300 words Outline

sadstudent001

ThesisandIntro.pptx

Home >English homework help >300 words Outline

READY, SET, ESSAY!

A Quick Guide to Introductions and Thesis Statements

Welcome to A Quick Guide to Introduction and Thesis Statements. Let's get started!

READY, SET, ESSAY!

Do I want to keep talking to you?

Why am talking to you?

Who are you?

What am I supposed to do with this?

Why am I reading it?

What is this?

Writing follows the same idea.

Let’s say you are at a party and you meet someone for the first time. Have you every heard the expression – “You don’t a second chance to make a first impression. Well, your introduction is your chance to make a good first impression with your reader. There are usually three things (maybe more, but we will focus on three) that you want to learn in a first impression:

Who are you?

Why am talking to you?

Do I want to keep talking to you?

Writing follows the same idea. When you start to read something, you are unconsciously looking for answers to:

What is this?

Why am I reading it?

What am I supposed to do with this?

In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous. The 2016 results showed a colossal 42.5 per cent increase in Canadians identifying as Aboriginal since 2006 (Kirkup, 2017, para.3). Claiming Indigeneity on the Canadian census is as simple as circling one of the three groups that constitute the Indigenous population (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). However, accurate results are invaluable considering “census data ha[s] come to assume a fundamentally important role in the formation of policy decisions affecting all facets of the lives of Canadian citizens” (Anderson, 2008, para. 30). If race is a social construct, then Canadians must understand that to be Indigenous is not a question of race, but instead a question of culture (Gaudry, 2016, p.153). My point here that Canadians should not self-identify based solely on their Aboriginal descent, should interest those who value accurate census data. Beyond this limited audience, however, my argument should speak to anyone who cares about the larger issue of respect for Indigenous peoples. In this essay I will explain that one who claims Aboriginal ancestry, does not therefore have the right to claim Indigeneity.

Sample

Take a moment and read this introduction.

Passage: “In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous. The 2016 results showed a colossal 42.5 per cent increase in Canadians identifying as Aboriginal since 2006 (Kirkup, 2017, para.3). Claiming Indigeneity on the Canadian census is as simple as circling one of the three groups that constitute the Indigenous population (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). However, accurate results are invaluable considering “census data ha[s] come to assume a fundamentally important role in the formation of policy decisions affecting all facets of the lives of Canadian citizens” (Anderson, 2008, para. 30). If race is a social construct, then Canadians must understand that to be Indigenous is not a question of race, but instead a question of culture (Gaudry, 2016, p.153). My point here that Canadians should not self-identify based solely on their Aboriginal descent, should interest those who value accurate census data. Beyond this limited audience, however, my argument should speak to anyone who cares about the larger issue of respect for Indigenous peoples. In this essay I will explain that one who claims Aboriginal ancestry, does not therefore have the right to claim Indigeneity.”

Is this a good introduction? Let’s see, using the What is this

What is this? “In this essay I will explain that one who claims Aboriginal ancestry, does not therefore have the right to claim Indigeneity.”

Why am I reading it? ). In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous.

What do you want me to do? If race is a social construct, then Canadians must understand that to be Indigenous is not a question of race, but instead a question of culture (Gaudry, 2016, p.153).

This may be very familiar, because this introduction covered the mantra we recited at the beginning of this course. Audience, Context, Purpose.

– Context

– Purpose

Audience

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE

OK, now it is time to remember our mantra. Audience Context Purpose. So you want to write an introduction… or in your case, you are being forced to write an introduction… I mean, let’s face it. It isn’t like you get together with your friends and say… “So what do you want to do… hey, I got an idea, let’s write an introduction to a research paper!” Anyway, when you need to write, remember what we talked about at the beginning of this course: Audience-Context-purpose. Consider your audience, provide them with the general background to your main topic and outline your purpose… with your thesis/claim… stating the position you will support and the evidence you will use.

You can make it catchy, but be sure whatever statement you choose relates to your thesis

Please do not use definitions or quotations to start your essay.

It needs to be free of errors (first impressions count)

Your first sentence needs to reflect your topic

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE

Now let’s take a look at the introductory sentence. Your first sentence needs to reflect your topic and it needs to be free of errors (remember, your first impression counts).

You can make it catchy, so long as it relates to your thesis

Never start with… The dictionary defines “BLANK” as… or a quotation… “Never start your essay with a quotation”, as Professor Lawrence says… Those are big no-no’s. Don’t do it.

What makes the following a good introductory statement?

“In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous.”

Here is the opening sentence to our example introduction. Read this opening sentence and see if it meets the criteria that we set out.

Sentence: “In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous.”

Does it take into account the audience, context and purpose?

“In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous.”

What makes the following a good introductory statement?

It does, very well.

It reflects the overall topic of the essay, provides the context

“In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population…

It provides the purpose

Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous

And it grabs your attention based on the controversial nature of the statement.

If your arguments help to clarify your thesis, then include them, briefly

The next few sentences need to deal with context and/or the good reasons for your thesis

Context is dependent on the subject you are covering, but you must always include it

Transitions are essential as well as brief examples to support your assertions

You can also include a “this essay will” statement

CONTEXT

After the opening sentence, comes the context. The next few sentences need to deal with context and/or the good reasons for your thesis.

Context is dependent on the subject you are covering and changes from one paper you write to the next… but you must always include it. Think back to being at the party I used at the beginning of this presentation. If you suddenly jump into a conversation and hear…. “And that is why I think we should all cover our heads in mayonnaise”… it will be very difficult to understand and appreciate the speakers argument the context of the discussion.

Context provides the background to your argument, bringing your reader up to speed on the event behind your argument.

