Lesson Plan: Thesis Brainstorming
Anthropology
Objective
To help students think about what makes for a strong thesis by brainstorming, sharing and revising potential theses that could be used in an upcoming writing assignment
Estimated Time
30 minutes
Work Completed Before Class
Students will have completed the assigned readings for a section of the course for which they have been asked to write a one-page response essay.
In Class
- Have a conversation with the class about what constitutes a good thesis (including what might be specific to good essay theses in anthropology and for this assignment). (5 minutes)
- Ask students to think about the readings they have completed for the current course section (for which a one-page response essay is due by the start of the next class section). What intrigues, excites or puzzles them about the general themes or specific arguments they have read? Have students start to jot down ideas and reactions on note paper. (5 minutes)
- Now ask students to condense their ideas into several possible theses that they could use for their upcoming one-page essay. Have them write down at least two draft theses on a separate piece of note paper — encourage students to take risks and to be exploratory in their writing. (5 minutes)
- Have students pair up and share their thesis brainstorms with a partner. Ask them to discuss their theses — which ones do they like or dislike, and why? Have each student select the thesis of their partner that they most like. How might a thesis be edited to make it stronger? (5 minutes)
- Now have the students reassemble as a group and ask for volunteers to share their partners' theses. What is cool, exciting or interesting about their chosen thesis, and why? (5 minutes)
- Now have the students reflect individually on their thesis brainstorm. Which thesis might you want to use in your writing assignment, and/or how might you edit your thesis to make it stronger? (5 minutes)
*Remind students that this exercise is intended to help them go through the paces in a supportive environment of coming up with a good thesis — often the most important starting point of a solid college essay. Stress that students may use one of the theses they have brainstormed today on an upcoming writing assignment, or they can use what they have learned today to come up with a different thesis at a later date.
Casey Miller
Developed at Brandeis University through a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation