The Thesis-Driven Writing Workshop reviews the process of creating a strong argumentative essay using traditional thesis-driven writing. The facilitator reviews components of an argument, focusing on the role of thesis statements. Participants review the ways a thesis is connected to the overall structure of the essay. The facilitator stresses that all thesis statements are “working thesis statements,” recognizing that the focus of an essay may change during the writing process. Participants are given time to draft a thesis statement to guide ongoing writing.

Resources: Facilitators will need access to a computer-connected projector. Workshop can be delivered via Zoom.

When to schedule: Students should have a working knowledge of the assignment they are being asked to create a thesis statement for. At the time of the workshop, the facilitator will ask participants to reference their assignment sheet. Ideally, participants will have narrowed potential topics their thesis-driven essay will focus on.

Length: 45-60 minutes