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Warm Up
Pick up the grammar warm up and complete it.
You have 5 mintues.
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Comma or no comma
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Fused sentences (AKA run-on sentences) are two
independent clauses smashed together with no punctuation.
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Comma splices are two independent clauses combined
using a comma.
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Incorrect grammar
STILL incorrect grammar!!
Two independent clauses must use a comma AND
conjunction to be combined.
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Otherwise, use a period or semicolon (if you know how)
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Writing the Argument
Essay: Constructing a
Thesis
ENGLISH 1301
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The Position
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An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and
justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could
be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-andeffect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the
argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the
claim is true based on the evidence provided.
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Argumentative Thesis Statement
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Example: High school graduates should be required to take a
year off to pursue community service projects before
entering college in order to increase their maturity and
global awareness.
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The paper that follows should:
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Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that
students should pursue community projects before entering
college
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Your goals
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Write an argument to convince the audience concerning the
nature of happiness
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Develop a statement that reflects your argument
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Construct at least three crucial points to prove your argument
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Offer examples, details, facts, anecdotes (but watch the use
of “I”), etc.
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Ultimately, your audience should be convinced that you
understand something profound about the nature of
happiness.
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Is this thesis good or bad?
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The state of happiness is subjective.
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Happiness is subjective and is not easily described since it
may vary as a result of numerous factors, among them culture
and social class.
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I believe happiness is subjective and based on numerous
factors.
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Happiness is getting what you want because that makes
everyone feel better.
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It is important that one understand that happiness is
subjective, based on ever-changing ideas and circumstances.
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Thesis Checklist
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Did I answer the question? Re-reading the
question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help
you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.
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Have I taken a position that others might
challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no
one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you
are simply providing a summary, rather than making an
argument.
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Is my thesis statement specific enough? Avoid
making broad, general statements.