303.1 Section Title
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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.
Exercise MLA 1-1
Thesis statements in MLA papers
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In each pair, click on the sentence that would work well as the thesis statement for a research paper of about ten pages. Remember that a thesis should be a central idea that requires supporting evidence; it should be of adequate scope for a ten-page paper; and it should be sharply focused.
Click Submit after each question to see feedback and to record your answer. After you have finished every question, your answers will be submitted to your instructor’s gradebook. You may review your answers by returning to the exercise at any time. (An exercise reports to the gradebook only if your instructor has assigned it.)
Example
Question
Correct. This sentence makes an assertion that can be developed in a paper. The other version merely states facts. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence states facts, so it will not work as a thesis. A thesis must be an assertion that can be developed in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence makes a clear and focused assertion that can be argued in a paper. The other version is too vague. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This statement is too vague to work well as a thesis. The writer needs to use the question as a way to make an assertion about the issue. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence makes an assertion that can lead to a historical analysis. The other version merely states a fact. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence states a fact; it does not make an assertion, as the other version does. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This thesis is limited to a narrow topic—laws that will aid the US government in fighting terrorist activities. The other version is too broad and too vague. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This version is too broad and too vague because it doesn’t mention specific privacy rights or specific terrorist activity. The other version is more narrow and more focused. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence is focused and presents assertions that can be argued in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence is vague and does not make an assertion that can be argued in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence makes a clear assertion and suggests an organizational plan for the paper. The other version merely gives a factual definition. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence merely gives a factual definition. The other version focuses on an idea that can be developed in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence restricts the topic to one idea that the writer can develop with specific examples in a paper. The other version is too broad. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence, which promises to discuss the environmental practices of big businesses throughout history, is too broad. The other version restricts the topic to one idea that the writer can develop. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence focuses on debatable points that the writer can develop. The other sentence merely states facts. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. While this sentence does include specifics about the US response to the virus, it merely states facts and does not present any debatable points. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This version focuses on an idea that the writer can develop in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This sentence states a fact, so it is not an effective thesis statement. The other version focuses on an idea that the writer can develop in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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Question
Correct. This sentence makes an assertion that is restricted enough for the writer to develop in a paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
Sorry. This version, which promises a discussion of many books and films, is too broad. The other version restricts the topic to one idea that the writer can develop. While this sentence mentions one specific series of books, in fact it makes too broad a generalization that would be difficult to develop in a ten-page paper. For more help, see section MLA-1a.
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