Note to instructors
This document contains two exercises dealing with introductions and thesis statements.
Option A is meant to be a homework exercise, to be discussed in the next section. You can
include the introductions from anywhere from two to five essays, whether previous
student papers or journal articles from your discipline. Option B is an in-class variation
focusing on only one element (thesis) to save time.
This document is intended to serve as a shared resource for instructors in the Harvard
community. Please feel free to download and adapt it for your course. If your students ask
about its origin, please attribute it to the Harvard College Writing Program.
Option A
Handout for students
Introductions
The first goal of this exercise is to help you identify what elements make for a successful
introduction. Using the criteria outlined below, you will judge and rank introductory
paragraphs taken from several model essays. For our next class, come prepared to discuss
your rankings. You will ultimately leave class with a clearer sense of expectations as well as
some concrete strategies to tackle the upcoming paper.
Here’s what to do:
1. Read
A. The criteria for a successful introduction outlined below
B. Model Essays
2. Identify the three main introductory parts of each essay
3. Judge and rank: Using the criteria below, determine the following:
A. What’s working successfully about each introduction? Less successfully?
Why?
B. Of all the models, which contains the most successful introduction? Rank
the models 1 (the most successful) to 5 (least successful). Be prepared to
discuss your rankings.
Criteria: A successful introduction should:
1. Frame an analytical problem: The “problem” is the central question or dilemma
the essay will focus on. It may be long-standing, or detectable only upon close
inspection.
2. Include an arguable thesis: The “thesis” is the main position the essay will set out
reasons to defend. The “thesis” can be thought of as the answer to the question or
problem posed in the introduction. The thesis should be true but arguable; and
limited enough in scope to be argued with the available evidence.
3. Establish what’s at stake in the essay: Establishing “what’s at stake” is another
way of stating why the paper’s thesis needs to be argued at all. Establishing stakes
makes clear why someone might want to read the essay (perhaps the thesis isn’t
obvious to all readers, or perhaps other plausible theses are less persuasive).
Option B
Handout for students
Thesis Statements
The first goal of this exercise is to help you identify what elements make for a successful
thesis statement. Using the criteria outlined below, you will judge and rank thesis
statements taken from several model essays. Be prepared to discuss your rankings. You
will ultimately leave class with a clearer sense of expectations as well as some concrete
strategies to tackle the upcoming paper.
Here’s what to do:
1. Read
A. The criteria for a successful thesis outlined below
B. Model introductions
2. Judge and Rank: Using the criteria below, determine the following
A. What’s working successfully about each thesis statement? Less successfully?
Why?
B. Of all the models, which contains the most successful thesis? Rank the models 1
(the most successful) to 5 (least successful). Be prepared to discuss your
rankings.
Criteria
A thesis statement is:

The main position the essay will set out reasons to defend

The answer to the question or problem posed in the introduction
A successful thesis statement should be:

True but arguable

Limited enough in scope to be argued with the available evidence