If your arguments help to clarify your thesis, then include them, but briefly.

Transitions are very important to link idea to idea, sentence to sentence. Explain how the ideas or main points you are using are related.

You can also include a “this essay will” statement

State why the main idea is important. Tell the reader why they should care about your topic and keep reading.

Set the context. Use general information about the main idea and explain the situation.

State your thesis/claim. A sentence or two that states the position you will support

CONTEXT

Here’s how you want you approach your context. First. Set the context. You do this by providing general information about the main idea, explaining the situation so the reader can make sense of the topic and the claims you make and support.

Next, State why the main idea is important. Tell the reader why they should care about your topic and keep reading. Keep your audience in mind… create a compelling, clear, and convincing essay people will want to read and act upon

State your thesis/claim. Finally your introduction needs a sentence or two that states the position you will support “I am arguing for/against…”. Let’s go back to our introduction example and see all this in action.

In light of recent census data released by Statistics Canada revealing a rise in the Indigenous population, Canadians and the census should reconsider who is Indigenous.

Sample

Claiming Indigeneity on the Canadian census is as simple as circling one of the three groups that constitute the Indigenous population (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit).

Note how the first sentence captures your attention, establishes the first part of the essay’s context. This sentence also hints at the coming argument of the paper. By saying that ‘Claiming Indigeneity on the Canadian census is as simple as circling one of the three groups’ the author implies a problem with the current situation.

However, accurate results are invaluable considering “census data ha[s] come to assume a fundamentally important role in the formation of policy decisions affecting all facets of the lives of Canadian citizens” (Anderson, 2008, para. 30).

And then, the next sentence starts with a linking word “however”, which not only links the ideas of the two sentences together, but also implies that the previous idea, that of simple circling one of three groups on the census, is an inaccurate and unsatisfactory way to gather data. The second sentence introduces some of the evidence the author has gathered to support the argument of the paper with this well integrated quote.

So far, the author has told us that claiming indigeneity is as easy as circling one of three groups on a census, and that this is an inadequate for of data gathering, the purpose for a census, and that indigeneity identity is not something that can be established by the circling of a choice three items.

The author has created a very interesting position and is now ready to set up their thesis.

If race is a social construct, then Canadians must understand that to be Indigenous is not a question of race, but instead a question of culture (Gaudry, 2016, p.153).

Here the author provides specific context to lead into the thesis. Note how the author uses a proposition to frame their argument. That is, an if-then statement. Example, if a three dimensional circle is a sphere; then the moon is a sphere. The author uses “If race is a social construct, then indigeneity is a question of culture”…

My point here that Canadians should not self-identify based solely on their Aboriginal descent, should interest those who value accurate census data.

The author transitions into further clarification of their thesis position.

Beyond this limited audience, however, my argument should speak to anyone who cares about the larger issue of respect for Indigenous peoples.

An interesting statement for the audience for the argument.

In this essay I will explain that one who claims Aboriginal ancestry, does not therefore have the right to claim Indigeneity

A final succinct, pithy thesis statement that gets to the point. Notice how the entire last three sentences encompasses the authors thesis.

How to Write and Frame a Thesis

Examine your claim and ensure it makes an explicit (clear). Write a complete sentence (or two). Please do not use a question but instead, a declarative statement. Questions are often too broad. You need a well-developed claim.

Add in your reason for the claim.

If you have research, make note of where you might be able to reference particularly compelling proof in your thesis.

Show intros again and discuss thesis (give them

Here is some quick points on developing your thesis. For a more in-depth information review the Prof Moment Lesson Five – The Thesis Statement.

Add in your reason and, perhaps, consider your claim.

If you have research, make note of where you might be able to reference particularly compelling proof in your thesis.

The thesis gives your paper forward motion - it’s your paper’s engine. No thesis, no forward motion (15 min)

Forecasting your Paper in your Introduction

“First, I will define key terms for my argument, and then I will provide some background of the situation. Next, I will outline the important positions of the argument and explain why I support one of these positions. Lastly, I will consider opposing positions and discuss why these positions are outdated. I will conclude with some ideas for taking action and possible directions for future research.”

Your introduction should forecast how you will support your thesis by outlining the structure of your paper. You can even describe the sources you will consider, and the opposition to your position. This forecasting can be expressed in many different ways depending on the type or genre of paper you are writing. It could be as simple as this example from the Purdue Online Writing lab:

This paper begins by providing key terms for the argument before providing background of the situation. Next, important positions are outlined and supported. To provide a more thorough explanation of these important positions, opposing positions are discussed. The paper concludes with some ideas for taking action and possible directions for future research.

Forecasting your Paper in your Introduction

Or have a more formal, academic tone:

While these are general examples and provide absolutely no context to a real research argument, they do predict the organization of paper, providing what is called a pathway.

Why is the following a solid thesis?

“My point here that Canadians should not self-identify based solely on their Aboriginal descent, should interest those who value accurate census data. Beyond this limited audience, however, my argument should speak to anyone who cares about the larger issue of respect for Indigenous peoples. In this essay I will explain that one who claims Aboriginal ancestry, does not therefore have the right to claim Indigeneity.”

Take one last look at the thesis example we used. See if you can identify the those elements that make this a successful thesis.

Adding “So What?” and “Who Cares?”

Add in this template (change as much as you need to):

My point here (that __________) should interest those who ___________________. Beyond this limited audience, however, my point (argument, claim, assertion) should speak to anyone who care about the larger issue of __________________.

Choose a template from the Prof Moment Lesson Five – The Thesis Statement on the CourseSpaces Site

Now you can try it yourself with your own essay topic. Here is a template based on our example. I am sure you will find very helpful. That’s all for now, until next time… stay healthy and keep in touch.