Annotation Blog #14: "From Inquiry on Thesis Statements"

1) Summary/ Main Ideas:

• thesis- "an assertion that academic writers make at the beginning of what they write and then support with evidence throughout their essay" (99).
• thesis is: clear, focused, and supported, reflected on writers opinion of the issue, and is in the beginning of the essay
• working thesis- " your first attempt at an assertion on your opinion"(100).
• three models- misinterpretation model, gap model, modification model
• "thesis must set up a context for the writer's claim" (104).

2) Quotes & Reactions/ Responses:
-"never accept your working this as your final position" (100).
I like this quote because I get nervous when writing my thesis because I always feel pressure writing around it. When I learned what a working thesis was I was relieved to hear that you can change your thesis based off your idea, even when they change.
- " Misinterpretations model: 'Although many scholars have argued about X and Y, a careful examination suggests Z'"(114).
I think this model is easiest to use when writing a research paper and a counter argument. I liked this model the best.
-" The thesis penetrates every paragraph, holding the paragraphs together, just as a skewer penetrates and holds the ingredients of a shish kebab together" (99).
I found this metaphor interesting because I have never thought of a thesis that way.
3) Questions for Discussion:
-Do you aways have to put it in the beginning of the essay?
-Can you use all the models in your essay without contradicting yourself?