A Practice Exercise: Due Saturday, 4/14 by 8PM
Please post in "WoK papers" folder in FirstClass classroom.

How to develop a thesis

 

Follow the directions below and develop one paragraph that you will then post into our class "WoK papers" folder. (If you're in Diane's seminar post your paragraph in "Diane papers" folder, and if you're in Tom's seminar post your paragraph in "Tom papers.")

Here's the assignment:

You have now read, written about, and discussed three separate readings (Nutting, Plato, Sophocles' Oedipus ). You have probably seen that they are discussing some of the same issues. These issues could be stated as questions. Examples might include: What are some of the important characteristics which contribute to leadership? What does it mean to be wise? What does it mean to know?

1. Review your reading notes, seminar discussions, and markings you have made in your texts. Decide on the readings you wish to choose for this assignment. You will be asked to link (synthesize) two of the three readings; either Plato and Nutting or Sophocles . Think about some of the issues or questions that either sets of authors are discussing. List those issues. (An example of an issue would be: the role of a teacher. Or in question form: What is the role of the teacher? or the problems of seeking truth; in question form: What problems are encounted in our ability or lack of ability to seek truth? )

This portion of your work will help you discover the idea you will choose to develop in your thesis paragraph. At this point you may have several ideas you are working with. These will be narrowed down to two or three ideas as you continue to review the readings. Finally, choose one set of authors and one of those issues and again re-look at each of the readings (Nutting and Plato or Sophocles).

2. In order to figure out what each author is specifically claiming about the issue or question you have identified, find quotes which relate to the issue in each of the texts. When you are sure of the claims, write each claim you will make for each author in a separate sentence.

3. Now figure out how the claims you are examining relate to one another (e.g. how they are similar or different). In one sentence state what you can say for sure about how these claims relate.

Here are some examples from Nutting and Socrates:

• Nutting and Socrates both placed a high value on wisdom.
• Nutting and Socrates both have contempt for those who presume to know more than they actually do.
• Nutting and Socrates both think that "narrowness" harms the person and leads them away from wisdom.

This sentence --i.e., the one you will write out relating the two claims of these two authors -- is your thesis statement. In a future writing exercise (not this one) you will eventually prove this thesis with supporting evidence (quotations and explanations) that you have found or will find.

4. Choose one or two quotes (i.e., supporting evidence) you have found that relate to your thesis statement, and then explain why you think the quote(s) allows you to make the thesis statement you did.

Now following all these steps above, one by one, write your own thesis paragraph which states, supports, and explains your discovery about one specific issue or question dealt with by both Nutting and Plato, or Socrates.

So that's your assignment. Submit these paragraphs to the papers folder. Please do not use attachments but rather cut and paste.

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Now here is an example:

A, [The question]: How do Nutting and Socrates differ in their approach to seeking the truth?

[Possible answer] It seems Nutting’s approach to the truth reflects a respect and responsiveness to different ways of knowing whereas Socrates implies that he is the sole judge of what truth is. [This ANSWER or CLAIM would be your THESIS.]

B. [Now here is a supporting quote]:

The following quote demonstrates that Nutting seems open to many ways of knowing and is willing to evaluate the beliefs of others according to their own standards . He says, "The wise man understands and sympathizes with all seekers after truth. He respects them and tries to understand the methods by which they work , the criteria by which they judge their results, and the kind of certainty they have a right to claim" (12).

C. [Here is an explanation and quote supporting the second part of the thesis]:

On the other hand Socrates challenges others’ beliefs and judges them against his own standards., He says: "Then if one of you disputes this and says he does care, I shall not let him go at once or leave him, but I shall question him, examine him and test him, and if I do not think he has attained the goodness that he says he has I shall reproach him because he attaches little importance to the most important things and greater importance to inferior things" (30a).

D. [Put these elements together in one paragraph and you will have a model of a mini-essay with a thesis statement, evidence, and explanation.]

Nutting and Socrates differ in their approach to seeking the truth. It seems Nutting’s approach to the search for truth reflects a respect and responsiveness to different ways of knowing whereas Socrates implies that he is the sole judge of what truth is. The following quote demonstrates that Nutting seems open to many ways of knowing and is willing to evaluate the beliefs of others according to their own standards . He says, "The wise man understands and sympathizes with all seekers after truth. He respects them and tries to understand the methods by which they work , the criteria by which they judge their results, and the kind of certainty they have a right to claim." (12). On the other hand Socrates challenges others’ beliefs and judges them against his own standards., He says: "Then if one of you disputes this and says he does care, I shall not let him go at once or leave him, but I shall question him, examine him and test him, and if I do not think he has attained the goodness that he says he has I shall reproach him because he attaches little importance to the most important things and greater importance to inferior things" (30a).

 

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p.s. There are many other ways to develop and write a thesis paragraph. The way we have suggested here is only one way. But this way does exemplify the major elements of good critical writing:

• A strong, clear, and specific thesis which is provable
• Supporting quotes which are fully explained in terms of their relationship to the thesis statement.
• Transition statements (such as "on the other hand") which help the reader follow the argument of the writer
• Subject matter confined to the texts being examined rather than extending to the world at large
• You may wish to look at the Writing Resource page for more help