Writing a Thesis Statement · 撰写论点陈述
The cheapest point on the rubric
- One of the six points is for a defensible thesis responding to the prompt.
- It costs one sentence and no evidence.
- Students lose it by restating the prompt instead of taking a position.
Turning the prompt into a thesis is like answering “Which train?” with “The one that goes somewhere.”
评分标准上最容易拿的一分
- 六分中有一分,是给一句针对题目、可辩护的论点。
- 它只需一句话,不需要任何证据。
- 学生之所以丢掉它,是因为复述了题目而没有表明立场。
把题目改写成论点，就像有人问“坐哪趟车？”你答“开往某个地方的那趟”。
It must require a defence
- Write a thesis that requires proof or defence.
- Apply the same test as always: could a reasonable person disagree?
- "There are arguments on both sides" fails the test — nobody disputes it.
它必须需要辩护
- 写出一句需要证明或辩护的论点。
- 运用一贯的检验:一个通情达理的人是否可能不同意?
- "双方都有各自的道理"通不过这一检验——没有人会对它有异议。
A thesis earns its rubric point when it... · 当论点……时，它能获得评分标准中的分数
It must be arguable; restating the prompt takes no position and earns nothing. · 它必须具有可辩性；重述题目不表明立场，不得分。
It may preview the reasoning
- A thesis may preview the structure of the argument to come.
- That is useful when the shape is genuinely load-bearing.
- It is optional — and a mechanical list of three reasons often produces a rigid essay.
它可以预示推理
- 论点可以预示接下来论证的结构。
- 当这一形状确实起结构作用时,这很有用。
- 但它是可选的——机械罗列三条理由,往往写出一篇僵硬的文章。
A thesis must list the reasons the essay will give. · 论点必须列出文章将提供的理由。
It may preview the reasoning; the CED says explicitly that it need not list reasons. · 它可以预览推理过程；CED明确指出无需列出理由。
Restating the prompt is the single most common way to lose the thesis point. "There are arguments on both sides of this issue" takes no position, so there is nothing to defend and nothing to award.
复述题目是丢掉论点这一分最常见的方式。"这个议题双方都有各自的道理"没有表明任何立场,因此既无可辩护,也无分可给。
Would this earn the thesis point? · 这能拿到论点分吗？
Sort each opening by whether it takes a defensible position. · 按每句是否采取可辩护立场对开头进行分类。
Select all · 所有 the tests this lesson gives for a thesis. · 选择本课提供的所有论点测试方法。
Length is never a test; arguability, specificity and responsiveness are. · 长度绝不是测试标准；可辩性、具体性和针对性才是。
Match each thesis fault to its diagnosis. · 将每个论点缺陷与其诊断结果匹配。
Only the third takes a position specific enough to be defended. · 只有第三个采取了足够具体的立场以进行辩护。
Specific enough to constrain
- A thesis so broad that any paragraph could belong under it is not directing the essay.
- Test it: name a paragraph your thesis rules out.
- If you cannot, the thesis is not doing any work.
具体到足以形成约束
- 宽泛到任何一段都能归入其下的论点,并没有在指挥这篇文章。
- 检验它:说出一个你的论点排除掉的段落。
- 如果说不出,那这个论点没有在做任何工作。
A thesis written ____ sketching your evidence is nearly always better. · 在____草拟你的证据之后写出的论点几乎总是更好的。
There are no marks for having predicted your own conclusion. · 预测自己的结论不会得分。
Writing it under time pressure
- Read the sources or the prompt and sketch your claims before fixing the thesis.
- A thesis written after the evidence is nearly always better than one written before it.
- If the evidence does not fit the thesis, change the thesis — there are no marks for consistency with your first idea.
在时间压力下写出它
- 在定下论点之前,先读来源或题目并勾画各项主张。
- 在证据之后写出的论点,几乎总是优于在证据之前写出的。
- 如果证据与论点不合,就改论点——与自己最初的想法保持一致是没有分数的。
Weak: "There are many arguments for and against this practice." Strong: "Because the practice rewards visible effort rather than actual improvement, it produces the appearance of progress while removing the incentive to seek it." The second is arguable, specific, and previews the reasoning.
薄弱:*"围绕这一做法,支持与反对的论点都有很多。"有力:"由于这一做法奖励的是看得见的努力而非真实的进步,它制造出进步的表象,同时抽走了追求进步的动力。"*后者可辩护、具体,并预示了推理。
A thesis must require a defence — a reasonable person could disagree. It may preview the reasoning but need not list reasons. Make it specific enough to rule some paragraphs out, and write it after sketching your evidence.
论点必须需要辩护——一个通情达理的人可能不同意。它可以预示推理,但不必罗列理由。要让它具体到足以排除掉某些段落,并在勾画证据之后再写它。