Writing Center Archives Vol. 1, Issue 3 at
Please note that this is an archival copy. It has not been changed from the original; as such, not all links will work properly! For the most up-to-date information, check out the Writing Center web site or associated Evergreen web sites.
Write On
Weekly writing information and resources from the Evergreen Writing Center
Vol. 1, Issue 3 [View Other Issues]
Visit the Writing Center's brand new Web site at www.evergreen.edu/writingcenter
This week’s theme: Expository Essays
Quote of the Week
"How can I know what I think till I see what I say?"
-- E. M. Forster
Tip of the Week: Three Characteristics of a Good Thesis
The idea behind the above quote from E.M. Forster is that during the process of writing, we often come to new realizations about exactly what it is we are trying to convey to our readers.
This is very true of expository essays. By definition, an expository essay must make a specific argument about a specific topic. In other words, you need to have something to say. The place to begin developing what you want to say is your thesis, a one sentence statement that makes an assertion about your topic.
Your thesis statement plays a pivotal role in your essay. All of the information you discuss must relate clearly back to this statement. In fact, the entire purpose of your essay is to explain and support your thesis. By determining a clear thesis statement, you will give focus to your essay and make your argument clear for your reader.
Here are the three characteristics of a good thesis:
1. Specific Subject: Avoid broad topics. Narrow your discussion to specific items, people, or situations.
Example:
American Civil War > President Lincoln > Emancipation Proclamation
(large topic) (specific person) (specific act of Lincoln)
Thesis: President Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation as a strategy for wining the Civil War, not because he wanted to free the slaves.
(specific argument about Lincoln’s motive for his action)
2. Clarity: Avoid vague assertions by defining generic words such as important, interesting, influence, difficult, society, media, good, bad, we…
Unclear Thesis: Our thoughts are influenced by the media.
Revised Thesis: The number of commercials an average American is exposed to on a daily basis contributes to frivolous consumerism.
3. Originality: Don’t simply state your topic or a fact. Present an original, specific argument that demonstrates your angle on the subject.
Unoriginal Thesis: The rain forest is an important resource.
Revised Thesis: The destruction of the rain forest and the thousands of unidentified species within it will delay the cure for cancer.
For more information on thesis statements and expository essays, as well as on many other writing topics, visit the Handout section of our brand new Web site.
Web Site Review – www.nutsandboltsguide.com
As troublesome as they may be at times, expository essays serve a very distinct purpose. By explaining the material that we research, we can sort through our ideas and eventually come to "know what we think" by means of "seeing what we say". However, we could all use a little help during this endeavor.
One of the more helpful Internet resources is www.nutsandboltsguide.com, a refreshing Web site made by Professor Michael Harvey of Washington College. Using an easily navigable sidebar, the site provides examples, advice, and solutions that will help writers of all levels produce clear, concise essays.
For instance, www.nutsandboltsguide.com has a section that discusses tried-and-true methods for finding a topic, forming an argument, making an outline and writing a first draft. For more specific needs, there is a section that offers advice on rhetoric, concision, and clarity. The sections focusing on emphasis, parallelism, and mechanics will help any writer with the revision and proofreading process.
The site covers MLA, APA, Chicago, and CBE style guides. For most people, this is all the citation information they will ever need.
This excellent cite will provide you with all the information necessary to turn your paper into a dazzling final draft.
Writing Center News
**Contract Student Writing Support Group**
Mondays 3:00 - 5:00 in Library 2221
Contract students: you're not alone! Bring your works-in-progress to a writing support group and get feedback galore. You can:
- Receive peer feedback on current writing endeavors
- Participate in a writing community for independent writers
- Learn how to listen and respond effectively to your peers' writing
**Outlines and Organization Workshop**
Wednesday, April 16th, 4:30-6:00pm, Library 3500
Come check out one of our most popular workshops ever! This workshop offers tools for essay organization and discusses how outlines can help you shape your information into a useful format. We will practice making outlines as well as discuss other organizational strategies.
This spring the Writing Center will present an entire series of open workshops, from "Avoiding Plagiarism" to "Writing Evaluations." For a complete list of workshops, check out the Workshop section of our Web site.
Stump the Tutors
Each week in this section we'll answer questions on various writing-related issues submitted by our readers. This week's question:
Q: I have a question on commas that seems like it should be easy, but I haven’t gotten the same answer twice.
A: I was always taught to use commas between groups of three or more items: red, white, and blue; she likes pizza, soda, and popcorn; etc. Many people tell me, though, that you should only use a comma when the items are phrases: she likes buttered popcorn, grape and root beer soda, and pizza with all the trimmings. Then I notice that journalists tend to never use a comma to separate the last item or phrase.
What is the correct usage? Is there only one correct format, or are all of the above considered acceptable?
A: We’re glad you asked! Although many people would agree that both formats are correct, the preferred method in academic writing is to use the comma before the last item or phrase. That final comma is not always necessary, but it is never wrong and can often clear up some confusion in a sentence.
Here are some examples of the problems that can occur when an author does not use the final comma (often called a serial comma or an Oxford comma):
I would like to dedicate this book to my parents, Ayn Rand and God.
In the evenings I like to read, relax, paint and wash my car.
For the company picnic we brought sandwiches, chips, watermelon and potato salad.
However, the serial comma should not be used between items that are intrinsically linked. This situation often occurs when talking about food, and these compound terms should be treated as one word. Do not use a serial comma before the and in phrases like peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, liver and onions, etc.
Examples:
For dinner I ate broccoli, a baked potato, and macaroni and cheese.
I enjoy pasta, vegetables, and fish and chips.
I made a variety of sandwiches including ham and cheese, tuna, and peanut butter and jelly.
Journalists almost never use a serial comma because they tend to avoid superfluous words or punctuation. They have other things on their minds – like saving column space. In academic writing, though, the serial comma is your friend.