Thesis and Argument

When one begins to write a thesis, it is good practice to annotate or make notes of the text while reading it. Barnet, Burton, and Cain in Literature for Composition, recommend making marginal notes in regards to “what puzzles you, what pleases or interests you, and what displeases or bores you” (45). This is recommended for the writer so that later you will be able to go back and evaluate what you have jotted down as notes and reread them in order to see which responses will get you started ( 45 ).

In addition to annotating, critical thinking, which is defined broadly in the book Literature for Composition as “rational, logical thinking”, is used in the development of an argument and helps the writer determine what revisions, are needed (51).

In order to present a good argument in a thesis it must be able to stand up to scrutiny. A writer, when introducing an argument for a thesis may not convince the reader to accept his side of it as being “unquestionably right “, but the effort should be to “ make every reader feel that your argument is thoughtful ” ( 52 ).

Most writers after rereading and analyzing their notes will begin to develop a draft which consists of “brief statements of what they think their key points may be “and start working on their outline. Writing a detailed outline of the first or second draft, will help give the writer a more clear and adequate picture of what the main points of the draft should be (54).