UWRT 1102/03 Thesis Paper Assignment Sheet

Approximately 8 pages. MLA format

Why am I writing this? The purpose of the thesis is to share and interpret the results of your researchexplain
what they mean, and support and defend your explanation. That is, you will now make your contribution to the
ongoing conversation in the field relative to your question.
What kind of sources should I useand how many? You do not have to incorporate all your sources into
your paper, nor do you have to write new ABs if you incorporate new sources. I would expect at least five
sources in the thesis.
Who am I writing to? Academic writing is a conversation. You can choose your audience (include this in your
reflection). However, your audience includes your classmates, instructor, and the UWP community.
What should it look like? The They say: The conversation about your subject: Describe the existing
conversation regarding your inquiry question. You might not use a literal they say. What are the major topics and
key points or views in the conversation? What do your sources have to say? Your essay should avoid merely
stringing together other writers ideas, one source after another.

Use an organization that works best for your essay: Ex. 1) they says you disagree with/they says you agree
with. 2) They Say/I Say alternating.
The I Say Add your thoughts to the conversation through your critical commentary on your sources:
What connections can you draw among sources? What agreements and disagreements do you find? What
evidence do writers provide in support of their views? What do you think of that evidence? Whats
persuasive to you, and why? Based on this conversation, what have you learned? How has the
conversation answeredor not answeredyour inquiry question? Why does it matter? What gaps in
our knowledge do you find in the available research?

If you conducted primary research (interviews, polls): Explain what your primary research adds to the
existing conversation: How does your research fill the gap in knowledge that you have identified?
Describe your research method: What primary data did you collect, and how? Describe your findings:
What did you learn from your primary research? Acknowledge the limitations of your primary research.
How did it help answeror not answeryour inquiry question?

Conclusions: Explain your findings. Suggest possible implications, the so what. Given your findings,
what should we think or believe or do differently? What new questions have emerged for you as a result of
your research? What more would you like to learn, if you could go on studying your subject in more
depth?

Tie it all together (see Chp 8 TSIS).

Include a complete list of the sources you cite in your essay on a separate page labeled Works Cited, in
alphabetical order by authors last name (see MLA style guide link on Moodle).

Reflect at the top of each draft.

How is it going to be evaluated?

An exemplary thesis responds to the questions above.
*demonstrates nuanced understanding of the subject matter,
*anticipates readers knowledge, attitudes, and needs,
*discusses connections among your thoughts and the other voices/sources brought into the essay,

* strives to teach the reader new things, shift the readers understanding, and/or convey new perspectives. (80%)
Documentation (in text citations/Works Cited) (10%) Grammar (10%).