Thesis logs are graded according to the following rubric:
| 4 | Making connections, pointing to quotes, citing page references, and proposing actual thesis statements. |
| 3 | Suggests paper topics and cites text with quotes or page references. Misses opportunities to put forward possible thesis statements (i.e. how you would frame the paper topic). |
| 2 | Points out interesting parts or raises good questions, but does not do the analysis to suggest a paper topic. |
| 1 | Demonstrates minimal, unengaged effort. |
The difference between a 3 and a 4 is the difference between a paper topic and a thesis. You need to understand the difference.
A paper topic is the subject matter of an essay, usually expressed as a noun or noun phrase. A paper topic for a Song of Solomon essay might be “death,” or the “relationship between Milkman and Guitar.”
A thesis is an argument, claim, or assertion, usually expressed as a complete sentence, which means it has a verb. For example, “Using ghosts to blur the line between life and death, Toni Morrison challenges her reader’s conception of death.” Or “Guitar symbolizes the dark side of Milkman’s choices.”
Here is an example of a thesis log that would a score of 3.
I think that comparing and contrasting Milkman and Guitar would make an excellent thesis. They are two very different characters, who have numerous thought-provoking discussions with each other. On page 174, the two begin to plot to steal Pilate’s gold. During this conversation, a lot is shown of each character’s personality—and it should make an excellent start for a thesis.
It does good things: cites text and explicitly explores a paper topic. But it’s not a 4, because the writer does not offer any specifics on how he would approach this broad paper topic.
Here is an example of a thesis log that would score a 4:
In the previous chapter Lena goes off on Milkman because she is done having to life her life for him. In the preceding chapter Milkman ironically says, “Everybody wants something from me, you know what I mean? Something they think they can’t get anywhere else . . .” (222). This quote and Lena’s previous speech could both enforce the theme of people feeling like they need to live their lives for others, and can’t be free themselves. A lot of other things in the story can relate to this theme as well, as I’ve noted in other thesis logs.
This writer not only cites text, she explains how she would use these passages to support a specific argument. (It’s also a nice touch that she is connecting to previous log entries.)
Posted by Justin Wells : 11/12/2007