|
Points to Remember About
Thesis Statements
| A Thesis Should |
A Thesis Should Not |
*be stated or implied in the
introduction. |
*be a fragment; it must be
a sentence. |
*inform the reader of the
writer's opinion about the
paper's topic. |
*be a question. |
| |
*contain phrases such as "I think." |
| |
*be a blanket statement. |
| |
*be too narrow. |
| |
*contain elements that are
not clearly related.
|
| |
*be expressed in vague
language. |
| |
*contain obscure or
garbled language. |
| Poor |
Better |
| Our vacation was a tremendous
experience. |
Our vacation enabled us to learn the true meaning of
sharing.
|
A good thesis is restricted.
| Poor |
Better |
| Crime must be stopped. |
Our courts should hand out tougher sentences.
|
A good thesis is unified
| Poor |
Better |
| Mysteries are not a high form of literature, but
people have always been fascinated by them, and many fine writers
have experimented with them. |
Mysteries appeal to the basic human
desire for thrills.
|
A thesis is not a title.
Not a Thesis
A Shattering Experience
Thesis Statement
My first visit to the zoo was a shattering
experience.
A thesis is not an announcement of the subject.
Not a Thesis
This paper will attempt to tell you
something about
the emotions I felt on viewing the Grand Canyon.
Thesis Statement
The Grand Canyon was even more magnificent
than I
had imagined.
A thesis is not an absolute fact.
Not a Thesis
The planet closest to the sun is Mercury.
|
|
Words and Expressions
to Avoid in Your Essays
Compiled by Mamie Webb Hixon
UWF Writing Lab Director
- a lot
- ad
- aggravate (as a synonym for "irritate" or
"annoy")
- along the lines of
- always there for me
- and (to begin a sentence)
- and/or
- angle, slant (for "point of view")
- anyways, anywheres
- around (for about as in "around a year")
- being as (how), being that, seeing as (how)
- broke (for "having no money")
- cannot help but
- character (as a synonym for "person")
- due to the fact that
- each and every
- enthused (use "enthusiastic")
- etc., and so on
- fixing to
- graduated UWF (for "graduated from UWF")
- guys, you guys
- hisself
- hopefully
- in my opinion, personally, I think
- irregardless (nonstandard for "regardless")
- its' (not a word)
- kid (as a synonym for "child")
- kind of, sort of (preceding an adjective)
- let's us
- like for
- mad
- oftentimes
- ok, o.k., okay
- on account of
- over with
- quote (as a synonym for "quotation")
- real (as an intensifier - "real good")
- reckon, calculate, figure, guess (meaning "think,"
"expect," "suppose," or "believe")
- revolve(s) around
- the reason. . .is because
- there's, there are
- thing, things, stuff
- this (by itself)
- which (to refer to an idea or a sentence)
- wise (attached to a word as in "locationwise" or "moneywise")
- you, your, yours, you're
THE WRITING LABORATORY (51/157)
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
(850) 474-2029 (Paper Reading)
(850) 474-2129 (Grammar Hotline)
(850) 474-2229 (Lab Assistants)
Fax: (850) 857-6305
e-mail: writelab@uwf.edu
Internet: www.uwf.edu/writelab
MAMIE WEBB HIXON, DIRECTOR
The Write Advice is a publication of the University
of West Florida's Writing Laboratory.
|
Publisher and Editor:
|
Mamie Webb Hixon
|
|
Assistant Editors:
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Jessica
Marsh, Heather Stadelhofer, Melissa Hatfield, Helen Richards, and Brian Hansen
|
| Online Conversion:
|
Chris Bui
|
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