THESIS: A statement that identifies the TOPIC and main point of a piece of writing, giving readers an idea of what the text will cover. A thesis identifies the topic of your paper along with the claim you are making about it.
Four Steps to Moving from a Topic to a Thesis Statement:
1. State your topic as a question: You may have an idea for a topic, such as "analysis of 'real women' ad campaigns". That may be a good topic, but it's not a thesis statement, primarily because it doesn't actually make a statement. A good way to begin moving from topic to thesis statement is to turn your topic into a question: Are ads picturing "real women" who aren't models effective?
2. Turn your question into a position: A theses statement is an assertion -- it takes a stand or makes a claim. Your thesis statement announces your position on the question you are raising about your topic, so a relatively easy way of establishing a thesis is to answer your own question: Ads picturing "real women" instead of models are effective because women can easily identify with them.
3. Narrow your thesis: A good thesis is specific, guiding you as you write and showing your audience exactly what your paper will cover, often in the same order you will cover it. The preceding thesis statement needs to be qualified and focused -- it needs to be made more specific. For example: Dove's "Campaign for Self-Esteem" and Cover Girl's ads featuring Queen Latifah work because consumers can identify with the women's bodies and admire the women's confidence in displaying them.
4. Qualify your thesis: Sometimes you want to make a strong argument and to state your thesis bluntly. Often, however, you need to acknowledge that your assertions may be challenged or may not be unconditionally true. In those cases, consider limiting the scope of your thesis by adding to it such tens as may, probably, apparently, very likely, sometimes, and often: Dove's and Cover Girl's ad campaigns featuring "real women" may work because consumers can identify with the women's bodies and admire the women's confidence in displaying them.*
Creating a thesis statement:
How to create a thesis statement:
Avoid using terms such as:
Instead, list what you mean by those terms, be specific in your thesis statements:
For example: Thesis statement: The type of parenting style you are raised in is the way you are going to parent your children.
The goal of this assignment is to ensure that your thesis statement is specific and aligns with the instructions. If you do not adjust it, you will lose significant points.
*Bullock, R. & Weinberg, F. (2021). The Norton field guide to writing with handbook, 5th ed. W.W. Norton & Co. 387-389
The word empirical describes any information gained by experience, observation, or experiment. One of the central tenets of the scientific method is that evidence must be empirical, i.e. based on evidence observable to the senses. In well-conducted research, observations about the natural world are cemented in a specific research question or hypothesis. Empirical studies are studies based on actual and objective observation or experimentation. Descriptions and results of empirical studies are published in scholarly/peer reviewed journals. Literature reviews are summaries of published research on a particular topic and are not empirical studies.
When reviewing a journal article, look for the following key components which identifies it as an empirical research study:
Check these databases for articles: (You will need to login to GALILEO with your LTC email and pw for access)
Here is what an empirical research study looks like (examples):
Your paper will have 3 distinct parts:
This paper must be in APA format, including a title page and a reference page. This paper must be at least 5 pages in length, which will be a total of at least 7 pages.
2.22 Margins: 1" on all four edges of the page
2.19 Font: Choose a single, readable, and widely available font such as Times New Roman or Arial. In general, use the equivalent of at least eleven-point Arial or twelve-point Times New Roman for the body of the text. (Some fonts like Arial, take up more space on a line and appear larger than other fonts at the same point size.
2.21 Spacing: Double-space the entire paper, including the title page, abstract, text, headings, block quotes, reference list. table and figure notes, and appendices, with the following exceptions:
It is not necessary to add blank lines before or after headings, even if a heading falls at the end of a page. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs.
2.23 and 2.24 Paragraph Alignment and Indention: Paragraphs should be left justified and indented 0.5 in. or use the tab key to indent the first line of each new paragraph.
*Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: The official guide to APA style. (Seventh edition.). (2020). American Psychological Assocation, 44-45.
Requirements for the selected articles:
Example outline for paper
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