THESIS BLUEPRINT

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Week 5, Homework Assignment 2:  Thesis Blueprint for Paper 2 

For this homework assignment, you will prepare your thesis for Paper 2. Remember that thesis building is an iterative process, meaning one of trial and error, so you probably will need to work through a few different versions of your thesis statement. Ask yourself the questions provided in the Week 2 Learning Resources to assess the strength and viability of your thesis. 

Instructions for Week 5, Homework 2:

  • The thesis for this paper will be a bit different from the previous thesis, so be sure to read the assignment instructions carefully. Refer to the Thesis Blueprint homework handout.

  • Applying the examples provided on the handout, follow these steps: 

    • Write your thesis statement out in full. Pay attention to wording, grammar, syntax, and punctuation.  Short story titles are always placed within quotation marks. Authors are referred to by their full names at first mention, and may be referred to by last name thereafter.
    • Paraphrase your claim and three warrants. You do not need to place them into a graphic, but please label and list each one.
      • Claim = 
      • Warrant 1 =  
      • Warrant 2 =  
      • Warrant 3 =  

  • Recommended: You may expand your blueprint into a working outline and seek feedback on the outline by submitting your work to the UMGC Effective Writing Center at least 48 hours in advance of the homework assignment. See https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/submit-your-paper/index.cfm for details. 

  • Sample thesis structure:

    [Story X] by [author] helps us to understand [theme/issue Y] by promoting empathy through [warrant 1], [warrant 2], and [warrant 3] 

  • Sample thesis statement:

    The conflicts between male and female characters in Susan Glaspell’s story "A Jury of Her Peers" help readers have more empathy for the oppression of women through the depiction of Mrs. Wright’s marriage, the women’s roles, and the inequality between men and women in the story.

This assignment is due by 11:30 p.m. eastern time on the seventh day of Week 5.