Thursday, December 17, 2009

Taking a Position


Taking a Position
At the beginning of this unit we pointed out that the essay writing process is a dynamic one, in which you can move back and forth between the various steps involved (follow this link for a graphical representation). At some point, you should begin to clearly see what position you can legitimately argue in regard to the essay question. Using critical thinking strategies will help you reach this point. Before you begin to write, you will need to go over your notes, and refer back to the question to carefully clarify the position you're taking. You should articulate this position (or answer to the question) briefly in writing, in one or two sentences, before you begin to write: this will help you to keep your essay focussed and coherent. This will also form the basis for the position or thesis statement you need to include in the introduction to your essay.

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