The Spinoff

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The Spinoff

• Finding your topic and thesis
• Power point presentation created by Sarah LaDow

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Whats a spinoff?

• One must be an inventor to read well Ralph
  Waldo Emerson

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A spinoff is

• Your point of departure from the essay you have
  read. To reach this point, one must question the
  text that is being read.
  
• Points of contention should be noted

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What if Im blocked?
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Try an organizational strategy

• Process
• Illustration
• Definition
• Cause and effect
• Problem and solution
• Comparison

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Topic and Thesis

• Whats the difference?

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Topic

• Look over the notes you made when you readand
  phrase your idea as a question
  
• For example Should one read contentiously to be
  a good reader?

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Thesis

• The main idea of your entire essay.
• It usually appears (but doesnt have to) as the
  last sentence in the introductory paragraph
  

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How do you write a thesis?

• It should contain your topic and what you plan to
  say about your topic in terms that can be
  unpacked throughout your essayit gives your
  readers a sign that this is what my paper is
  about, and this is where we are going.

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Works Cited

• Brunk, Terence, et al. Literacies Reading,
  Writing, and Interpretation. 2nd ed. New York
  Norton, 1999.
  
• Spatt, Brenda. Writing with Sources. New York
  Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.