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Writing 5
English Language Program
In creating a thesis statement for your paper, you must consider these
things. Does your thesis…
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Give a topic and a focus to your paper?
o Topic: cultural expectations of marriage, secondhand smoke, globalization, etc.
o Focus: answers when/where/why/how this topic is relevant to what/who,
o Focus: may give causes, effects, comparison of ideas, show process, make an
argument, etc.
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Give a clear and strong answer to a particular question?
o Are your words easy to understand by the reader?
o Can there be any doubt in the readers’ mind about what you will discuss in your
essay?
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Provide an overview of the subtopics you are going to discuss?*
o *Not always necessary, but gives a good starting organization to your paper!
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What has the phenomenon of globalization done for the
world?
In discussing this, you may consider:
o Positive and negative effects
o A timeline of events
o Predictions for the future
o A combination of these ideas
o Any focus that is logical for this topic!
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You will not use “I” in this paper!
You may use what your wrote in your journal as a
starting point 
Creating an outline is an important step to making a working thesis.
Open the Assignment #2 handout online to complete these things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
After determining the focus of your paper, outline the subtopics
you think you will discuss
Consider how you may find outside support (other information
from other sources) to support these subtopics
Search online or in the library for materials that can support
your subtopics. I expect at least one outside source for each
subtopic.
Note: you may change your outline or thesis after looking for
outside support for your ideas! 
This handout is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday. Please
bring your laptops!
Begin writing!
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Decide which ideas you will paraphrase from your outside
sources to include in your essay. There should be at least
one outside source in each body paragraph, and you
should include the name of the author and year for this
source. (Use internet resources to help you!)
o Note: quotations are permitted, but only one for the entire essay.
The majority of your words should be your own!
o Due Monday: a rough draft of your body paragraphs only (you may
write an introduction and conclusion if you want, but this is not
required)
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Finalize a thesis statement for your paper:
o Highlight your topic sentences and use these to help you form a thesis
o Be sure your thesis uses clear language and directly states the topic
and focus of your paper
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Choose a hook (quote, statistic, short story, etc.)
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Work on conclusion
o Restate thesis
o Summarize main points
o Include closing thought
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Check format of in-text citations
Imagine that your reader knows nothing about the topic of your paper…
Give more RENNS:
• Reasons
• Examples
• Names
• Numbers
• Senses
Ask yourself wh-questions:
• Why is this idea significant?
• Who does this phenomenon
affect?
• Where is this affecting people?
• When did this phenomenon
begin showing an effect?
• How is this affecting people?
• What needs more explanation?
• What effects can be predicted
from this?
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Underline thesis statements and topic sentences 
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Check format of citations
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Ask me questions about finding author/date of sources
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Expand your ideas if needed to reach minimum of 2 pages
for the assignment
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Adjusted due date: 5:00pm – however, please give me your
folder (if you have it) today!
In APA style, a formal
assignment does not
include your name or title
on the same page as the
written work. The cover
page includes:
Title of work
Name
Institution/class
*Running head: title
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Page numbers go in the
upper right hand corner of
the header
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The header should also
include the title of your paper
in all capital letters
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In the header function of
Word, you must click
“different first page”
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Note: the first page of your
paper will say “2” and will not
include your name
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On the reference page,
remember to type
References centered at the
top of the page
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All references should be in
alphabetical order without
numbers, and include a
hanging indent
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Add to assignment #2:
o Cover page
o Page numbers
o Header
o Reference page
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Underline adjective (relative) and adverbial clauses in your
paper, and reduce at least 2 of them following the
guidelines on the worksheet
o If you don’t have any of these clauses, add them 