Assignment Instructions/ Description
ASSIGNMENT #1THESIS PLUS EXPANSIONDUE: Monday, February 25th by 6:30 pmAll submissions are via canvas in a WORD document formatEvery paper, whether Persuasive or Analytical has a main point, a main idea or acentral message. The argument(s) you make in your paper should reflect this main idea.The sentence(s) that captures your position on this main idea is what is known as thethesis statement.A thesis statement focuses your ideas into two or more sentences. It should present the topicof your paper and make evidence based comments relating to your position on the topic.Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guideyour writing and keep your argument focused—essentially, it is your papers Road Map.Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. It should also be limited towhat can be accomplished in the specified number of pages. Being specific in your paperwill be much more successful than being general about your chosen idea. It should alsoreveal what position you are trying to argue/analyze in your paper. Instead of merely statinga general fact or resorting to a simple pro/con statement, YOU MUST DECIDE WHAT THEPAPER IS GOING TO SAY.Thesis Statement(s)Your thesis statement should:(1) Make an argumentative assertion about a topic and the conclusion that youhave reached about your topic;(2) Make a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of yourpaper i.e., the Roadmap of your paper;(3) Be focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper;(4) Be generally located near the end of the introduction—however, it maybe expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph;(5) It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments;(6) It avoids vague language, and avoids the first person;(7) Identify the relationship between the pieces of evidence that you are using tosupport your argumentExamples:Persuasive/Argumentative Thesis Statement Example (not exhaustive):1High School graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue communityservice projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and globalawareness because….The Persuasive/Argumentative paper that follows should: present an argument andgive evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects beforeentering collegeAnalytical Thesis Statement Example (not exhaustive)2:An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facingcounselors: accepting students with high test score or students with strong extracurricularbackgrounds…this is problematic because…The Analytical paper that follows should: explain the analysis of thecollege admission process and explain the challenge facing admissions counselorsIn order to create a cohesive thesis statement, each of you are required to submit a ThesisPlus Expansion. This expansion should in essence explain to your reader the broad nature ofyour topic. It will allow you as the author to garner a 360 degree view of your topic. It shouldat minimum include: a brief overview of your topic, discusses what the central framework is,the at-issue laws/regulations, premise of your arguments etc.
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