Writing template part 3

Finding the right template is like finding the right pair of pants.. Comparison/Contrast Template 1 The differences [similarities] between and are , and they pronounced deserve strikin

If you cannot write your own variation of a template, that's FINE! It just means that that template is not for you Forget about it Concentrate on templates that you are comfortable with Finding the right template is like finding the right pair of pants You try them on until some fit

• I COMPARISON/CONTRAST THESIS SENTENCES

These templates can be used for essays where you are instructed to compare and contrast

Comparison/Contrast Template 1

The differences [similarities] between and are , and they

pronounced deserve striking merit

thorough investigation rigorous scrutiny

examination

Examples

The differences between college and high school are pronounced, and they deserve thorough investigation

The similarities between R-rated movies and PG-rated movies are pronounced, and they merit rigorous scrutiny

Your Thesis Sentences

1

Comparison/Contrast Template 2

r

Although they bear

Despite bearing

superficial minor

are

clear

remarkable

striking

pronounced

J

Examples

Although they bear some superficial similarities, the differences

between Athens and Sparta are clear

Despite bearing some minor similarities, the differences between

Pele and Ronaldinho are pronounced

Your Thesis Sentences

1

2

3

Comparison/Contrast Template 3

While some differences between and are

the similarities are

evident noticeable

striking

p r o n o u n c e d salient

Examples

While some differences between Japan and the United States are

e v i d e n t , the similarities are salient

While some differences between high school and college are e v i d e n t ,

the similarities are striking

Your Thesis Sentences

1

2

3

• I I PROPOSITION THESIS SENTENCES

T h e n e x t e i g h t t e m p l a t e s are for u s e i n r e s p o n d i n g t o a p r o p o s i t i o n A

p r o p o s i t i o n is a s t a t e m e n t t h a t e s t a b l i s h e s t h e t r u t h o r falsity o f s o m e

-t h i n g T h i s s e n -t e n c e n o -t o n l y clarifies y o u r p o s i -t i o n — i -t e s -t a b l i s h e s y o u r

m a s t e r y of s o m e s o p h i s t i c a t e d syntax T h e s e t e m p l a t e s b e g i n w i t h n o u n clauses A n o u n c l a u s e is a g r o u p of w o r d s t h a t acts just like a n o u n ,

serv-i n g as a subject, a n o b j e c t o f a verb, o r a n o b j e c t o f a p r e p o s serv-i t serv-i o n U s serv-i n g

a n o u n clause correctly will m a k e a g o o d i m p r e s s i o n o n y o u r reader

Proposition: X is Y

Proposition Example: Democracy is the best form of government

X Y

Proposition Template 1 (Agreement)

The that X is Y is a one,

belief a n interesting

t h o u g h t t h o u g h t - p r o v o k i n g

idea provocative

proposition

and one that I believe in

V )

Examples

The n o t i o n that democracy is the best form of government is a

fascinating one, and one that I believe in

The t h o u g h t that world peace will be 3 attained in the next decade is

an i n t e r e s t i n g one, and one that I believe in

Your Thesis Sentences

1 (proposition: Secrecy* is b a d )

2 (proposition: A m e r i c a is a m e l t i n g p o t * *)

* Secrecy m e a n s keeping secrets

* * Melting pot is a c o m m o n metaphorical description of the United States and its history,

m e a n i n g that immigrants eventually melt into society so that o n e nationality can't be

distinguished from another This was especially popular in t h e early 1900s

This t e m p l a t e c a n b e u s e d w h e n y o u agree w i t h t h e p r o p o s i t i o n

Notes

1. Of the alternatives in the first blank of the template, I prefer the word notion It is a more abstract word than the others and

sounds a bit more sophisticated

2 There are thousands of adjectives that can be used in the last

blank

3 In the second example, will be is used instead of is You can change

tenses like this to fit your thesis

3 (Write y o u r o w n s e n t e n c e )

Proposition Template 2 (Disagreement)

n o t i o n

belief

t h o u g h t

idea

proposition

i s

u n t e n a b l e1

d u b i o u s absurd

c o c k a m a m i e groundless unfounded absolutely wild

Examples

The belief that the president can do anything he wants is groundless

The i d e a that all men are created equal is d u b i o u s

Your Thesis Sentences

1 {proposition: H o t d o g s are t h e b e s t food.)

2 (Write y o u r o w n s e n t e n c e )

3 (Write y o u r o w n s e n t e n c e )

This t e m p l a t e c a n b e u s e d w h e n y o u d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e p r o p o s i t i o n

Therefore, t h e adjective i n t h e final b l a n k h a s t o b e a n e g a t i v e o n e

Note

1. The first two adjectives, untenable and dubious, represent mild disagreement

The others represent strong disagreement In general, it is advisable to go with mild disagreement because questions are usually structured so that there are reasonable arguments on both sides, and if you strongly disagree, you should be able to pick apart the opposing arguments (you must do this

to receive the best score), which should not be easy to do However, researchers who have studied the scoring of tests like the Test of Written English' 1 ' (TWE) or TOEFL' 1 ' note that the strength of students' arguments is not nearly as important as their organization, syntax, vocabulary, and the length

of their essays

Proposition Template 3 (Disagreement)

2

3

Notes

1 This template begins with a noun clause It is a sophisticated

struc-ture that will impress your reader

2 Be sure to look up and understand each of these adjectives The

first three indicate mild disagreement, while the last five indicate

strong disagreement

d u b i o u s2

suspicious problematic

u n t e n a b l e egregious groundless

u n f o u n d e d absolutely wild

Examples

That democracy is the best form of government is a d u b i o u s

proposition

That the city of New Orleans can be restored to its condition prior to

Hurricane Katrina is an u n t e n a b l e proposition

Your Thesis Sentences

1

Proposition Template 4 (Disagreement)

To hold 1 that X is Y is an example of thinking irrational

m u d d l e d unfounded fuzzy

Examples

To hold that learning a second language is easy is an example of fuzzy

thinking

To hold that life is harder now than it was for our ancestors is an

example of m u d d l e d thinking

Your Thesis Sentences

2

3

Note

To hold here means "to hold the opinion." The use of this infinitive

shows strong diction and a good grasp of high-level structure

Proposition Template 5 (Disagreement)

\

belief irrational

n o t i o n indefensible proposition absurd

nonsensical

Examples

To subscribe to the belief that the world will come to an end tomorrow

is absurd

To subscribe to the n o t i o n that vitamin C can make you live to be one

hundred is n o n s e n s i c a l

To subscribe to the p r o p o s i t i o n that women are inferior to men is

i r r a t i o n a l

Your Thesis Sentences

l

2

3

Note

• 1. To subscribe to X means "to believe X."