ESSAY WRITING * FROM SUBJECT TO TOPIC * A topic is a narrow branch of the subject ( it is important to have a very specific topic, DO NOT BE BROAD) * IT IS ESSENTIAL TO NARROW DOWN YOU TOPIC * Ex: General Topic: media → Narrowed Topic: Commercials → Even More Narrow: How commercials manipulate their audience → Super narrow: How breakfast cereal commercials manipulate primary school children into eating sugary foods * There is never a limit to how narrow you can get with your topic * The topic determines what area you will discuss, but not the position you will pursue * Begin with a narrow topic before singling out your thesis statement * TECHNIQUES TO NARROWING DOWN YOUR TOPIC * Narrow your topic to a problem or question * Ex: Topic: Medieval architecture → Question: How did the duties and responsibilities of master masons set the stage for their future role as architects of the great cathedrals during the middle ages? * Narrow your topic chronologically * Shift the question slightly to emphasize time period, ex: When did the duties of master masons… * Narrow your topic spatially (ex: a geographical division, or something in relation to someone or something else) * Ex: the Kyoto accord → in North America…in Canada…In parliamentary divisions in Canada * Narrow your topic by dividing and subdividing it * Ex: First division: Medieval builders and their method * Second Division: Role of the master builder * Third Division: The evolution of the master mason to architect during the middle ages * FROM TOPIC TO THESIS * Do not deviate from the thesis statement, the thesis provides a backbone for you to structure your essay around * FIND A CONTROLLING STATEMENT * Tell yourself “in this essay I am going to argue that/ show that/ explain how….” * Take your narrowed focus interest question and then come up with a controlling statement (answer the question) * You need to find a “because-I-want-to-find-out-how/why” statement to provide a rationale for the topic * You need to find a purpose/significance to the results of your research * In this essay I am going to examine how the principles of war were applied in the Normandy Campaign because I am trying to find out to what extent they were followed in order to judge the performance of the First Canadian Army * This intentional formulating of your controlling idea is to explain to yourself: * What your topic is * Why your studying it * Why it is important * THE THESIS IS NOT… * a statement of fact * a statement that is self-evident * a question (it is in fact the answer to your own question) * a universal truth that you need to defend to the death * THE THESIS IS… * A STATEMENT PRESENTS THE ENTIRE ESSAY IN MINIATURE INFORMING THE READER OF HOW THE DISSCUSION WILL UNFOLD * The tag phrase, “the intent of this paper…” “ This paper will argue/ examine/ show…” has redundancy that is unnecessary, it is clunky * SHARPENING THE THESIS * Look at the five W’s: * How? * In what way? * To what extent? * Why? * So what? * EXAMPLES * Thesis #1: The internet is a useful tool for distance education students * It is useful in what way? * How is it useful? * Which students does it affect? * Thesis #2: The internet enables distance education students to research a topic easily and effectively (better) * Thesis #3: Because up-to-date data and information on a range of topics and from credible sources is readily available on-line, the internet is an invaluable research tool for the distance education student (there is reason and it is moving towards an argument, however it is not the final thesis that you will put on the essay * YOUR THESIS SHOULD BE… * Unique * A position on a specific topic * Anticipate an argument