Research Question: What are some of the problems that international students face while studying in America?
Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must overcome a language barrier, spend time away from their families, and learn to do everything in a new and different culture.
Identify the Sub-Topics
Research Question: What are some of the problems that international students face while studying in America?
Thesis Statement: While studying in America, international students must overcome a language barrier, spend time away from their families, and learn to do everything in a new and different culture.
Activity
Working with a partner, write a thesis statement that answers the following research question:
Arguing – writing to assert matters of public debate
Three basic types of essays: Informative, Interpretive and Argumentative
What type of essay is appropriate?
For each essay prompt below, determine the type of thesis statement that would be most appropriate (informative, interpretive or argumentative):
Should international students be allowed to obtain American driver’s licenses?
Write an essay discussing American values as they are represented in the movie Gone with the Wind
Write an essay about daily life in your home country
Do you think the American healthcare system needs to be changed? Why or why not?
Topic Sentences
Topic Sentences are drawn from the sub-topics found in the thesis statement
Each sub-topic in the thesis statement becomes the main idea for a paragraph in the body of the essay
Writing Topic Sentences
Thesis Statement: The negative outcomes of drinking alcohol include, but are not limited to: poor performance in school, an increase of risky behaviors, and alcoholism.
One of the negative outcomes of drinking is poorer performance in the classroom.
Another potentially negative outcome of drinking is an increased likelihood to participate in risky behavior.
A final and most serious outcome of drinking is the development of alcoholism, or an addiction to alcohol.
Activity/Homework
Complete the handout given in class (due Monday)
You may work with a partner while in class
Read pp. 48-57 in Sourcework, then complete Activity 2 on p. 59. Please write or type your answers on a separate sheet of paper so that you may turn them in.
