1.True or False:
Thesis Statements
Thesis Statements
True or False: A good thesis statement is a fact.
False. Good thesis statements need to state a claim that can be proven through supporting points, details, and explanations.
Which of the following makes the best thesis claim? A: Even though Mina was respected and given credit for being an integral part of defeating Dracula, Mina Harker still represents the central ideas of the traditional Victorian woman because (insert 2-3 points). B: I am going to explain 2-3 reasons why Mina Harker still represents the ideas of a traditional Victorian woman. C: Mina Harker was a traditional woman.
A. A thesis statement should not directly announce your topic by using phrases such as, "This essay will talk about…" or "I am going to explain" Thesis statements need to be specific with claim and often include supporting points. The last one could be viewed as a fact or too broad / vague and needs a stronger claim to argue.
True or False: Embedding or integrating quotes causes reader confusion because the reader cannot differentiate between the source and the essay writer.
False: If done correctly, embedding or integrating quotes creates a smoother flow and more cohesion within the paragraph.
Example: The problem with the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
It is only a topic and is a fragment. It needs a true claim with supporting points.
True or False: Using "in the text," "it states," "the novel states," "the quote shows" are all acceptable phrases to use in formal writing.
False: The first statement needs to be strengthened by word choice for what it is. It is okay but there are better ways to word a lead-in. The last 2 create personification in formal writing where both the novel and quote cannot state or show anything.
True or False: A good thesis statement sticks to asserting one main idea.
True. A good thesis statement will focus on the one, central idea of the essay.
Which of these is a thesis statement? A. Knowing a foreign language is a necessary life skill. B. Why should people know a foreign language? C. Knowing a foreign language is a very useful skill because it can help one advance in a career, relate better to others, and open one's mind to the ideas of another culture. D. Learning a foreign language.
C. A thesis statement is a complete sentence. A thesis statement is not a question. The thesis statement presented establishes a topic (Knowing a foreign language), a claim (can help one advance in a career), and this one includes supporting points (3) in a parallel structure.
True or False: A quote sandwich includes the main idea, the dropped quote, and an explanation of the quote.
Example: Being a vegetarian is better.
Needs stronger word choice with claim and supporting points. Being better than what? Not L.A.M.E. enough.
Choose the better lead-in to the quote: A. Stoker pointed out that Van Helsing told Mina, "...." (citation). B. Kidd expressed her anger when she had Lily yell, "..." (citation). C. Just when her father was about to drive off, at the end of the novel, Lily ran out and asked T-Ray, "...?" (citation).
C. There is a necessary story detail to place the reader in the accurate point in the plot in addition to a speech tag. The first one is worded awkwardly plus story detail is needed to be clear for the reader. The second one is unclear and confuses author and protagonist.
Which of these is a thesis statement? A. Michelangelo's artwork is powerful because of its strong spiritual undertones. B. Michelangelo's artwork is famous and is admired by many. C. Michelangelo was a great artist in Rome during the 1500's.
A. A thesis statement states and makes an arguable claim on a topic. It doesn't just state the topic, itself. A thesis should not be a fact. There is nothing to prove. This thesis statement in A also includes 1 supporting point which would allow the writer to develop, support and prove them with just one point. It can be done but can also be harder to prove claim.
True or False: A dropped quote is also known as a quote and run that does not have a proper lead-in, proper format, and/or analysis.
True
Example: My parents and I are very different.
Too broad or generalized. If writing a personal, informal thesis, the claim and word choice still needs to be stronger with supporting points.
Choose the better lead-in to a quote focusing on author's style or narration: A. Lily shouted with excitement and hope: "...." (Kidd page). B. T-Ray's character shows some progressions towards the end of the novel when Kidd portrays him as a man who has lost his compassion when"...." (page). C. Rosaleen portrays a black woman who is mistreated by society when Posey yells, "..." (Kidd page).
B. This focuses on the author's display of characterization while the other two focus on analysis of the characters and story content instead of the author.
True or False: Your thesis statement states the main idea of the essay and usually in two sentences.
False. Usually in one clear, precise sentence with claim and supporting reasons.
Which of these makes the best thesis statement? A. Ambiguity in literary work of fear B. Ambiguity in literary works can create an atmosphere of fear by (insert 2-3 supporting points). C. Being ambiguous is mentioned in several Gothic Literary stories. D. Gothic Literature focused on ambiguity.
B. A thesis statement is a completed sentence, not a fragment, and can be made more specific by listing subtopics or reasons. These help give your reader a clear idea of what will follow in your essay. C and D are both too vague, broad, or unclear.
True or False: If you cite your author within your text (also know as your sentence), you do not need to repeat the author's last name in the citation.
True: You only need pagination. If there isn't any pagination, then you do not need a citation because giving a shout out to the source within your sentence also counts.
Example: Dracula was a symbol of fear.
Is a claim but too broad / vague. Adding supporting reasons or points would also make this thesis more effective.
True or False: A summary or paraphrase is where you combine a direct quote and your own words, and since you are using your own words plus the quote, you do not need to cite.
False: A summary or paraphrase is always in your own words and should still be cited, but if you add a summary or paraphrase plus you include a part of a direct quote, you must still accurately format the quote with quotation marks and cite at the end.
True or False: "The Count in Bram Stoker's Dracula represents fear." The above statement is a poor thesis statement.
True. This statement is broad or vague. There are many aspects of fear. The thesis needs to L.A.M.E. and needs to have two distinct supporting points.
Which of these makes the best thesis statement? A. Franklin Delano Roosevelt began the system of Social Security during the depression years in the 1930s. B. We shouldn't have Social Security anymore. C. The current system of Social Security needs a complete overhaul in administration and philosophy if it is going to benefit future generations. D. Social Security needs to be changed or completely done away with.
C. A-a fact; B-too general, too opinionated in word choice, and should be more specific; D presents an argument but seems to have two claims which are too broad and not specific or L.A.M.E. C-clearly states one topic plus claim with two supporting points.
True or False: Incorporating dialogue into a literary analysis can cause reader confusion regarding the speakers.
True: To effectively integrate dialogue, break the dialogue apart using speech tags and citations. Then, provide analysis.
Example: Lily Owens should return home to her father T-Ray.
Why? Needs supporting reasons why to make more effective.
True or False: In most cases of MLA formatting, your parenthetical citation should be at the end of your sentence, whether your direct quote does not extend to the end.
True: Even if you cite a short part of a quote at only the beginning or middle of your sentence, you still place your citation at the very end.