1 Effective Thesis Statements and Textual AnalysisLEADERS IN LITERACY CONFERENCE Effective Thesis Statements and Textual Analysis Aiken County Public School District January 13, 2017 Zeke Miller (803) You can also send me a message through Schoology; just look for my name Power point template opening slide
2 Essential Questions 1. How can I help my students create effective thesis statements? 2. How can I help my students learn how to effectively analyze textual evidence to include in their essay? aiken county public school district
3 Session Outcomes As a result of attending this session, attendees will have Reviewed the power point for how to write effective thesis statements and textual analysis Analyzed example thesis statements together to determine the essential elements within them Written their own thesis statements based on information given to them Analyzed a piece of textual evidence together to develop insightful commentary on issues presented Written their own analysis on a piece of textual evidence to develop insightful commentary on issues presented aiken county public school district
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5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMDOZW6rPs aiken county public school district
6 Information Provided Step by stepDetailed explanations given for each step Multiple examples given of model technique Follow the formula aiken county public school district
7 Effective Thesis Statements Essential QuestionsWhat criteria does a high quality thesis statement have to follow? How can I assess my thesis statement to determine if it is high quality or not? aiken county public school district
8 The Most Important Criteria for a Thesis StatementAdvances a Claim, not merely an Observation Boo saves Jem and Scout. Boo saves Jem and Scout because he cares about them. Need to clarify how the claim matters to our understanding of the broader meaning of the text: By saving Jem’s and Scout’s lives, Boo demonstrates his need to protect the aspects of innocence and hope within his world. aiken county public school district
9 Thesis Statement Breakdown Key(Con) Contrast/Counter: (C) Character or Characters: (What) What does the character do?: (Meaning) Why?/Meaning: (I) Issue/Focus: aiken county public school district
10 Thesis Statement Breakdown using Key (Visual Practice)(Con) Contrast/Counter: (C) Character or Characters: (What) What does the character do?: (Meaning) Why?/Meaning: (I) Issue/Focus: aiken county public school district
11 Thesis Statement Breakdown using Key (Visual Practice)Model Thesis Statement: Although the town of Maycomb views Boo Radley as an inhumane monster in To Kill A Mockingbird, his desire to form a friendship with Jem and Scout reveals his true humanity. aiken county public school district
12 Thesis Statement Breakdown using Key (Written Practice)On the thesis statements handout, analyze each thesis statement, and determine the elements that reside within by labeling them with the appropriate symbol from the Thesis Statement Breakdown Key. aiken county public school district
13 Review Thesis Statement Breakdown Written Practice (Using Key)Analyze each thesis statement, and determine the elements that reside within by labeling them with the appropriate symbol from the Thesis Statement Breakdown Key. Visualize and write down the formula at the end aiken county public school district
14 Practice Writing Your Own Thesis Statement using Key (Visual Practice)(Con) Contrast/Counter: Jem seems to be an innocent Southern boy (C) Character or Characters: Jem (What) What does the character do?: begins to understand Boo Radley’s perspective and reacts to Tom Robinson’s conviction (Meaning) Why?/Meaning: loses his innocence (I) Issue/Focus: innocence aiken county public school district
15 Our Thesis Statement on JemPlaceholder aiken county public school district
16 Practice Writing Your Own Thesis Statement using Formula (Written Practice on Handout)(Con) Contrast/Counter: Beowulf has heroic strength (C) Character or Characters: Beowulf (What) What does the character do?: has selfish motivations behind his actions (Meaning) Why?/Meaning: reveals he is not a true hero (I) Issue/Focus: hero aiken county public school district
17 Insightful Analysis Essential QuestionsWhat is the point of analyzing a piece of textual evidence? How can I develop insightful ideas that go beneath the surface level of the text? aiken county public school district
18 The Most Important Criteria for Insightful AnalysisANSWER WHY aiken county public school district
19 3 Types of Why Questions to DevelopWhy question developed from a piece of your quote (the piece that strikes you, the reader, the most) Why question developed to connect quote to topic sentence Why question developed to connect to thesis statement aiken county public school district
20 Important Elements of Essay so FarTopic Sentence: Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf shows heroic strength. Thesis Statement: Although Beowulf has heroic strength, the selfish motivations behind his actions reveal he is not a true hero. aiken county public school district
21 Quote to Analyze (Visual Practice)The speaker says, “The monster’s hatred rose higher, / But his power had gone. He twisted in pain, / And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder / Snapped, muscle and bone split / And broke” ( ). aiken county public school district
22 Possible Questions to Analyze Quote (Visual Practice)Why does Grendel’s bone split? Why does ripping Grendel’s claw off show great strength? Why does this moment make Beowulf look like a hero? aiken county public school district
23 Answers (in Note Form) to Possible Questions to Analyze Quote (Visual Practice)Why does Grendel’s bone split? Tries to get away Pressure from Beowulf’s force Why does ripping Grendel’s claw off show great strength? Grendel’s a monster Supernatural strength Uses bare hands Why does this moment make Beowulf look like a hero? - Defeats the evil force - Saves the people with his strength aiken county public school district
24 Answers (in Sentence Form) to Possible Questions to Analyze Quote (Visual Practice)On Handout aiken county public school district
25 Important Elements of Essay so Far (Written Practice) ; Refer to HandoutTopic Sentence: Although Beowulf has heroic strength, he constantly brags about his accomplishments to feed his ego. Thesis Statement: Although Beowulf has heroic strength, the selfish motivations behind his actions reveal he is not a true hero. aiken county public school district
26 Quote to Analyze (Written Practice)When Beowulf arrives to Hrothgar’s kingdom, he stands in front of the Danish king and says, “They have seen my strength for themselves, / Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, / Dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove / Five great giants into chains, chased / All of that race from the earth” ( ). aiken county public school district
27 Possible Questions to Analyze Quote (Written Practice)Why ? aiken county public school district
28 Answers (in Note Form) to Possible Questions to Analyze Quote (Written Practice)Why ? aiken county public school district
29 Revisiting the Presenters Meeting OutcomesAs a result of attending this meeting, presenters will have Reviewed the power point template for how to write effective thesis statements and textual analysis Analyzed example thesis statements together to determine the essential elements within them Written their own thesis statements based on information given to them Analyzed a piece of textual evidence together to develop insightful commentary on issues presented Written their own analysis on a piece of textual evidence to develop insightful commentary on issues presented aiken county public school district
30 Essential Questions 1. How can I help my students create effective thesis statements? 2. How can I help my students learn how to effectively analyze textual evidence to include in their essay? aiken county public school district
31 Questions? questions to OR Send a message through Schoology aiken county public school district