What’s The Point? Summary
The thesis statement is a tricky but integral part of writing. It can sound quite simple when you strip it down to what it really is: an opinion. What’s often overlooked however is how we don’t always have the strongest opinion on certain subjects, and consequently have a difficult time forming a substantiated argument. The thesis statement is also delicate in that it shouldn’t be too “simple,” “broad,” or “speculative”. Of course, they can be if they wanted to be, since these are simple guidelines to help one triangulate a more concise, inquisitive, and interesting argument. One way to aid the overarching thesis statement is to propose “microquestions” that make for a more full-bodied argument.
Responding… Summary
Responding to the work of peers can easily turn into taking matters into your own hands. We easily forget that we are the readers and not the writers of these essays, and end up projecting ourselves onto papers that belong to others. The easy way to avoid this is to simply get in the mindset of a reader. Not a reader of a novel or a newpaper article, but of a fellow student’s paper. This means you’re in a position to offer your own thoughts and criticisms, see eye-to-eye with the writer. It can be easy to get carried away, but it’s much more rewarding to simply offer well-meaning critiques and suggestions.