Writing a question and a thesis statement...

Cape Ann Art & Culture Research Paper: How to Write a Thesis

Think about what you have learned about the topic. What aspect of the topic do you think you could interpret or analyze or compare or evaluate?

Then turn that aspect of the topic into a question.

Your clear, supportable, debatable, insightful, meaningful (perhaps even original) answer to the question will be your thesis.

What’s due and when?

Bring your question and thesis to class tomorrow, Friday, May 21 and post your question and thesis in the comment box on the blog by class time on Monday, May 24.

On Friday we will "workshop" the questions and thesis statements. Then we will work on writing the paper itself (1000+ words with at least three sources cited in the text and a works cited page--you've already found the sources!). A complete first draft of the paper will be due in class on Friday, May 28 and the final draft of the paper with developed and supported thesis, in-text citations from at least three sources, a Works Cited page with at least three sources, and an annotated bibliography of “Works Consulted” will be due Tuesday, June 1.

Some ideas for getting started.

· Begin with a depiction of Gloucester from the readings. Apply it to your topic. Agree, disagree and/or revise that depiction of Gloucester using your research as support. You might take a quotation.

· Begin with an artist’s or poet’s take/use of your topic. Explain and analyze this take on the topic. Or, evaluate and judge this take.

· Begin with the changes that have taken place with your topic over time. Explain and analyze these changes. Evaluate and judge these changes. Predict future changes. Propose and defend preservation. Advocate for a certain kind of change.

· Begin with a comparison. The comparison could be within your topic. (Compare the meaning of two parts of Fiesta.) The comparison could be with your topic in Gloucester and the same topic elsewhere. (Compare St. Peter celebrations in Gloucester with those in Sicily.) The comparison could be between your topic and something new. (Compare Fitz Henry Lane’s paintings to Winslow Homer’s. Compare the poetry of Gloucester’s first Poet Laureate, Vincent Ferrini, to the current Poet Laureate, John Ronan.)

· Explain, analyze, evaluate, judge…the meaning of some aspect of the topic, the reason for some aspect of the topic, the cause of some aspect of the topic, etc.

Some examples of questions

· For example, if your topic is St. Peter's Fiesta you might explain why certain saints are venerated during St. Peter's Fiesta. (In the form of a question: why are St. Peter and Mary venerated during Fiesta?)

· Or, if your topic is Stage Fort Park you might compare its past uses to its present uses. Or, if your topic is fishing you might compare schooner fishing to trawler fishing in Gloucester. (How did the change from sails to engines change affect Gloucester industrially and culturally?)

· Or, if your topic is painters of Gloucester you might analyze Fitz Henry Lane's use of light and precise detail in his paintings. (What is significant about Lane's use light and detail in his paintings?)

· Or, if your topic is Charles Olson you might interpret the meaning of one or more of his poems that interest you. (What is the meaning and significance of "Letter Six" of the Maximus Poems?)

Some examples of questions and answers

· Why are St. Peter and Mary venerated during Fiesta?

· The veneration of the statues of St. Peter and Mary symbolize the importance of fishing and family to Sicilian-Americans and other Catholics in Gloucester.

· How did the change from sails to engines change fishing?

· The change from sails to engines led to a change in fishing practices that end up endangering the fishing stocks for future generations.

· What is significant about Lane's use light and detail in his paintings?

· Fitz Henry Lane uses light to convey luminous, transcendent beauty and, conversely uses to precise details to evoke the material reality of man's relationship with nature.

· What is the meaning and significance of "Letter Six" of the Maximus Poems?

In "Letter Six" Charles Olson asserts the necessity of attention and care from all citizens of a place if that place is to thrive.