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Chapter Three The First and Second Steps in Essay Writing College Writing Skills with Readings The First Two Steps point, or thesis. the thesis with specific evidence. Begin with a Point, or Thesis Common Errors in Writing a Thesis • ANNOUNCEMENTS rather than statements • Statements that are •Statements that are •Statements that contain more than one idea Announcements rather than Statements Ex.: I want to talk about the crime wave in our country. The sentence above merely tells the subject of the paper. A thesis statement must advance a point about a limited subject. A Good Thesis A good thesis is neither too broad nor too narrow: too broad Crime is a major concern of everyone in our country. too narrow My parents had only one child. JUST RIGHT A honeymoon is perhaps the worst way to begin a marriage. Statements That Contain More Than One Idea Ex.: My parents helped me grow in important ways, although in other respects I was limited. In the statement above, the reader is asked to focus on two separate points, each of which more logically belongs in an essay of its own. Support the Thesis with Specific Evidence Write down a brief version of your thesis and then jot down the three points that will support it. The Importance of Specific Details Develop your supporting points with specific details. WHY? Because •details excite the reader’s interest. •details serve to explain a writer’s point. The Importance of Adequate Details Provide enough specific details to fully support the point in a body paragraph. Review: Thesis Statements Too Broad, Too Narrow, Announcement, More Than One Idea or OKAY? ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Too Broad Computers have changed our society. Announcement The subject of this paper is alcoholism. More than One Idea My childhood was extremely stimulating, although in many ways I was sheltered. Announcement I will discuss the problem of drug addiction in this essay. Okay! There are three important steps we could take to deal with the problem of drug addiction in this country. Too Narrow When I was a kid, my favorite movie was "Star Wars." Too Broad We must do something about crime. More Than One Idea Television programs promote many stereotypes, yet they also can contain positive messages. Too Narrow There are more children who are homeless now than there were during the depression. Okay! Celebrities lead very stressful lives, for no matter how glamorous or powerful they are, they have too little privacy, too much pressure, and no safety. As a Class • Activity 1, pages 51, 52 Group Activities • • • • • • Activity 2, page 53 Activity 3, pages 59-60 Activity 5, pages 64-65 Activity 8, page 67-68 Activity 9, page 68-69 Activities 10-13, pages 70-72