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2. A “D.B.Q.Is Like a Hamburger

3. The Introductory Paragraph The “Top Bun” of your essay! 4-6 sentences

4. The Introductory Paragraph • Establish TIME & PLACE. • Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT.[underline or highlight it!] • Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement • Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence! No “laundry list!”

5. The “”Meat”” Paragraphs The “tasty” part of your essay! 5-7 sentences+ per paragraph

6. The “”Meat”” Paragraphs • Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence. • Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph. • Use most of the documents given. • Bring in supportive outside information. This is critical!! * o.i.’s = “outside information” • Why were these documents selected?

7. Questions to Ask Yourself About the Documents • Attribution  Who is this person? • Why might they be significant? • What is the point of view (POV) of the author? • How reliable and accurate is the source? • What is the tone or intent of the document author? • What other information does this document call to mind? Use all available clues. Remember, docs. can be used in a variety of ways!

8. NEVER just summarize the documents – make sure you are using them in an analytical manner! • NEVER create a list of documents one after the other. • HINT: Make statements of your own that prove the thesis and then use information from the documents to support your statement.

9. How to Reference a Document in Your Essay • Thomas Paine, in his pamphlet, Common Sense, said: “………………….” • Joe Smith, a mid-Western delegate to the Republican convention in 1912, agreed with….. • The 19c historian, Frederick Jackson Turner, felt that …………………. (Doc. E) NEVER begin with: In Document 3, …

10. The Concluding Paragraph The “Bottom Bun” of your essay! It holds it all together! 3-4 sentences

11. The Concluding” Paragraph • Start with a “concluding phrase.” • Restate your thesis statement a bit differently.

12. Put It All Together, And . . . .

13. Good Thesis Statement • Bad Topic----Music (to broad) • Good Topic---Rap Music (specific) • Bad Thesis--- Rap music has many good and bad influences. • Good Thesis---Rap is not offensive and positively influences urban youth (ask yourself, does that sound arguable? Will people disagree with this statement?)

14. Points of proof Generally three points of proof • Good points of proof • Gives urban youth a chance for artistic expression • It’s a form of street poetry • Inspires youth to overcome challenges • Bad points of proof • Rappers do good things as well • Some lyrics are positive • Kids look up to the rappers

15. Polished Thesis Statement • Rap music is not offensive and positively influences urban youth. Rap music inspires urban youth to overcome challenges, offers an important opportunity form artistic expression, and allows them to articulate the poetry of the street.

16. Don't simply state a fact. Because a thesis must prepare readers for facts and details, it cannot itself be a fact. For example, this thesis simply states a fact: • Last year saw a decrease in the number of "bad girl" roles in Hollywood. • It should always be a generalization demanding proof or further development. Here's a revision of the thesis above:   • The decrease in 'bad girl' roles witnessed in 1998 reflects the conservative backlash against strong female characters in the media.

17. Don't be too broad. You want to be particularly careful to limit the scope of your thesis statement and too avoid one that is too broad in scope or too vague. And in general, you want to try not to depend on a faulty generalization -- a generalization using words such as "all", "none", "no," "any", "always," "never", "only" and "everyone" that implies that the one particular instance you are talking about applies to all instances of something.

18. Don't create a circular or "weaseling" thesis. A circular thesis doubles back on itself, saying only what it has already implied. For instance:   • The growing popularity of American Gladiators shows that people are more interested in watching gladiators than ever before. • Instant replay should be banned from the NFL because it allows you to watch plays again once they have been completed. • Here are revised examples:   • The growing popularity of American Gladiators reflects America's increased desensitization to violence. • Instant replay should be banned from the NFL because once a play has been completed or a call has been made, it should not be revisited or reevaluated by nit-picking referees.

19. A "weaseling" thesis, according to the 5th edition of The Random House Handbook, is one that "asserts so little that it expresses nothing more than the writer's wish to stay out of trouble" (75). For instance:   • Internet pornography is a controversial subject. • Although some people approve of V-chip technology, others don't. • You need to take a risk, take more of a stand, and offer an idea that will require support and illustration to make it convincing. For instance:   • Because too many children are stumbling upon sex sites on the web, all pornographic materials should be banned from the internet.  

20. Don't "Beg the Question". The term "begging the question" means settling the question before you've even discussed it -- prejudging the issue. By using loaded terms and phrases in your thesis statement, you can come away sounding close-minded -- a reader might not want to read an essay that from the first paragraph forbids any disagreement. For instance, this thesis "begs the question":   • Fashion magazines have no right arbitrarily to define standards of "beauty" that, by demeaning and debasing the average woman, lead directly to eating disorders. • On the other hand, the following revision makes just as strong a statement, but uses more objective and fair language.   • The highly idealized concept of beauty marketed by fashion magazines contributes to the anxiety over body image that leads many women to eating disorders. • Keep in mind, the goal of any thesis statement (and introduction for that matter) is to state your position on an issue, clearly but without alienating your readers.

21. Don't Use Either/Or Reasoning. Using an either/or construction in your thesis tends to reduce your argument to extremes -- an alarmist technique that pretends the only alternative to your point of view is something quite horrible. Here's an example:   • We must eliminate violent content from television or we will end up raising generations of thoughtless murderers. • It is much better to admit that your opponents might have good reasons for their views -- reasons that you don't find completely convincing. Remember, if the issue were one of Right vs. Wrong, there would be no point in debating it.

22. A FEW MORE TOPICS & THESIS EXAMPLESTOPIC: body piercingBAD: Body piercing is popular among kids nowadays.BETTER: Body piercing among contemporary youth represents the latest form of rebelling against authority that previous generations manifested in smoking, getting tattoos, and wearing mini-skirts. • TOPIC: female musiciansBAD: Female musicians are getting more popular.BETTER: During the past five years, musical artists like Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, and Jewel have solidified a place for women's music on the top ten charts. • TOPIC: news coverage of military actionBAD: News coverage of military actions undermines their seriousness. BETTER: By featuring highlights of air strikes and peace-keeping missions on the news, television producers reduce them to the status of popular entertainment and undermine the audience's appreciation of the seriousness of military actions.