Thesis development

1. Thesis development How, why, what’s important

2. Overview • It’s not easy because you’re trying to come up with something new • Be patient with not knowing, & not quite nailing it the first time. • That’s because you’re pushing outside your comfort zone and what you already know. • The basic question: What’s at stake here? • What matters to me and most people about this topic? • What could people disagree about? • Could be an interpretation of a book, not always moral or political questions

3. A couple tricks of the trade • Example: Your dumb topic is McDonalds’ food. • Your 3 part thesis: “McDonalds food is cheap, greasy and fattening.” • Have you said why it matters? Arguable? What will we learn? • When you have a statement that’s not quite arguable, or is simply boring, try these quick fixes: • Rank which your topics is more important • Add a “Because” statement • Rankwhich of these is most important: • “McDonald’s food is cheap and fattening, but the high fat content is the most unhealthy part about it.” • Now you have something to prove and explain—a high fat diet is worse than just high calorie. • Use a Because statement to improve it • “McDonald’s food is greasy and fattening, but because it is so cheap, poor people are lured into making poor health choices.”

4. Try that with our topics • With a partner: • Rank which is most important • Say why that’s important • Thesis 1: I disagree with Fein and Schneider’s advice in The Rules. Love is about giving, sharing and caring.” • Thesis 2: “The Brain in Love” shows that all of our ideals about caring and giving and selflessness are basically just hormones gone crazy. • Thesis 3: “Cinderella” teaches girls some good lessons about perseverance and humility, but it also teaches girls to put up with abuse and never have a voice.