Final Project (3)

Objectives
Students will be able to
a) Finish and revise their audience analysis.
b) Review important characteristics of thesis statements.
c) Learn about thesis statement vs problem statement.
d) Write an analysis about the problem statement in the student's case essay.

I. Finish and revise Analysis 1: Audience Analysis.(10 minutes)

For paragraph 1 you need to respond the question: What is it important to analyze audience before writing? Please, do not just generalize. Offer specific information. Use the ideas and materials from the website or go on line to get more info. (Remember to USE CITATIONS when you use the ideas of others.)
For Paragraph 2 you need to read the Professor's prompt and the student's case essay carefully. Then decide whether or not this student had an specific audience in mind when writing his/her essay;discuss how this writer has addressed the needs and wants of his/her audience? Give specific examples from the essay. USE CITATIONS.  If the writing does not address the needs of a specific audience, give suggestions that will improve this student's writing.
Professor's prompt
Student's case study


II. Analysis 2: Thesis Statement vs Problem (or Position) Statement
Four criteria of an effective thesis statement: specific, focused, offers original perspective, presents a clear position.
Using these criteria, we can easily distinguish between a good thesis statement and a bad one.
Remember: a clear thesis statement should tell readers specific purposes of the paper.

PPP

In a case-based essay, the thesis statement is called "position statement" - a statement where a writer states a position and expresses an intention about the organization of the essay (Ellet, 2007, p.10). While a thesis statement of an essay is typically one or two sentences, a position statement in a case-based essay tends to be longer. However, the basic principles for an effective position statement and thesis statement are the same. Read "How to write a case-based essay" (pp.106-109) for more details.

A thesis statement and a problem statement have similarities and differences. While they both have a claim that structures and directs the purpose of a writing, there are some subtle differences. For instance, to name just a few, a thesis can be an arguable/exploratory claim while, a problem statement describes a main issue in order to potentially solve it. That is why it is called a "problem" statement. In order to write the problem statement, we have to know exactly what the problem is. Read "How to write a problem statement for business" for more details.

Exercise 
Answers

Application
Answers

In an introduction section, we talked about having a good hook and some background information/context about the topic, and then usually a thesis statement in the last or first sentence of the introduction.  Instead of having background information in the introduction of the case study, it will have a summary of potential solutions (recommendations) in the introduction. Why? Because the purpose of the case study is to present a problem statement and the potential solutions (recommendations) to the problem. This explanation connects back to different audience and purpose as well.

  Task: Analysis of thesis(position) statement & problem statement: Reflect on what you learned today about good thesis statements and problem statements.

a) Write a summary paragraph of what you learned about thesis statements and problems statements. 

b) Go over the student's case study and analyze his/her application of these principles you have reviewed/learned today. Point out at any weaknesses and provide ways to solve the problem. 

Homework
Finish your two paragraphs if you didn't in class. Upload them to Dropbox. I will take a look at them tonight or tomorrow.
Those of you who have not finished your audience analysis paragraphs must do so tonight as well.