Chapter 3: The Full Three Storey Thesis
Self-Evaluation of Your Two-Storey Thesis
Taking Measure
Complete the self-evaluation of your two-storey thesis below. Your ideas are complex and therefore your thesis statement should be long enough to explain your thoughts. Eventually this thesis statement will be the introduction to your paper, so you want to make sure that it is strong before you begin writing your entire essay.
Each question requires a “Yes” or “No” answer. For each “Yes” response, give yourself one point. Your final score will be a mark out of twelve (ex: 10 “Yes” responses = 10/12).
Components
Did you identify a specific audience (Who? Where? When?)
Y/N
Did you identify two specific pieces of evidence?
Y/N
Did you identify a central paragraph or paragraphs (one or two paragraphs from which you will draw your key observations)
Y/N
Did you briefly paraphrase the AUTHOR’S argument? Is it a statement that can be agreed or disagreed with?
Y/N
First Storey: Evidence/Observations
Is the first piece of evidence something you can literally point to in the text?
Y/N
Is the second piece of evidence something you can literally point to in the text?
Y/N
Does each piece of evidence have evocative connotative value?
Y/N
Second Storey: Argument
Have you focused on the AUTHOR’S ARGUMENT? You should not be voicing your opinion on the author’s topic.
Y/N
Does your proposed analysis of the author’s argument follow from the evidence provided?
Y/N
Is your paraphrasing/reconstruction complex? More than half a sentence?
Y/N
Style
Did you avoid the use of second or first person pronouns? (I, we, us, our etc)
Y/N
Did you avoid words from the Control-F List, opens new window? (society, technology, people, etc.)
Y/N