COMFTF-01

The Thesis

Dr. David F. Maas

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Thesis
 Most essential part of any composition is:
 Thesis
 Support
 Amplification
 Thesis:I had a terrible morning.
 Support:I had a headache and a stopped
up sinus cavity.
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 Relationship between thesis and support parallel
to relationship between abstract and concrete.
 Abstract:Tyler has received above normal
precipitation.
 Concrete:It has received four inches of rain.
 Concrete:It has received six inches of snow.
 Concrete: It has received eight inches of hail.
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Thesis
 Thesis and support parallel to generalization and
example.
 Generalization: My first day at Texas College
proved a disaster.
 Example: In the morning I ran into Dr.
Namboodiri’s car.
 Example:At noon, the radiator on my truck blew
up.
 Example: In the afternoon, I misadvised three
students, cross-listing them in conflicting classes.
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 Thesis= Brain and Spinal Column of
organism.
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Thesis
 Thesis and topic sentence interchangeable.
 Thesis :A psychosis can have organic,
familial, and environmental causes.
 Topic Sentence:Organic causes may
include chemical or hormonal imbalances.
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Thesis
 Topic Sentence: Familial causes may
include abuse or codependency.
 Topic Sentence:Environmental causes
may include seasonal affective disorders or
the stress of overcrowding.
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Thesis
The structure of the expository essay looks something like this:

Thesis
Example 1 (Topic Sentence)
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Example 2 (Topic Sentence)

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Example 3 (Topic Sentence)

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
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 Usual Pattern of standard expository
paragraph:
 A topic sentence-generalization of some
sort.
 Details that illustrate the topic.
 Summary of the main idea.
 Particular instances which illustrate and
support opening statement
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 Bogus Thesis Statements
 Questions:What causes nightmares?
 Why do people get AIDS?
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Thesis
 Bogus Thesis Statements.
 Purpose Statements:
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 Thesis: The nightmare seems to serve as
the nervous system’s method of making the
daytime hours less frightening in
comparison.
 Thesis:Aids has become transmitted
through perverse lifestyles,drug usage, and
tainted blood.
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Thesis
 Thesis has an argumentative edge:
 (I would argue that) the nightmare seems to
serve as the nervous system’s method of
making the daytime hours less frightening
in comparison.
 The training wheel “I would argue that”
appendage we can eliminate in the final
draft of the thesis.
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Thesis
 The thesis(topic sentence)should have the
following qualities.
 !. It should be a complete sentence- not a
wordier version of the title such as:AIDS-
an investigation into the causes and effects.
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Thesis
 2.It should be specific-the more specific
the better (even though the thesis will be
the most general part of your paper).
 Don’t hide behind the wimpy vage:AIDS
has a number of causes.
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Thesis
 3.It should be exact;an inexact statement
usually results from cloudy or muddy
thinking.
 Consider: The campus newspaper provides
more opportunities for writing than all the
formal English courses in the college.
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 5. It should have an argumentative edge.If
you feel a need to, you may include the
training wheel phrase, “ I would argue that
—”
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Thesis
 6.It should demonstrate a clear topic and
attitude or topic and comment.
 Example: Electronic calculators have
made students mentally lazy.
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Thesis
 Functions of the thesis:
 1. It provides transition-It opens with a brief restatement
(usually in a subordinate clause) and introduces a new topic.
 Example: Although philosophical and moral questions played a
major role in the war between the states, economic factors did
most to ignite the conflict.
 Following the agricultural and industrial waves, our society has
now entered the information wave.
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Thesis
 Functions of Thesis:
 Suggests structure or organization.
 Example: Frustration may be self-caused,
other-people caused, or event caused.
 Example: Behavior has a physical,
psychological, and chemical component.
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 Functions of Thesis:
 3. Presents a subject or presents a proposition for
discussion.
 We may use the synonyms proposal or proposition. We
may classify propositions into the following categories:
 1. Generalizations
 2. Definitions
 3. Practical Propositions
 4. Relational (Cause and Effect) Propositions
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Thesis
 1.Generalizations- result from observing a set of
facts (over a period of time) and finding
something in common with all of them.
 Example: During the past five years, every
campaign for student body has turned about
trivialities rather than issues of educational
policy.
 Example: In the past four years, every
congressional bill designed to reform the tax
system has actually made it worse.
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 These thesis (or proposition) statements
commit the writer to provide illustrations
and examples.
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 2.Definition:The Classical Definition places an
item in a more general class and distinguishes
it from all the other members of that class.
 Example: A dictionary is a book which lists a
selection of the words of a language, providing
information about their spelling,
pronunciation, meaning and use.
 Example:Epicureanism is a philosophical position
which holds that the attaining of pleasure is the
highest goal in life.
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Pliers Saw

Tools Screwdriver
Hammer

Chisel
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 Species Genus Differentia
 A hammer as a tool used for pounding.
 An Atlas is a book having maps.
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 3.Practical Proposition:advocates action,
stresses that something ought to be done or ought
to take place.
 Example: Ministers ought to demonstrate
proficiency in counseling and crisis intervention
before they enter the field.
 Example: To reduce juvenile delinquency, adult
sentences ought to be meted out in the courts.
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 4.Relational (Cause/Effect) Proposition:tells
how one thing may be a part of another- or
more importantly, the cause or effect of
another.
 Example: Princess Di’s untimely death was
caused by a drunken chauffeur and some
pesky photographers.
 Example: Kurtrell’s low test scores were
brought about by irregular attendence, lack of
studying, and inability to pay attention.
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 Position of Thesis:Although topic
sentences may appear other than the first
position in the standard expository
paragraph, most modern carefully
constructed prose rests on standard
paragraphs, most of which have topic
sentences to open them