More about points
Having trouble making your point? Here are some tips.
First, ask yourself if you’re just done for the day. If so, put your work down and come back to it tomorrow. Your points might make more sense after a break (they usually do).
Try some FREE WRITING - it's a fun way to get ideas going.
Can you name at least two points that back up your thesis? If so, keep digging. Try finding another outside resource that can help you understand other points. Talking to a librarian about your topic is a good place to start.
If you’re struggling to find any points to back up your thesis, you might need to rethink your stance. Above all, does your statement meet the criteria on the thesis page? If any of the criteria are missing, you’ll probably run into trouble as you develop your essay.
If something is missing but you don’t know what, try tweaking your thesis statement. For example, say you wrote: “Processed foods make children act out in class, and they should be banned.” It may be hard to find a variety of evidence for the specific claim that food makes children act crazy.
You could still argue about the dangers of processed food, but open up the discussion a bit with a broader statement like this: “Processed foods should not be offered in schools because they are harmful to children’s physical, mental, and social well-being.” Now you have three main points to elaborate on instead of one specific thing to try to back up with lots of evidence.
Still not coming up with good points? Have a conversation with someone from your class, your professor, or a librarian. Sometimes talking to someone about your problem can bring about hidden solutions, and get your mind back on track.
Find your points with idea mapping.
Once you have a thesis statement, your paper will begin with a purpose, and your points will become clearer. Think of it like this:
Your thesis is saying,
“This is the way it is…”
And your points are saying,
“This is why, this is why, and this is why.”
In our
earlier example of “Shakespeare uses imagery of death and decay in
Hamlet to show Denmark’s state of corruption” your points would call
out every instance in the play where you see this happening. You can
see an example of this in the video below.
No matter what
your topic, or essay type, your points will ALWAYS support your thesis.
If they do not provide evidence for your thesis statement begin true,
throw them out. The only good point is one that backs up your thesis.
Everything else is a distraction that causes you and your paper to lose
focus.
In the Shakespeare example, each main point will be
a place in the story where you can prove this imagery exists. The
number of points may change depending on the length requirements, but
3-5 is usually a good start.
YOUR TURN:
Go to bubbl.us (or pull out a pen and sheet of paper) to brainstorm your points. The main bubble is your stance on the topic; the sub-bubbles are your reasons for believing it. Come up with as many sub-bubbles as you can think up. Save your work. Before moving on, read each point and explain how it supports your thesis. Re-write or discard any points that do not back up your thesis.