Thesis writing process: your prewriting steps (do not include the prewriting steps in your essay)…
1. List 6 questions you have about the essay (its components, subject matter). Try to ask
questions about the ideas in the text but stay away from simple questions that invite answers
from the text. Focus on questions that invite you to develop an answer that reflects your ideas.
Use the topics/content in Sullivan’s essay as a springboard to write your questions.
2. Pick your 3 best questions. Challenging, interesting, yet achievable (answerable).
3. Write out a “speculative” answer for the three questions. Use your own thinking as the primary
material for the answers (it is your opinion). Don’t get your answer from Sullivan’s paper and don’t use outside research. The answer is your “theory” and your thesis.
4. Narrow again using the #2 question criteria and ask yourself this question: Do my ideas add
something “new” to Sullivan’s discussion?
5. One question and answer set should be chosen. This forms the basis for your paper (and your
thesis in the form of your answer).
THE PAPER:
Introduction should have the following components (in this order). ALL 4 ELEMENTS SHOULD
BE IN ONE PARAGRAPH (your first paragraph)
1. Introduce your source (source of the assignment–Sullivan’s ” Thought”) and give a brief
summary of the main idea/ideas in his essay
2. Talk about the problem or thinking that leads to your question. This should address a specific
theory Sullivan describes in his essay. What specifically did Sullivan say in his essay that gave
you pause? What did you find wrong, mysterious, or lacking? Try to explain it…
3. Offer your question (from #5 above in the prewriting steps)
4. Provide your answer/thesis (from #5 above in the prewriting steps)
The rest of the paper (body paragraphs) should provide reasons along with evidence to prove
your thesis. You can use personal examples, anecdotes, informal examples/scenarios as support
for your ideas. The supporting discussion should be specific and detailed but informal and
anecdotal (i.e. no trips to the library and you don’t need to use formal sources from articles or the
Internet). Just support your thesis with detailed explanation and specific examples that will
bolster your thesis.
3 pgs. full (minimum) 12 pt., DS, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please read before attempting to tackle the Argument Essay assignment. This is
my lecture leading into the actual assignment:
https://scccd.instructure.com/courses/40516/files/6357807/download?
verifier=aDxGkBTwYuAcpx3NrJv2pWkLyxbVbVLDYd7m8S1x&wrap=1
Assignment:
https://scccd.instructure.com/courses/40516/files/6357787/preview?
verifier=DutpbxUlUmtfhiOHdHWZ8LdgerDXskb7s9SsExr0
