****SPAM**** Re: The Thesis Statement

Apologies for taking this opportunity to self publicise, but James's reference to two books about abstract writing

led me to want to draw attention to another, though it is now out of print, following the demise of the small publishing company that produced it.

The book is Called Writing your Abstract: a guide for would be conference epresenters. It was written by Gavin and Susan Fairbairn and published with APS publishing, who then collapsed and solod out to another company who had no interest in the book. You can see it on Amazon (though they don't seem to have any copies) at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Your-Abstract-Would-be-conference-Presenters/dp/190387713X/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276788796&sr=8-7

I am currently talking with a new company about a new edition, but if you have an interest in the old one, you can let me know and I'll send you a copy of the manuscript, which actually has things in it that are useful for developing any kind of writing.

Best wishes,

Gavin

Hi Alex

I am afraid that I am unfamiliar with the idea of a thesis statement or what
a good one is. Perhaps the term is used more in the Arts than the social
sciences.

I have, however, been thinking about how we can improve the thesis
abstract - which in itself might be considered as a thesis statement?

The short paper attached might be of interest in this respect.

Cheers

Jim

James Hartley
School of Psychology
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
UK
[log in to unmask]
http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/ps/people/JHartley/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence.Cleary" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: The Thesis Statement

Hello, Alex.

I am assuming that you want this to be part of a discussion on the
list-serve.

For me, the thesis statement is the point of order. In academic papers,
we make claims that we aim to defend, ask questions that we wish to
answer, identify problems that we seek to solve or express hypotheses
that we propose to affirm or negate. A thesis statement is that claim,
that question, that problem, that hypothesis, but what is important for
me is that each of these types of thesis statements unfold in a way that
is natural to it. There is nothing in that unfolding that does not
contribute to the answer, the defence, the affirmation or negation, or
the solution. If there is, then that deviation needs to be well marked
so that it does not interfere with the logic of the main point of the
paper.

If we ask questions, our strategy is to answer them. If we propose a
hypothesis, we test it and draw conclusions about its validity based
upon the results of our test. If we make a claim, we defend it. If we
state a problem, we seek a solution. The manner in which we seek to
defend, answer, solve or test suggests an order, but whatever that
procedure is, its unfolding needs to be natural not only to itself, but
to the paper's intended readers. A good thesis statement, then,
communicates the topic and, to some extent, the scope of the
conversation. It allows the reader to anticipate the logic of its
unfolding.

Sometimes, a paper fails not because of its thesis statement, but
because the logic of the unfolding does not correspond to the order that
is promised by the nature of the thesis statement. Sometimes, we play.
We work for disharmony between what we have to say and how we say it or
present it, but we do so with intent. Occasionally, this strategy works
to great effect, but it is risky and, unless done very, very well, is
more often poorly received. It is more likely that we want our message
carried by a form that corresponds to it, the logic of how we organise
our ideas a persuasive element natural to logic of our message. So for
me a good thesis statement is one that identifies what is coming: what
will be talked about, what will be achieved (a question answered; a
claim defended; a hypothesis affirmed or negated; or a problem solved),
and some sense of how the argument will unfold. A good paper is one that
delivers on the promise of the thesis statement, or else surprisingly
doesn't in a way that evokes delight and wonder at the craft (as in
Swift's "A Modest Proposal").

Best,

Lawrence Cleary,
Research Officer,
Shannon Consortium Regional Writing Centre, UL,
Center for Teaching and Learning
Office: C1-065
Drop-in Space: C1-066
Tele: 061-202607
Mobile: 086-8370561

PS The Writing Centre is located in a central, permanent location in the
University of Limerick's main building: C1-065 and C1-066. As well as
providing an administrative office, our location offers a dedicated
space for One-on-one Peer Tutoring in Writing, enabling students to
either drop-in during the hours posted or, if they prefer not to wait,
make an appointment for individual attention from a peer writing-tutor.
Students can go online to make an appointment. Encourage students to
register by going to our homepage, www.ul.ie/rwc, and clicking on the
link to WCOnline, our online appointment scheduler.
-----Original Message-----
From: European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing -
discussions [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alexander Baratta
Sent: 16 June 2010 21:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Thesis Statement

Dear Colleagues,

I would be grateful if as many of you as possible might be able to
respond to two quick questions regarding the thesis statement, or
'argument' as it is known in the UK.

1. How would you define a thesis statement?
2. What is a good thesis statement?

Thanks for your assistance on this matter,

Best wishes,

Alex Baratta