endobj Baugh Building Room 279 210-924-4338 ext. 270 writing.center@bua.edu University Writing Center Rev. The following is not an exact guide but rather a general outline. A thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather helps to dissect it. Although the specific structure described here is most relevant for empirical theses, much of the advice is also relevant for theoretical work. Good organization is logical and sequential. Chapter 1: … endobj �;GT��Ӛ=4�y�Bˎ^ FOR WRITING A THESIS OR DISSERTATION . The thesis tells your reader exactly what the main point of the paper is – what you will argue. <> This section describes the main elements of a written thesis at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The bottom line or thesis statement tells your reader what it is you consider important. Determine what kind of paper you are writing: An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. ��i�@sQeZD�O���q�q2 �� \0T���!f�D������5,UD����mE^f�� L�8��P�/8�P &���0W�����d���@qD��S��Kqx��S�u�.r� �{�Q9� ���k���:����B�oy��w^�ң�״����'oG�{|f����9���{F�?3R�[�6!�}UU� <> %���� Format of the Thesis In form, the thesis is a lengthy experimental, design, or theoretical report , with a problem - method - results - discussion structure . It guides the reader between divisions of the material. Thus, the thesis forecasts the content of the essay and how you will organize your information. 2 3. The Elements of Style Oliver Strunk Contents FOREWORD ix INTRODUCTION xiii I. 2/2017 #2 The thesis may focus on illustrating how a work reflects the particular genre’s forms, the characteristics of a philosophy of literature, or the ideas of a particular school of It is • Curriculum Connection: As a further example, you may wish to have students examine an informational text that supports a current topic of study. elements of each paragraph, using the Pre-writing Planner (BLM 1) as a guide. Writing is a meaning-making process where linguistic, cognitive, social and creative factors are at play. stream It is specific and focuses on one to three points related to a main idea: you will work to prove these points in the body of your paper. 3 0 obj Put the recommendation, conclusion, or most important information (the main point) next. ; An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience. It involves keeping the reader oriented to the central and subordinate ideas. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas. )�dV��-�d����`��h�op |��Fq�{���r�� ���+b���:��"+� Introduction Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an This recurrent hypothetico-deductive pattern of developing a thesis to solve a problem and then constructing a methodology and testing for results is common in research writing. Checkpoints: G Introduction orients the reader to the central idea and the line of reasoning. 2 0 obj It may help if you think about the thesis statement in terms of being a roadmap or guide to your Guides and Examples of Elements of Theses and Dissertations Title Page • The title page must appear as shown in the following examples. A thesis is typically one sentence long and appears near the end of your introduction. _�. endobj The language provided below works to inform the reader both of the format of the essay as well as the particular essay type – and any experienced reader will then be able to (based on this type) predict the likely structure of the content. University students need to master the skills of academic writing not only for getting their degree but also for their future career. A thesis statement is the central claim of an argument. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE 1 1. If it occupies more than one line, double space between lines. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. Guidelines for Writing a Thesis or Dissertation, Linda Childers Hon, Ph.D. Outline for Empirical Master’s Theses, Kurt Kent, Ph.D. How to Actually Complete A Thesis: Segmenting, Scheduling, and Rewarding, Kurt Kent, Ph.D. How to Make a Thesis Less Painful and More Satisfying (by Mickie Edwardson, Distinguished Professor of Telecommunication, Emeritus, ca. • Type the title of the thesis/dissertation using capital letters throughout. %PDF-1.7 <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> It is your position or opinion in the form of an objective claim. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. 1 0 obj Metalinguistic awareness contributes to effective writing at university. What a thesis … Though it is tempting to want to hold the reader in suspense or save something for a big reveal at the end of the essay, in academic writing the thesis should appear within the first 1-2 paragraphs of your paper. The first two elements that all thesis statements should possess is some use of task language and some mention of the task type. (Some writers combine the purpose and the main point.) b. Thesis. This element of writing has to do with coherent arrangement of material. 1. ! 4 0 obj The Army standard for writing requires putting the main point up front and using the active voice. [.��~s��}C�my� �� x��][o9�~���Gi6.Y�T5��t�gы0Xt�A�˖Y�J����9�d�$RQ�P�/�@,�.�x9~�-���Y\���k��mӴ�r4b�nؿ߾ɳ���`9���T�-�o��7�x�����7���q��}zx���s9�LI&MfJ������a�+h�=ү�����?� ՠy����ا_߾�����7?_�L�.�d ��L��@���-��`��`�����r9X��9��I��LV���O�!W���x�dB�ûHT�YU�����k��w�2e:X!T���`|B��1q v�rS�O�?Z鄨Rf��+��y�^Qh�V������ߐ��{w-Y�Bf����5.1���͐�e�'��? A Guide to Writing Basic Thesis Statements What is a thesis statement? 1975), provided by Kurt Kent . Writing Program Faculty of Arts and Sciences Harvard University Harvard College Writing Program Harvard WrITINg ProJeCT BrIeF gUIde SerIeS A Brief Guide to the Elements of the Academic Essay Gordon Harvey’s “Elements of the Academic Essay” provide a possible vocabulary for commenting on student writing. Examples of Expository Thesis Statements Expository essay . 2 4. 1 2. The Writing Center Thesis Statements What this handout is about This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can discover or refine one for your draft. <>/Metadata 195 0 R/ViewerPreferences 196 0 R>> Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement. �r��=�qkw�2O�*DV�5)�'t���c���XD���^q��e���0v�;*[����ˏԠD\�2�U�Ώ���*���+�D���qNz�l�l �����'����4H\{:�s: ��ڇ����1h�U&�>�������>%R��=@�z��1�i\%^�E&��� �D�)����P�-��u��N��,�-گ m+��w�������G�����]�`�L CONTENTS: Guidelines for Writing a Thesis or Dissertation, Linda Childers Hon, Ph.D. ... Each thesis or dissertation is unique but all share several common elements. As this demonstrates, a thesis statement includes the following three elements: a topic(“High school sports”) + a claim(“have a positive influence”) + points to support the claim(“because they teach social skills, require time management, and provide regular exercise”)