Today’s Game Plan

• Review neologisms & language in THT.
• Writer’s Workshop: Introductions & Thesis Statements
• Read and discuss passage.

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Homework:

• Due Tomorrow: Intro and thesis.
• Due Friday: Handmaid’s Tale, 1-40

Before Writing a Thesis Statement

• �The writer must be aware of his/her audience.
• Who is our audience?
• �Identify the topic question.
• What is our topic question?
• Brainstorm ideas by looking through your notes, annotations, shared inquiry comments, blogs, etc.

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What is a Thesis Statement?

• A thesis statement expresses your opinions and thoughts on a topic or issue.
• �A thesis statement must contain a subject and an issue.
• �A thesis statement answers the topic question.

�Tip: A thesis statement should never contain the following: in my opinion, I think, I believe, etc.

(However it is helpful to begin your thesis statement rough draft with in my opinion, I think, or I believe to make sure your are expressing your thoughts/opinions. When you write the final thesis statement you can erase in my opinion, I think, I believe, etc.)

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Writing A Good Thesis Statement

There is a difference between a thesis statement and a good thesis statement!

�A good thesis statement is...

• Simple and short. It should be no longer than one or two sentences regardless of the paper length. It doesn’t include any unnecessary words.
• An idea that explores both how a writer writes (craft) and what readers learn (content).
• Limited to one main idea.
• A confident sentence with no maybes. Do not use words perhaps, maybe, might, etc.

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Includes both what and how (content and craft)

Through Offred’s first person narration and her use of metaphors, flashbacks, and language as symbolism, the reader learns how an oppressed character survives and ultimately rebels in a restrictive society.

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Confident...Concise...

Through the stories’ setting, use of dialogue, narrative techniques, and specific word choice, Hemingway’s short stories marginalize female characters and uphold traditional gender roles characteristic of the 1920s and 1930s.

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The Thesis Statement Writing Process

�Writing is a process, so is writing a thesis statement. You will have to revise your thesis statement a few times to create a good thesis statement.

�If you are having trouble deciding which points to make in a thesis statement, write both statements and decide which one has the most facts and would make the most sense to persuade the reader to be on your side.

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Evaluating Thesis Statements

Consider…

�1) have you answered the topic question?

�2) do you have a subject?

�3) did you form an opinion and state it clearly?

�4) no “maybe” words like- in my opinion, I think, I might, maybe, etc.

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Components of an introductory paragraph

1. an attention grabber or hook
2. factual/contextual information
3. thesis statement or claim about the text

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*** this is the order in which your introduction should be written**

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Task: Write an introduction

• Choose ONE of the Hemingway short stories we read in class.
• Respond to the following question in relation to your chosen text: Which social groups are marginalized, excluded, or silenced within the text?
• Your first 1-2 sentences are an intriguing, interesting statement or question (not the prompt itself) related to your topic and thesis statement. You may choose to complete this piece last, but make sure it is at the beginning of your introduction.
• Your introduction includes the name of the author and title of the work you are going to discuss in the paper in the order in which you are going to discuss them.
• The final sentence(s) of your introduction is/are your thesis statement, or claim, about the texts you discuss that also relays the general structure of your paper.

** Remember, a thesis statement is something you can argue for or against.***

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