Thesis Workshop and Your Research

Now that you have finished the readings for this unit (and this class!):

• Review the Essay #3 prompt carefully. Come up with an argument that synthesizes the three texts (Fire in Paradise, the documentary Lowland Kids, and two sources from your library research) that you will use in Essay #3.
• Then write a rough/preliminary thesis statement based on your findings from the three texts. Remember, the thesis should synthesize the three texts, bringing them together in support of your argument. Mention the authors’ names and titles of each source in your introduction and/or thesis. The research sources can be related to the fire directly, or they can be about a related topic, such as climate change, corporate accountability, emergency preparedness, residential development in wilderness areas, or even COVID-19 if you can find relevant connections.

You will submit two things in this Thesis Workshop:

1. Post your Thesis statement by Tuesday at 11:59 pm and reply to at least one other student’s thesis, offering constructive criticism. Remember that the thesis should discuss not only what the book, documentary, and research show based upon an analysis of them, but how they –together– shed light on a broader topic (see the Essay #3 prompt to establish a topic).

2. Mention the two sources that you found through library research that you will use in Essay #3. You can list the author, title, and publication information, and a brief comment on how each source will support your argument in Essay 3.

Either before or after you write the thesis, create an outline of your ideas and sources for Essay 3. Be sure to use P.I.E. format for each paragraph and check for effective P.I.E. body paragraph development with:

• Points (topic sentences) that make interpretive claims about the texts (there should be no summary in the topic sentences)
• Information (quotes) from the texts that supports each body paragraph’s topic sentence
• Explanation and analysis of Information/quotes.

• Since this is a synthesis essay in which various parts are being connected together to form a cohesive argument, be sure to read They Say/I Say pages 101-114, which offers useful information on how to connect and synthesize ideas effectively.