Workshop Exercise Week 5 Developing a Thesis Stat Essays - Writing

Workshop Exercise Week 5: Developing a Thesis Statement in Response to An Essay Topic For the mid-term essay, you have been given a list of topics to write about in relation to either Great Expectations or Jane Eyre. In university essays (unlike Leaving Cert essays, which are more like summaries or checklists of everything you know about a text or subject), you are expected to to formulate an argument in response to your chosen topic which is articulated in a thesis statement in your introductory paragraph. Furthermore, you are expected to analyze both the "content" and the "form" of the text and base your argument on evidence (citation and analysis) from the primary text and from secondary sources of scholarly criticism. Complete the exercise on pages 3-5 (section II of this handout) and bring it to your Workshop in Week 5. This exercise is designed to help you develop a thesis statement which expresses the argument you will make about your chosen topic and which includes of analysis of both the "content" and the "form" of the text. Note: you may decide to change your thesis statement, topic, or chosen text after this workshop. The exercise is designed to help start you thinking what you might write about, which might change as you work through it. Be prepared to peer-review your thesis statement in class. After the exercise is a list of peer-review questions (section III), followed by an appendix of materials (section IV) that can give you further guidance in developing a thesis statement. I What is a Thesis Statement? If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. A thesis statement... . Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. . Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. . Directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a topic or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be 19th-century gender roles or Alice in Wonderland; a thesis must then offer a way to understand gender roles or the novel. . Makes a claim-an argument- that others might dispute. . Is usually a single sentence near the end of your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation. The conclusion usually reiterates the thesis statement and summarizes how you have demonstrated its truth. Some Caveats and Examples: . An effective thesis cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." A thesis is not a topic; nor is it a fact; nor is it an opinion. "Reasons for the fall of communism" is a topic. "Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe" is a fact known by educated people. "The fall of communism is the best thing that ever happened in Europe" is an opinion. (Superlatives like "the best" almost always lead to trouble. It's impossible to weigh every "thing" that ever happened in Europe. And what about the fall of Hitler? Couldn't that be "the best thing"?) . A good thesis has two parts. It should tell what you plan to argue, and it should "telegraph" how you plan to argue-that is, what particular support for your claim is going where in your essay. . A thesis is never a question. Readers of academic essays expect to have questions discussed, explored, or even answered. A question ("Why did communism collapse in Eastern Europe?") is not an argument, and without an argument, a thesis is dead in the water. . A thesis is never a list. "For political, economic, social and cultural reasons, communism collapsed in Eastern Europe" does a good job of "telegraphing" the reader what to expect in the essay-a section about political reasons, a section about economic reasons, a section about social

What to Do If You Hate Your College Roommate

What to Do If You Hate Your College Roommate Frustrated with your roommate? Think he or she might be frustrated with you? Roommate conflicts are, unfortunately, part of many peoples college experiences, and they can be incredibly stressful. With a little patience and communication, though, it doesnt have to be the end of the roommate-relationship. At the same time, these same skill-sets  can go a long way toward determining if it would be best for each of you to find new roommates. Does Your Roommate Think Theres a Problem? If you think youre having roommate problems, there is one of two things going on: your roommate knows it, too, or your roommate is completely clueless. Things may be tense when the two of you are together in the room; conversely, your roommate may have no idea how frustrated you are at how often he finishes off your cereal after rugby practice. If your roommate isnt aware of the problem, make sure you know what it is thats really bugging you, before you try to address it with them. Get Clear About Your Issues In a space other than your room, sit and think about what is really frustrating you. Try writing down what is frustrating you the most. Is your roommate not respecting your space and/or things? Is she coming home late and making a lot of noise? Having too many people over too often? Instead of writing down last week, she ate all of my food AGAIN, try to think about patterns. Something like she doesnt respect my space and stuff, even though Ive asked her to might address the problem more and be easier for your roommate to handle. Address the Problem Once youve figured out the main issues, try to talk to your roommate at a time that is good for both of you. Its a very good idea to try to set this time in advance. Ask if you can talk when you are both done with morning classes on Wednesday, on Saturday at 2 p.m., etc. Set a specific time so that this weekend doesnt come and go without the two of you talking. Chances are, your roommate knows that you guys need to talk, so give him a few days to possibly put his thoughts together, too. On the same note, however, if you dont feel comfortable talking to your roommate directly, thats okay, too. But you do need to address it. If you live on campus, talk to your RA (Resident Adviser) or other hall staff member. They are trained to help residents with roommate problems and will know what to do, even if you dont. Speak Your Mind...But Listen, Too Using the list and notes you made, and possibly in a conversation facilitated by an RA, let your roommate know how you are feeling. Try not to attack your roommate too much, no matter how frustrated you are. Try using language that addresses the problem, not the person. For example, instead of saying, I cant believe how selfish you are when it comes to my things, try saying, It really frustrates me that you borrow my clothes without asking. The more you verbally attack your roommate (or anyone else, for that matter), the more her defenses are going to go up. Take a deep breath and say what you need to in a way that is constructive and respectful. After all, youd want the same from your roommate, right? And, as hard as it may be, try to listen to what your roommate has to say without getting defensive or interrupting. It may take you biting your cheeks, sitting on your hands, or mentally pretending that youre talking on a tropical beach, but do your best. Your roommate may have some valid reasons behind whats going on and be frustrated, too. The only way you are going to get to the bottom of everything is to put it out on the table, talk about it, and see what you can do. Youre in college now; its time to address this like the adult that you are. If youre having an RA facilitate the conversation, let him or her take the lead. If its just you and your roommate, try to address the things you both said in a way that can satisfy everyone. Most likely, you both wont leave 100% happy, but ideally, you can both leave feeling relieved and ready to move on. After the Discussion After you guys talk, things may be a little awkward. Which is, of course, fine and totally normal. Unless there are issues that you just cannot tolerate, give your roommate a little time to make the changes you discussed. He may be so used to how things have been going for two months that it will be hard to stop doing some of the things he didnt even know drove you nuts. Be patient, but also make it clear that you two came to an agreement and he needs to keep his end of the deal, too. Moving Out If things just arent working out, its not the end of the world. It doesnt mean you or your roommate did anything wrong. Some people just dont live well together! It may be that you both are much better friends than roommates. Or that you will rarely talk to each other for the rest of your time at school. Any situation is fine, as long as you feel safe and ready to move on. If you decide that you just cant stick with your roommate for the rest of the year, figure out what to do next. If you live on campus, talk to your RA again. If you live off campus, figure out what your options are in terms of the lease and relocating. You arent the first person ever to have a problem with a roommate; there are undoubtedly resources already available on campus to help you transition out. Regardless, do your best to remain civil and respectful, and know that your next living situation probably has nowhere to go but up!