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Help Me Think of a Thesis

Discussion in 'Questions and Answers' started by Seeking Answers, Nov 30, 2009.

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  1. Seeking Answers

    Seeking Answers New Member

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    Alright, so I have a three page paper due tomorrow and I'm at a loss for what to write about. The assignment seems very vague to me and my professor won't email me back. Here's the assignment, as written on the syllabus:

    "[The paper] should center on your reaction to the work. Tell me what you think of the book, what you felt was powerful or weak, what you identified with or didn't identify with, what you felt sounded true of unbelievable."

    That's pretty much it. The book is called Losing Absalom and here is a short summary of it. http://litmed.med.nyu.edu/Annotation?action=view&annid=482

    Obviously, I'm not looking for anything specific unless you happen to have read this book, but I don't know how to get started on this paper. I can't get a sense of direction, and I have no clue how I can combine those elements into a thesis to get me started.

    Remember it's due tomorrow 12/1! Help!

    I really appreciate any comments. Thanks guys.
     
  2. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    A thesis is basically the opening of your paper. It details what the paper is going to be about. Think of your reaction to the paper first and write the thesis and conclusion afterward. A paper does not have to be written in order and despite it being due tomorrow 3 pages is no big deal.

    Just get something down and go from there.

    I find it's easier writing a thesis to an already written paper than trying to write a paper around a thesis. You have more freedom that way.
     
    sking29 likes this.
  3. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    brad you didn't have to post anonymously :shifty:
     
    SICK likes this.
  4. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    i disagree. write your thesis first. then write the paper. the paper should be structured around your thesis. otherwise you run the risk of jumping off topic, etc.

    i would answer each one of his questions and just include that in my thesis. not the long answer, just a summary of the long answer.
     
  5. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    ^ potato potahto :tongue:

    just write something :lol:
     
    unluckyluciano likes this.
  6. Seeking Answers

    Seeking Answers New Member

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    Here's what I've got. Too thick on vocabulary or content? I think I'm happy with it.

    "A simple man in a complex world of violent neighborhoods, racism, poverty, disease, and tragedy, Absalom does not have it easy, and what moved me the most in this book was the collision of so many different moving pieces into a rupturing earthquake of past and present, love and scorn, and dreams and truths."
     
  7. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    Is this a college paper or HS paper?

    If it's HS you might be able to get away with it but my composition teacher would have told me it's too wordy and to break it down further.
     
  8. Seeking Answers

    Seeking Answers New Member

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    It's college, but it's a freshman level class. I think it's kind of wordy too. I think I want to split the first part off into its own sentence, but I'm not sure how to do it and transition into the second part.
     
  9. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    If it were me I would reword it to put the subject towards the front of the sentence and work the emotion and scene towards the end.

    "The story of Absalom is one of a simplistic man..."

    etc.
     
  10. 2k5

    2k5 I miss Ted Ginn Jr.

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    Ok, revised it a bit. Thesis is bolded. So much for anonymity :smackhead: :lol:


    Although Losing Absalom was not a book filled with immense action or breathtaking twists, I found myself very engaged in the dramatic story of the Goodman family. The dynamic relationships and changing perspectives kept me interested in what is, really, the story of Absalom’s life. From the tales of his childhood to his caustic death, Absalom wants nothing more than to provide for his family and to give his children a ladder of escape from the inner-city. Absalom’s story is one of a simplistic man in a complex world of violent neighborhoods, racism, poverty, and tragedy. The most powerful aspect of Losing Absalom, to me, is the multitude of similar collisions throughout the book, which lead to a rupturing earthquake of past and present, love and scorn, and dreams and truths.
     
  11. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    I'm not sure about the grammar involved but the structure looks fine to me.
     
  12. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    *** I am late, but I can give you some good tips for university level papers. ***

    In writing a paper, you must first establish your argument (your thesis). If your thesis can be answered T or F, then it is not an argument. THIS IS NOT A SUMMARY! You are expressing a point of view to be argued.

    Your argument = claim + warrant

    Claim = assertion

    Warrant = validates (proves) claim via analysis/explanation/evidence.

    Your collective evidence will help support the claim.

    **MAKE SURE YOU WARRANT EVERY CLAIM**

    NEVER let the textual evidence speak for itself. Tie in your point of view.


    I am sure you will probably use MLA format and have to sign an academic honesty statement. Don't plagiarize!
     
    2k5 likes this.
  13. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    BTW, LOVED O.A.R. before they went radio. Some of their recent stuff is OK, but seeing them at the Jewish Mother (and several other places along the east coast) in VA Beach drinking and singing along to "Crazy Game of Poker" were great memories.

    If you like them (their older stuff), I got some other bands you might like:

    - Virginia Coalition
    - Tar Beach (not together anymore, but they got some great stuff. Website may still be up)
    - Dispatch
    - Can't say Dispatch without State Radio

    Dude, I could do this all day. Just go to a Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN, in July and you'll catch some good tunes (and probably a good buzz....from...the....vibes).
     
    2k5 likes this.
  14. 2k5

    2k5 I miss Ted Ginn Jr.

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    You have to check out the new live album, Rain or Shine. They recorded it this summer in Chicago over two nights, both of which I was at. They say this one was for the fans, and a lot of the people who haven't liked their new stuff as much love this album. 37 songs and over 4 hours of music, and I picked it up for only 15 bucks at Target. It's amazing.
     
    Colmax likes this.
  15. Colmax

    Colmax Well-Known Member

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    Nice. Will def check it out.
     
    2k5 likes this.
  16. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I know this paper was due over a week ago so I can't help you with that one now, but for future referrence a thesis presents a stance or an argument. If I was asked to write about the tastiest fruits in the world, for example, I would begin the first paragraph stating what fruits I have tried or why I am an authority on the subject. It does not matter how relevant it will be to the rest of the paper because it is only there to lead the reader to your thesis. The last sentence should be a direct statement about the fruit of your choice and why you chose it...nothing else.

    Not only are apples among the most nutritional fruit for the human body, but they are also naturally sweet and are a compliment within several types of meat and poultry dishes.
    My next three paragraphs would address apple nutrition, sweetness of apples, and using them when cooking meats and chicken. Nothing more, nothing less. For your assignment, those paragraphs would be around 3/4 page each...if you don't have that much argument about each of those facts, then choose a different thesis.

    In your thesis, you basically wrote-

    I like apples, pears and strawberries because of their wonderful tastes, textures, aromas, availability, storage life, and colors.

    While technically still a thesis, you are making it much harder on yourself to present a straightforward argument and your teacher will clearly spot this and grade you lower. For your assignment you were supposed to choose one of those aspects and argue it...not necessarily all of them. A good thesis there could have been-

    Although Losing Absolam had some promising moments, it was a poor overall book selection for a class assignemnt because the majority of the text presented unrealistic characters, a story line was poorly written, and there was far from enough dialogue to keep the reader entertained.

    I've never read the book and the thesis may be completely crazy...but that is what a thesis statement is...an opionon. If you do not believe what you are writing, nobody else will either. Professors look for honest work that was well though out...do you really think they enjoy grading 20 duplicate papers that all repeat exactly what he already said in class?

    I challenged all of my college English classes and never attended more than two days in any of them combined....if you need help message me.
     
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