Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions; also see the revision notes.
Understanding
- ☐ I can define a thesis and explain why it is not necessarily one sentence or stated outright. (Guide: “What a thesis is”; “A thesis is not always one sentence, and not always stated”)
- ☐ I can list six things that look like a thesis but are not. (Guide: “Thesis versus things that are not the thesis”; practice question 2)
- ☐ I can describe thesis-first, thesis-last and implied structures. (Guide: the table of patterns; practice question 4)
Skills
- ☐ I can find the thesis in a short passage and quote it. (Guide: Worked example 1; practice questions 3 and 6)
- ☐ I can distinguish a fact, a counterargument and a sub-claim from the thesis. (Practice questions 3 and 6)
- ☐ I can apply seven methods for finding the thesis. (Guide: “Methods for finding the thesis”)
- ☐ I can describe the structure that leads to the thesis. (Practice questions 4 and 6)
Reasoning
- ☐ I can infer an implied thesis from irony and explain how I know. (Guide: Worked example 2; practice question 7)
- ☐ I can explain why Swift’s literal proposal is not his thesis. (Guide: Swift example; practice question 5)
- ☐ I can explain how a change of wording in a famous opening sentence is the thesis in miniature. (Guide: Stanton example; practice question 8)