English Terminology
Reading Work
All about the THESIS
Grammar
OK or NOT?
100
Thesis (you need to define it)
What is the sentence in a paper that indicates the focus and purpose of the entire paper. Usually found at the end of the intro paragraph.
100
Look at "100" on your sheet. What is the author's purpose in this essay? To explain a concept or to present an argument? **Explanation of your answer is needed
The author is explaining how to do critical thinking in college
100
Where can you find (and where should you put) the thesis for an academic paper?
At the END of an intro paragraph
100
Tall people—particularly tall men—earn more money and are held in higher esteem than their shorter colleagues, tall people also have higher IQs and a wider selection of mates. The association between height and success is perpetuated, in part, because tall, successful people marry tall and successful.
There is a runon in the first sentence. You can't connect 2 main clauses with just a comma
100
Is this OK or not for a thesis in SUMMARY paper? Lamott's essay is a useful tool for students who need help figuring out how to draft their papers.
NO- There is opinion in here: "is a useful tool" <--according to whom? Some people could say that it is not useful
200
Topic Sentence (You need to define it)
The first sentence in a paragraph (usually) that indicates what info the paragraph will cover
200
Look at 200 on your handout What is the author DOING in this paragraph (not saying, but DOING) (history - definition - compare/contrast - providing a reason - providing counterargument - describing a process - telling personal stories - etc?)
Defining "will to write" Telling personal story
200
Where can you find the thesis in an article that you read for class?
Sometimes in the Intro. Often in the conclusion. Sometimes it wont be one clear sentence.
200
Height doesn’t make people smart, parents who can afford to feed and raise their children well have kids that are both taller and smarter. There’s plenty of evidence that height is easily separable from intelligence.
There is a run-on in the first sentence
200
Is this OK or not as an argument thesis? Pollution is bad for the environment
No-- this is a fact. There is no argument here. No one could reasonably say that pollution is good for the environment
300
How are TOPIC SENTENCES related to the THESIS of a paper?
The Topic sentence indicates which specific part of a thesis you'll discuss in the paragraph. Topic sentences often use some of the language of a thesis so that the paper keeps a really clear focus.
300
This is the article title: “Finding the Good Argument OR Why Bother With Logic?" Is she arguing or explaining? (hint: look at that word Logic--that is the key word)
Why bother? means that the author is going to convince us that using logic is worthwhile and important
300
Look at the Handout under THESIS 300. What is Slattery's thesis? (HINT-- there is NO one sentence that serves as the thesis. You have to paraphrase it)
Slattery argues that being a true friend means caring about a friend's well being more than the friendship, which can mean saying things that a friend doesn't want to hear.
300
There are plausible biological explanations for why short people live longer. Researchers have found that the lungs of taller people don’t function as efficiently as those of short people. Meaning that height sometimes means biological difficulty.
The last sentence is a fragment
300
Is this OK or not? In his essay, Jones claims that "students seem much more eager to engage in activities that go well beyond the classroom" (pg. 33).
No. In an MLA citation, you only need the page number (33)
400
Signal phrase (define it)
A phrase that introduces quoted, summarized or paraphrased material by author by last name: Jones argues that Miller explains According to Smith,
400
Look at 400 on your sheet. Just from this conclusion paragraph, what do you know about the content of this article? What kind of info will the author give us in this article?
"choosing to follow some of these methodical approaches" "the above models" "The final model"”
400
Look at 400 on Thesis. What is Weiner's thesis?
When you disapprove of a friend's significant other, it is best to remain supportive instead of telling the friend what you feel.
400
The fact that tall people die younger appears to be an immutable physical reality. A short person is like a Honda Civic. In other words, compact and efficient. Tall people are Cadillac Escalades. Which basically means that with all that extra weight and machinery, something’s just bound to go wrong.
There are 2 fragments: In other words..... and Which basically means....
400
Is this OK or not? According to Joe, "An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on." (44)
No. Never use first name only. Period at the end of the citation goes after the final parentheses
500
What is the structure and content of an Intro paragraph?
Hook Basic Info Thesis
500
Look at 500 on your sheet. Can you tell from the title and the paragraph included (the conclusion) whose side the author is on (Yankees or A. Rod?)
No-- the author is just explaining what has happened. He is quoting the Yankees.
500
If the question is When a friend is in a relationship that you think is unhealthy, should you speak up? At what point? What should you say? What is YOUR thesis?
Thesis check.
500
WHERE'S THE FRAGMENT? Because it was raining, we stayed inside. Although the heat was on, we were cold in there. Which is why I decided to put on my sweatshirt. Eventually, the rain stopped, so we were able to go outside. Then, we played.
The fragment is Which is why I decided to put on my sweatshirt.
500
Is this OK or not? A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates what idea the paragraph is going to deal with. Every paragraph needs one. However, putting your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph can be very helpful for your reader.
The "HOWEVER" makes no sense. There is no contrast
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