Formulating a Thesis

By: Olympia Georgeson                                                  

When you receive your essay prompt from your professor, first identify which type of essay it is; it may be an expository essay (summary), persuasive/argumentative essay (make case and try to sway reader into thinking your opinion is the best), or analytical essay (analyze and argue). A thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work or historical event based on your analysis of its topic. It consists of three components: Claim, Evidence, and Analysis (the significance of your idea). Since you will most likely be faced with an analytical essay, here is an example of an analytical thesis statement: Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

The definition of a thesis is:

1)   It is the interpretation of a subject that is debatable.

2)   A thesis can be and if complex enough, probably will be more than one sentence.

3)   A thesis contains key sub points that you can take with you throughout your paper. I think of a thesis as a camping knapsack that holds together the sub points (things that you need for survival: food, lighter, and blanket). The sub points will be the tools that support your argument for the survival of your paper.

4)   Your topic sentences for each body paragraph should not just summarize the subjects of each paragraph but also encompass a part of your thesis argument. An example of a topic sentence that includes a part of one’s argument is: “Selfhood, then, is at best a theatrical creation” (The Ink of Melancholy, Andre Bleikasten).

When conducting thorough research for your essay, form your general questions about the material at hand into one question that sparks your curiosity. A good thesis is derived from a question that you’re passionate or interested about (this will make the writing process a lot more enjoyable!) Finally, analyze your sources with this question in mind by finding supporting evidence that may answer your question. Your thesis will be the answer to your question. 

BITE-SIZE ESSAYS

By: Simone Feigenbaum

Like many students, I'm a procrastinator. The thought of having to write a paper often ends up seeming like a Herculean task, so I avoid it until the last minute, and need to do everything at once, which just reinforces my avoidance of it. 

What I have found, though, is that breaking the paper up into smaller, easier to digest tasks can greatly ease the process. 

This is how I break down projects for a research paper:

Step one: Research

This is my favorite part. Find an aspect of the topic that interests you, and look into it. The library research desk can be a great help with this part. Make sure you keep track of the things you've read and what you've learned from them. It will make the following steps far easier.

Step two: Find a question

Now that you've done some research into your topic, what questions do you have? What did you find most interesting? That's your topic.

Step three: Outlining

When you were in high school, your teachers probably taught you how to make a basic outline, and you probably ignored them. I did too. But they do help. They don't need to follow any specific format; play around and find what works best for you. I usually decide what I want to talk about in each paragraph, and write down my support for each point, along with where I found the information to make citations easier. My outlines are handwritten: informal, messy, and covered in arrows from moving points around. Yours may be typewritten with neat bullet points. It's up to you.

Step three: Write the essay!

Look at your outline: it's basically your complete essay. Follow your own instructions, and add an introduction and a conclusion. 

That's it! You're done! Proofread, write your bibliography, turn it in, and get yourself a treat! You've earned it! 

Planning Ahead to Prevent Paper-Writing Stress

By: Rachael Groat

Sometimes it feels like your professors had a super secret conference in which they maniacally planned to have multiple major writing assignments all due the same day or week.  This influx of writing assignments can be overwhelming and potentially panic-inducing depending on how soon the due dates are looming.  But instead of last minute paper writing while stress eating pints of ice cream, let's think in advance this semester.

I know when I find myself with a heavy work-load but without an assignment due right away, I typically get nothing done at all and find myself on Netflix, only making the problem worse.  But those far away due dates are deceiving, especially when it comes to multiple papers.  So here's some tips on how to stop binging on the Walking Dead and logically tackle your papers with plenty of time to spare.

STEP 1

Plan ahead.  Early in the semester, map out your semester schedule in a calendar or planner.  Write down all the major assignments for each class.  Highlight or star them to make them stand out. Now you have a visual feel for your semester so those due date ridden weeks can't creep up on you.

STEP 2

In addition to my planner of major assignments, I take 15 sheets of notebook paper, one for each week of the semester, and write down the date of each class and the readings and assignments due that day.  I typically do this in pencil so I can easily make any changes that come up.  It's satisfying to cross them off and helpful to think of the semester structured in weeks.  There are eight weeks before spring break and seven between break and finals.  What should you be doing in each?    

STEP 3

Now that you've been proactive and know what's coming, do something about it.  Block off time, especially in less busy weeks, to begin working on one of the assignments.  Even if you don't write a paper far in advance, you can get started on research.  I find that by committing to doing something small, even writing a single paragraph, can be less daunting and help you get started.  If your goal is too overwhelming, it's much harder to begin.  Also, the reward system works well when you're having trouble finding that motivation to start!

STEP 4

Notice the smaller assignments due around a particularly busy time.  I often try to get ahead in my reading or short assignments, so I can exclusively focus on the major assignments in a due date filled week. 

STEP 5

Take some time off while working on a project.  Spreading out your work rather than powering straight through allows you to clear your mind and return with a fresh perspective.  So take breaks by watching the Walking Dead, but try to forge a more balanced semester through organization and thinking ahead.  Spreading writing assignments through all fifteen weeks reduces stress, and you'll be grateful you planned and acted ahead when finals week comes around.

So, this semester, let's work on preventing those paper writing frenzies and instead logically plan out our work!

Spring Semester Has Started

By: Emma Lister

Wait a second, where did my winter break go!?  I was so happy and cozy on my couch binging on Netflix and napping at my leisure. 

It ended, along with the four Netflix series you crushed.

Now I have these classes… with homework? 

Yep, every day.

Whatever, no need to worry, it’s syllabus week, there’s plenty of time to dip my toes in these academic waters… 

Syllabus week is over.

Wait, we’re going into our third week of classes?  I have a paper due next week?  What is going on here?!?

If you’ve had a similar internal monologue/panic attack… you’re not alone.  The start of Spring Semester is always a rough transition and brutal drop back into reality in a post-holiday-freezing-rain-it-gets-dark-too-early kind of way.  I’ve found what is helpful in dragging yourself out of this lazy and self-pitying hole is to get ORGANIZED - simple baby steps to make your schedule much more manageable and to keep your anxiety at bay.

First, get a calendar… Then, yes, USE this calendar (some sort of assignment book works too).  Mark down when assignments are due and cross those bad boys off when you have finished them.  Nothing is more rewarding that crossing things off your To Do list.  More importantly though, you must mark when you are going to START bigger assignments projects, papers, etc.  If you have a paper due in two weeks… choose a book by Monday.  Make an outline by Friday… If you get stuck, come and brainstorm with someone in the Writing Center… If you’ve written and rewritten your draft and can’t look at it anymore?  Not sure if your thesis makes sense?  We’re happy to help you at that point, too!  We love to organize at the Writing Center (seriously ask anyone there… we get a strange high from helping you get your thoughts down in a sequential and logical way)! 

BUT, we can’t help you if you’ve waited to start eight hours before the assignment is due and you’re sitting in the library at 2:00am ripping your hair out and hating the start of your semester… So, take a baby step, figure out what’s coming up, and come see us in the WRITING CENTER!  Where our obsessions are strangely helpful!