers and indicate the direction you’re going and how you plan to get to your final destination—that is, your conclusion. Structure demonstrates to your readers that you are being logical and well-ordered.

Structure is present at multiple levels in any good essay: Every sentence should have structure; every paragraph should have structure; every set of paragraphs should have structure; and every essay should have an overall structure or organization that encourages your readers to follow your lead, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, right to your conclusion.

Sentences: The Bricks and Mortar of the Essay

As a general rule, each sentence must have a subject (noun) and a verb (action word). Beyond that general rule, however, sentences may vary widely in word order, word choice, and length, depending on appropriateness, pace, and your individual writing style.

The main point to remember about sentences is that they are the foundation of every piece of writing, and that, individually, each sentence must make perfect sense to your readers. Misspellings, muddled grammar, or poor punctuation will only irritate or confuse your readers. So, each sentence you write must follow specific rules of proper English.

If your sentences are unclear, if they meander pointlessly from one idea to another or show no discernable concern for proper spelling, punctuation, or grammar, it’s a sure bet that your essay will be unclear, as well. That’s why, when you’re writing and especially when you’re revising your essay, you must take the time to make sure that the meaning of each sentence is crystal clear to your readers. Write so your readers cannot misunderstand or misconstrue what you are saying.


Paragraphs: The Pillars of the Essay

Paragraphs are the pillars of the essay—they uphold and support the essay’s overall structure. Each paragraph you write should express a single thought. Each paragraph you write should contain a beginning, middle, and end. Each paragraph you write should have a simple and direct structure.

To construct a solid paragraph:
>Include a topic sentence. A topic sentence, usually placed at the beginning of a paragraph, states the main idea being discussed in that particular paragraph.
>Establish unity. A paragraph is unified if each sentence supports the topic sentence. Unity comes from what you say.
>Establish coherence. Coherence requires that a paragraph is clear, logical, and readily obvious to the reader how each sentence supports the topic sentence. To establish coherence, think about transitions between sentences, not just when you begin a new paragraph. Here are some good ways to establish coherence within a paragraph:
>Use key words to tie your ideas together. Don’t use synonyms merely for variety’s sake; the same word repeated helps create coherence.
>Write a new sentence to expand upon or further develop the previous ones, connecting old information with new.
>Use transitions to connect ideas within a paragraph.

Example:
Good writing comes from hard work [TOPIC]. But [TRANSITION WORD] hard work [REPEATED KEY WORD AND OLD INFORMATION] never scared me. In fact [TRANSITION WORD], I relish the challenge of creating something new, no matter how difficult [KEY WORD] or time consuming [NEW INFORMATION]. I have spent weeks on a few pages, months on an essay, and years on a book [OLD INFORMATION: TIME].

Beginning a New Paragraph
There are no hard and fast rules for when to begin a new paragraph, but consider doing so at the following points:
· When beginning a new idea
· When breaking an idea down into its more descriptive parts
· In dialogue, when the speaker changes
· When summing up ideas (e.g., your conclusion)
· When a paragraph gets long and looks daunting (e.g., any paragraph containing more than 12 sentences)

Beginning and ending

Two periods in the writing process that often are given short shrift by teachers of writing skills and their students are:

• the critical planning stage leading up to the writing of a term paper.
• the important stage of polishing the final draft before handing in your term paper.

Here are two easy-to-follow schemes that should make writing a typical 10-page term paper a more manageable process and your final essay a higher quality result.

A Plan for Developing Your Work Schedule

Let's imagine that you've been given a due date of one month for your term paper. (Adjust the following schedule accordingly to accomodate shorter deadlines.) Starting with the due date, work backward chronologically. After you have set the deadlines listed below, you should set some intermediate goals to stay on track during the process.

__________ Due date to hand in your term paper.

__________ Start polishing your paper's final rough draft (3 days before due date).

__________ Complete first rough draft (1 week before due date).

__________ Begin first rough draft (2 weeks before due date).

__________ Draft your paper's thesis statement and rough outline based on your research

of a sharply focused topic (2 1/2 weeks before due date).

__________ Start researching your paper's topic, gradually refining and narrowing it down

(3 weeks before due date).

__________ Decide on your paper's general topic (3 1/2 weeks before due date).

A Checklist for Polishing Your Final Draft

__________ Does each sentence lead the reader clearly from one idea to the next?

__________ Does each paragraph efficiently lead the reader from one major point to the next?

__________ Is your first paragraph engaging and clear? Is the thesis stated clearly?

__________ Does your last paragaph restate the main points of your essay?

__________ Is your word choice appropriate and correct?

__________ Are all abbreviations clearly explained to the reader?

__________ Are all quotations in their proper form?

__________ Are all titles in your paper in the proper form?

__________ Is the grammar of each sentence correct?

__________ Has the essay been carefully proofread for spelling and punctuation errors?

__________ Have all citations been double-checked for their accuracy?

Last week's blog topics 6.27-7.03/2008

Parallel Sentence Structure (7.03.2008)

Easy Guide to Punctuation (6.30.2008)

Writing Unified Sentences (6.29.2008)

Why Grammar is Important (6.28.2008)

Getting Started (6.27.2008)