Creating a Thesis

Creating a Thesis

Without a thesis, a personal perspective on or larger truth found in the material, there can be no essay. And thesis statements do not emerge from the cloudy mists of one’s brain magical. They arise out of being aware of the details to such a degree that a pattern emerges. And there is a process by which you can make this happen. First, let’s look at the order of material.

TOPIC

A broad collection of materials that for many have similar characteristics which allows them to be grouped together for any number of purposes, such as Horticulture, the Light Spectrum, Bottom Feeding Fishes, Lingerie, and even Fairy Tales. You cannot write a paper on a topic. They are too large, yes, but more importantly they are nouns or noun phrases, and as such, contain no position or feeling or belief or any of the personal positioning that a thesis demands.

TOPIC ASPECT

A subset of a topic. In the case of Fairy Tales, they would include things such as Witches, Stepmothers, Villains, Child Heroes, Happy Endings. Again these are nouns or noun phrases and so papers cannot be written about them. Do notice though that they are things that occur elsewhere than in FTs. Topic Aspects are not exclusive to that Topic. Witches could also be found under the Topic Occupations for Women.

TOPIC ASPECT STATEMENTS

A curious characteristic of human beings is that no matter what they know or don’t know about a topic or topic aspect, they have an opinion about it. The mind will scramble what it knows, like an air base under attack, to present an answer or explanation when challenged. This is why psychologists use Word Association tests: they expose how we association things which in turn help define us.

In writing, when put in sentences, these statements are the formative material of Thesis Statements. For example, when presented with Happy Ending we might respond: “There is not such thing.” Or “Everybody dreams of them.” Or “Even if you get one, they never seem to last.” Or “in FTs, they always involved finding valuable stuff or getting married.”

Now notice what happens when we start putting them together: Every one dreams of acquiring valuable things and getting happily married.” – This is a thesis.

So whether you think you understand enough to write a paper or now, I assure you that you do. And you can find it if a) you identify as many Topic Aspects as possible from our readings of the materials, and b) you write out at least one Topic Aspect Statement about it. From the mass of material you create will emerge 1-2-3 statements that link in your mind in some way that pushes you to prove it or find out why.

So . . . . .

CREATE A LIST OF TOPIC ASPECTS relating to FAIRY TALES (here are some from class to get you going – ADD to it)

VILLAINS

TALKING ANIMALS

HELPERS

CHILD HEROES

ABSENT FATHERS

STEPMOTHERS

KINGS

SIBLINGS

WRITE A TOPIC ASPECT STATEMENT ABOUT EACH OF THESE

This is simply any sentence that contains how you feel or think about each of these. You could well have more than one. Remember: these topic aspects do not only apply to FTs. So do not try to limit yourself to FT applications. Only by accessing your total experience will you end up with a truly great thesis.

BRING YOUR WORK TO CLASS – WE WILL MERGE ALL OF IT SO YOU HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO CREATE A THESIS