well, just kidding

I'll do the regular office hours Tuesday evening too unless I hear from people that you want to have them earlier on Tuesday. Also, for people who are bogged down with finals right now but still need to complete the office hours requirement (10% of your section grade) you have the option of making an appointment with me for AFTER the final to talk about your writing, how you're doing at UCLA, whatever you want. As I mentioned, my laptop is drying out at the moment so if you need to get in touch with me send a text message to the number on your section policy sheet. Great job with the blogs!

Thesis Help

Last change for office hours before the final is Sunday Dec. 9 from 11:30-1:30 at Kerckoff. We will meet on the patio just outside the cafe where all the tables are. If it's raining we'll be inside the cafe, and if you can't find us call my cell phone (the number is on your policy sheet). Take a look at the thesis help sheet I sent out over email and don't forget that the best way to make sure you do well on the final is to CLOSE READ!

Thesis Group Work with Experts

This is the same exercise we've done in class. Use it to test your own thesis, or for peer editing.



Debatability


In your own words, what is the writer’s claim about the text?
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Is this claim debatable? Offer one counter-argument to this claim.
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Does the thesis address any possible counter-arguments? Does this/would this make it a stronger thesis?
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Intellectual Daring

In your own words, what is the writer’s claim about the text?
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Which parts of the argument are descriptive, provide background information, summarize the plot, recapitulate accepted interpretations of the text, or seem obvious?
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Which aspects of the argument seem to offer new insight into the text or into the theme the author discusses?
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Clarity

In your own words, what is the writer’s claim about the text?
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Is the thesis in the active voice, and does it avoid negative phrasing? (see handouts from Elements of Style)
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Is anything about the thesis hard to understand? Is there a pronoun that leaves you unsure what the author means it to describe? Does the ordering of ideas ever interfere with your ability to understand the argument? If not, what works in this thesis that makes it easy to understand?
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Is the language of the thesis precise? Do any of the words the author uses seem too vague, or are you unsure what they should mean in this context?
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So What?

In your own words, what is the writer’s claim about the text?
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Does this thesis offer new insight into the text, or uncover a layer of meaning that you had not considered before? What does it add to our reading of the text?
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What are the implications of this thesis for our thinking about the topic?
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Does the thesis suggest the ways in which it enhances our reading of the text and/or our thinking about the topic? (Does it answer the “so what?” question?)

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Online Writing Lab at Purdue

The online writing lab at purdue has lots of information on correct citation, the writing process, and how to correct frequent problems in student writing. Check them out at:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Office Hours

Still confused? I'm happy to work with you on writing during my office hours, Tuesdays from 6-7 PM and Thursdays from 11:30-1:30 AM in the room shown on your policy sheet. Anyone who can't make those times can set up an appointment with me after class, by email, or by text message. Remember you are required to come to office hours at least once during the quarter.

link for George Orwell's "Politics & The English Language"

http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit