Day 5: Thesis Statement, Introductions and Conclusions

ObjectivesàStudents will be able to:

•  Identify the criteria of a strong thesis statement
• Practice revising weak thesis statements
• Identify types of introduction hooks
•  Understand the parts of an introduction
•  Understand the parts of a conclusion
• Practice identifying parts of a conclusion

Daily Plan

Part I: Introduction to the Engineering Activities  (3:30-3:40)

We will discuss how the Engineering Activities will assist us in constructing our Diagnostic Analysis Essay, which is due at the start of class on the 25th. To do this, we will look to the sample activities and go through the process as a class. The first Engineering Activity o Thesis Statements will be assigned today in class. 

*Please note that there is a sample Diagnostic Essay from previous semesters posted on this webpage.

Part II: Thesis Statement Rules  (3:40-3:55)

You will get into groups and come up with a definition of a thesis statement. Then you will come up with 4 rules thesis statements must follow (The 4 Commandments). You can use search online for assistance. We will then share/discuss as a class and look to the Thesis PowerPoint materials.

Part III: Thesis Practice (3:55-4:20)

You will work in pairs or as a group to do this thesis exercise--What's Wrong?. Discuss answers as a class. Next, open your diagnostic essay and work together to peer review each other's thesis according to today's materials. Consider these criteria:

1) Does it include one main idea?
2) Does it take a stance?
3) Does it set the reader up to understand the what will come next in the essay?
*Avoid: Using Pronouns, Non academic Language 

Part IV: Introductions (4:20-4:35)

Introduce yourself to someone in the class. The introductions should include something other than just their name (perhaps their majors, or their home country, or an interesting fact, etc.) What kind of information did they share with each other? Was the person hearing the introduction interested? We interest readers by providing a hook to our essays:

What are some ways to hook readers?

ü  Quotes

ü  Facts/Statistics

ü  Definitions

ü  Personal story/anecdote

ü  Striking example

ü  Intriguing statement

Next, you will work in pairs to identify the hooks used in this Exercise (Hooks).After the exercise is completed, we will discuss what commonly follows hooks:

o   Justification - why is this topic important? what is relevant, interesting, or problematic?

o   Background - some general background on the topic to make it more clear to the reader (definitions, current events)

o   Thesis statement - the central idea of the paper

o   Introductions move from general (the big pieces of information) to specific (what exactly do YOU plan to say on this issue)

*For a more comprehensive analysis of the structure of the introductory paragraph, click HERE. 

Part V: Conclusions (4:35-4:45)

We will have a brief discussion the format and function of the conclusion paragraph. Remember, conclusions also normally contain at least one of the following:

ü  A call to action (now that you have proven your position, this is what should happen next!)

ü  A question (you have proven your position, so what happens if nothing changes?)

ü  A prediction (you have proven your position, and if things don't change this might happen; or if things change, then this might happen; etc.)

*For a more comprehensive look at the structure of the conclusion paragraph, click HERE. 

 

Homework For Thursday 11/13: Engineering Activity 1

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