I need to come up with a good thesis statement for Amy Tan "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua "how to tame a wild tongue". I have to do a point by point comparison essay & I can't really come up with a theses :( Help?!
Only YOU can write this since no one else knows what you want to say about these two works.
Your thesis statement must include factual information plus your position/opinion/stance. Without your position on the topic, it isn't a true thesis statement. So think of this sentence as the angle you want to take on the topic and what you intend to prove by the end of your paper. (If your statement is simply factual, then there's nothing to prove!)
http://blog.eduify.com/index.php/2009/06/21/5-tips-on-how-to-write-a-strong-thesis-statement/
Read carefully and follow ALL directions.
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html
This is one of the very best places I've seen online to help students write good thesis statements. It shows you sentences that aren't thesis statements and how to turn each one into real thesis statements.
Here is some information I give to students about writing comparison/contrast papers ~
Whenever you are writing a comparison/contrast paper (paragraph, essay, research paper), you need to plan it out very carefully on paper first.
Try this:
1. Write all the information about one of your topics on one page.
2. Write all the information about the other topic on another page.
3. Then put them together in this order:
1. Intro
2. All about topic A
~~~2A. detail 1
~~~2B. detail 2
~~~2C. detail 3
~~~2D. detail 4
~~~2E. detail 5
3. All about topic B
~~~3A. detail 1
~~~3B. detail 2
~~~3C. detail 3
~~~3D. detail 4
~~~3E. detail 5
4. Concl.
The number of details for each topic will vary depending on your main points. I would include comparisons (how they are similar) in the introduction and conclusion, but sections 2 and 3 and all those details will be stating and explaining how they are different.
There are two recognized patterns for writing comparison/contrast papers. One is casually referred to as "zig-zag,” but can be very confusing for the reader if you don’t use transitions effectively. The other is topic-by-topic (which is what I've outlined above) and is much easier for the reader to follow.
See http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html for further help with comparison/contrast writing.
Once you have organized your information, please re-post if you’d like feedback from someone here.
I need a good thesis statement on the article Mother Tongue by Amy Tan which should be on the articles theme and the main 3 points of the article. This is for my English 101 class.
To develop a thesis statement for a point-by-point comparison essay on Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," consider the central themes and ideas in both texts.
Thesis Statement: Through their exploration of the power dynamics of language and identity, both Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" shed light on the intricacies of language as a means of connection and oppression, exemplifying the resilience of individuals in navigating multiple cultural and linguistic worlds.
In your essay, you can then compare and contrast various aspects related to language and identity, such as:
1. The role of language in shaping identity: Analyze how both essays discuss the influence of language on personal and cultural identity, including the impact of language use on self-perception and the preservation of cultural heritage.
2. Power dynamics in language: Explore the themes of discrimination and marginalization related to language use, focusing on the way different dialects or accents are perceived and treated within society.
3. Intersectionality of language and culture: Examine how both authors navigate the complexities of expressing their identities through language, considering the challenges they face as women of different cultural backgrounds.
4. Agency and empowerment through language: Discuss how Tan and Anzaldua reclaim the power of their mother tongues and challenge societal norms by embracing their unique linguistic abilities.
Remember to provide evidence and examples from both texts to support your points of comparison and illustrate how Tan and Anzaldua approach the topic of language and identity from slightly different perspectives.
To come up with a strong thesis statement for a point by point comparison essay on Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," consider the following steps:
1. Understand the texts: Read both essays carefully, taking note of the key themes, arguments, and writing styles employed by each author.
2. Identify the similarities and differences: Look for commonalities and differences in terms of subject matter, central ideas, writing strategies, and the authors' perspectives on language and cultural identity.
3. Choose a focus: Decide on a specific aspect of comparison. For example, you could explore how both authors explore the power dynamics of language, the challenges faced by individuals in bilingual/multilingual communities, or the ways in which language shapes personal and cultural identities.
4. Develop a thesis statement: Once you have identified the focus of your comparison, form a clear and concise thesis statement that expresses your position on the similarities and differences between the two essays. Your thesis should indicate the main points you will address in your essay.
Here are a few examples of possible thesis statements for your comparison essay:
1. Despite differing cultural backgrounds and writing styles, both Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" demonstrate the empowering role of language in shaping individual and cultural identity.
2. Through their essays "Mother Tongue" and "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," both Amy Tan and Gloria Anzaldua explore the complexities and challenges faced by individuals navigating multiple languages, shedding light on the power dynamics and societal perceptions associated with language use.
3. By employing personal anecdotes, rhetorical strategies, and a reflection on the social implications of language, Amy Tan in "Mother Tongue" and Gloria Anzaldua in "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" both highlight the significance of embracing diverse language varieties and celebrating individual linguistic identities.
Remember to tailor your thesis statement to the specific focus of your essay and the main arguments you plan to make. Your thesis should succinctly capture the essence of your comparison while providing a roadmap for your analysis.