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Homework help

it's all good.

Thanks everyone!

March 17, 2014

7 Comments • Newest first

nopaycheck

Here's how a proper essay should look:

P1: Intro. Thesis should be in the latter half.
Most ppl use the intro to build up your point of view/argument and then conclude it with a thesis. That is fine, but you don't have to.
Another option is that you can also have the thesis somewhere near the end and add a few sentences to briefly defend your thesis and lightly define what topics you're going to cover in your body paragraphs. That way you have a more effective transition into the subsequent paragraphs.

P2~Px: However many body paragraphs you need to justify your thesis. High school level usually requires 3.

P(x+1): Conclusion. Wrap it up by summarizing the main parts of your essay in a non-repetitive way. Also include a takeaway message that answers "what was the point of reading your essay?"

To me, the concluding paragraph is by far the hardest. I can spend days editing a conclusion to perfection while I only spend a few hours on intro and body paragraphs.

Good luck.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
LordyGaga

Yup, looks like you got it right. Take a look at how the writer seems to be defending that sentence throughout the whole article. Think of the thesis as the main argument of your paper. You live by that thesis and defend it as you go. Any paragraph that does not is either fluff or should be put into a foot note. Good job!

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
ehnogi

A good English teacher will tell you that a thesis statement does not always have to be the last sentence of the first paragraph. It [b]should[/b] be in the first paragraph (or thought), but doesn't always have to be the last sentence. The thesis statement is the broad message of an essay. What is the author trying to tell you? This is why you need to initially present what you're going to talk about in your first paragraph. This applies to scientific journals (abstracts) or creative writing alike.

For an article, I suggest looking at the title; what does it say? "Screening for calcium could get millions off statins"; whatever sentence first mirrors this message is the thesis statement. So your interpretation seems to be correct.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Irony

I've only recently got introduced to the concept of thesis statement, main ideas and dominant thought patterns and I'm having difficulty with this particular article.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Hazza

[quote=Hibrenator]Lol, Like last sentence of the first paragraph or the whole article?[/quote]

Depends on what the sentence says.

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Hibrenator

[quote=Hazza]Is it wrong that I always just chose the last sentence?
OT: The last sentence. *thumbs up*[/quote]

Lol, Like last sentence of the first paragraph or the whole article?

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited
Hazza

Is it wrong that I always just chose the last sentence?
OT: The last sentence. *thumbs up*

Reply March 17, 2014 - edited