Barbara Paynter
THESIS DRIVEN ESSAY OR PAPER
STEP #1 –
STATEMENT PLUS 2-4 ARGUMENTS
Expressed in 1 to 2 sentences and
found in the 1st paragraph.
This is your thesis.
It will provide the skeleton for your
essay or paper. All that is contained
in the thesis must be presented in
the paper or essay, and all that is
presented in the paper or essay must
be in the thesis.
You can’t put flesh on a skeleton
where there are no bones.
The paper or essay supports your
thesis.
If it is done well it proves your
statement. Remember that your
statement must be something that
can be argued. If all know your
statement is true, then it is not a
good basis for a paper or essay of
this type. This is a model for a
thesis driven paper or essay.
STATEMENT
(Your declaration)
FIRST
ARGUMENT
(usually
your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND
ARGUMENT
(usually your
weakest)
THIRD
ARGUMENT
(usually
your
strongest)
STEP #2
Take your 2ND STRONGEST
ARGUMENT and PROVIDE
PROOFS for that argument.
This can range from one paragraph
to several pages. The proofs are the
in-text (primary) and secondary
(others talking about the text or
subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE
AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author
or at least comes from a credible
organization or educational
institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as
SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey,
etc.
These sites are useful and can help
you form your thesis, but they are
NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia,
Ask.com, etc (all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
FIRST
ARGUMENT
(usually your 2nd strongest)
FIRST
PROOF
(usually
your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND
PROOF
(usually
your
weakest)
THIRD
PROOF
(usually
your
strongest)
STEP #3
Take your WEAKEST ARGUMENT
and PROVIDE PROOFS for that
argument.
This can range from one paragraph
to several pages. The proofs are the
in-text (primary) and secondary
(others talking about the text or
subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE
AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author
or at least comes from a credible
organization or educational
institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as
SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey,
etc.
These sites are useful and can help
you form your thesis, but they are
NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia,
Ask.com, etc (all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
SECOND ARGUMENT
(usually your weakest)
FIRST
PROOF
(usually
your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND
PROOF
(usually
your
weakest)
THIRD
PROOF
(usually
your
strongest)
STEP #4
Take your STRONGEST
ARGUMENT and PROVIDE
PROOFS for that argument.
This can range from one paragraph
to several pages. The proofs are the
in-text (primary) and secondary
(others talking about the text or
subject) evidence used to support
your argument.
Think of it as evidence in a trial.
ARGUMENT SOURCES NEED TO BE
AUTHORITATIVE.
Look for evidence that has an author
or at least comes from a credible
organization or educational
institution. Journals are great.
*********No blogs**********
Stay away from sites such as
SparksNotes, enotes, Pink Monkey,
etc.
These sites are useful and can help
you form your thesis, but they are
NOT authoritative.
Absolutely NO Wikipedia,
Ask.com, etc (all are blogs).
The number of proofs will vary.
THIRD ARGUMENT
(usually your strongest)
FIRST
PROOF
(usually
your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND
PROOF
(usually
your
weakest)
THIRD
PROOF
(usually
your
strongest)
STEP #5
STATEMENT PLUS 24 ARGUMENTS ARE
EXPRESSED AGAIN
AT THE END.
You have told them what you
were going to tell them (Step
#1), you told them (Step #2Step #4) and now you are
telling them what you told
them (Step #5).
You also may want to leave them with
something. The Ta-da. Make it a
statement that will make the reader
think about what you have said.
STATEMENT
(Your declaration)
FIRST
ARGUMENT
(usually
your 2nd
strongest)
SECOND
ARGUMENT
(usually your
weakest)
THIRD
ARGUMENT
(usually
your
strongest)
TA-DA
(a little something to think about)
During the FIRST QUARTER in this
class you will receive
INFORMATION,TOOLS, AND
PRACTICE IN ALL THE SKILLS you
will need to construct a QUALITY
LITERARY ANALYSIS RESEARCH
PAPER at the end of the course.
Some of you are already familiar with
this type of paper and are experts at
how to cite a paper using MLA.
OTHERS…NOT SO MUCH.
We will all work through the process
together. I ask patience from those
who “KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW
ABOUT THE PROCESS” and the
undivided attention of those who are
yet to learn the ropes.
TOGETHER – WE CAN DO IT!!
The FINAL PAPER in this class will
be a LITERARY ANALYSIS RESEARCH
PAPER, dependent on a student
constructed defensible thesis about
literature (novels, plays, short
stories, or poetry).
It is highly suggested that you begin
thinking about the literature you are
already familiar with, and pay close
attention to the literature we will be
covering during the first quarter.
START NOW EXPLORING THE
FORMATION OF YOUR THESIS, SO
THAT YOU WILL BE READY LATER.
You may want to pick works for your
QRA READING that would help in
this pursuit. REMEMBER THAT
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES ARE
EASIER TO FIND FOR CLASSIC
LITERATURE. Professors are not
analyzing contemporary works.