1. Growing an essay Beyond the 3 part thesis

2. When you were in middle school, you were probably taught to write essays using a 3-part thesis.

3. The 3-part thesis sounds like this: The idea of courage in To Kill a Mockinbird is demonstrated through the characters of Atticus Finch, Scout Finch, And Boo Radley.

4. The 3 part thesis gives beginning essayists a handle on the task. The 3 part thesis organizes your thoughts into separate paragraphs.

5. It also tells you what to do first.

6. Essentially, it’s an outline in the thesis. • Atticus • Scout • Boo Radley

7. But the problem is that it’s limiting. You end up only able to write a 5 paragraph essay.

8. 3 part theses are like training wheels.

9. At some point they get in your way.

10. The day comes to take them off.

11. We’re not trying to kill you!

12. We’re taking you from a kiddie bike to the big-time.

13. But, as my father used to say, you can’t fight something with nothing. So how do you make the switch? What does a non-3-part thesis look like?

14. 1. You keep it more general and open-ended. Example: Harper Lee’s characters show that even in weakness, a person can have a profound effect for good, if he or she shows enough courage.

15. Notice how that leaves you plenty of room. You are not hemmed in by your 3 topics.

16. So where do nice, fat, content-rich theses come from?

17. You have to grow them.

18. You start with an idea, an observation, and interest.

19. You water and sun it with more information, research, quotations.

20. Above all, give it your attention.

21. 2. You must have an outline. You can get lost if you don’t plan your essay.

22. This takes some work. You have to generate ideas, do research, create material out of which you can build your essay.

23. Have you ever sat at your computer trying to make something from nothing?

27. You can imagine how good those essays are, too.

28. A little bit of time outlining saves us both from an awful fate.

29. But remember: outlines are made, not born. It’s a messy process and that is fine.

30. To make an outline, you jot down random ideas. Use one side of the paper ONLY.

31. Go back through the book to find more ideas. Look for stuff you missed before.

32. Remember, you’re growing this essay. Don’t skimp on the water and the sunshine.

33. When you have LOTS of ideas and material, start sorting it into piles.

35. You will quickly see where you have too much info and need to make 2 or more paragraphs.

36. Or not enough. That means you need to find more.

37. The key is letting things grow, with lots of tending from you.

38. You will start to see connections and subtleties you hadn’t noticed before.

39. Your ideas grow deeper and more intricate.

42. A 3-part thesis allows you to write an essay without much thought.

43. But your brain is there for a reason.

44. Allow your thoughts to grow and develop like seeds in fertile soil.

45. Who knows what glory they might blossom into?