College Composition / Unit 13 CMP 0313 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Thesis Frames
The idea
Answering a set of questions about a topic is a reliable way to frame a working thesis.
In practice
Work in order. First, ask the reporter's questions about your topic: what is it, who is involved, who benefits, why is it needed, where and when does it apply, and how could it work? Second, write short answers to each. Third, review the answers and notice which ones carry your position: the why and the how often do. Fourth, combine your position with the strongest reason into one declarative sentence. In the anchor's example, a student asking these questions about state-funded community college arrived at: to give every resident equal educational opportunity, the state should fund community college tuition through a lottery. Fifth, check that the sentence states a stance on a debatable issue.
Where people slip
A frame produces a working thesis, not a finished one. Expect to revise it as drafting and research deepen your understanding of the topic.
Your place on the trail
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Unlocks
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