Contents
Cal Poly Pomona

Students: Essay Tips

The Sheridan Baker Thesis Machine *

Step 1: TOPIC

State the topic under consideration.

  • cats
  • freshman composition
  • grades

Step 2: ISSUE

State the specific issue in the form of a debating proposition.

  • Resolved: Cats should be subject to leash laws.
  • Resolved: Freshman composition should be abolished.
  • Resolved: Grades are unnecessary in college.

Step 3: POSITION + RATIONALE (because?clause)


[=ROUGH THESIS]

Using a because? clause, convert the resolution into a sentence that states your position on the issue and provides a main rationale for that position.

  • Cats should be subject to leash laws because they are inveterate wanderers.
  • Freshman composition should not be abolished because many freshmen are unpracticed writers.
  • Grades are unnecessary in college because students learn more rapidly without them.

Step 4: POLISH & QUALIFY (although?clause)


[=THESIS]]

Refine the rough thesis: add any qualifications (although?clauses are good for this) and consider dropping overt use of because.

  • The crowded nature of city life demands that the cat's instinctive wanderlust be restrained.
  • Although gifted high school graduates should be exempt from freshman composition, most entering students need help in attaining college writing skills.
  • Although there may be a legitimate need to evaluate the work of college students, the traditional grading system hinders learning and stifles creativity.

Step 5: REVERSE AND TEST

Test your faith in the thesis and expose potential counter?arguments by reversing your position.

  • The cat's independent and adaptable nature makes it the only pet capable of living an unrestricted existence within the city.
  • Although introductory composition may have remedial value for some students, most high school graduates possess writing skills sufficient for success in college courses.
  • Traditional grading procedures may offend educational purists, but public school systems require pragmatic approaches to evaluation.

This procedure is based on that originally presented in Sheridan Baker's Practical Stylist.


* This handout came from: Writing Process Resources. The Writing Program, Univ. of Southern California. 28 Sept. 2000