Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Form a working thesis statement
Supporting a thesis
Writing Papers in MLA Style

✵ 54 Supporting a thesis

✵ 55 Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism

✵ 56 Integrating sources

✵ 57 Documenting sources in MLA style

o LIST OF MLA IN-TEXT CITATION MODELS

o LIST OF MLA WORKS CITED MODELS

✵ 58 MLA format; sample research paper

Note: An in-text citation is a reference to a source that you place within your paper. A works cited entry is a reference to a source that you include at the end of your paper.

MLA-style papers in this book: See pages 68, 76, 98, and 448.

In English and other humanities courses, you may be asked to use the Modern Language Association (MLA) system for documenting sources. When writing a research paper based on sources, you will follow three important conventions:

1. supporting a thesis statement (54)

2. citing your sources accurately and avoiding plagiarism (55)

3. integrating source material effectively (56)

Examples in sections 54—56 are drawn from one student’s research. Sophie Harba’s research paper, in which she argues that state governments have the responsibility to set health policies and to regulate healthy eating choices, appears in 58b.

54Supporting a thesis

✵ Testing your thesis statement

✵ Sample informal outline

✵ Sample graphic organizer

Once you have read a range of sources, considered your subject from different perspectives, and chosen an entry point in the research conversation, you are ready to focus your research paper by forming a thesis statement and supporting that thesis with well-organized evidence.

54a Form a working thesis statement.

A thesis statement expresses your informed answer to your research question — an answer about which people might disagree. Start by developing a working thesis statement to help you narrow your ideas and clarify your purpose. As your ideas develop, you’ll revise your working thesis to make it more specific and focused.

Here, for example, are student writer Sophie Harba’s research question and working thesis statement.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Should the government enact laws to regulate healthy eating choices?

After you have written a rough draft and perhaps done more reading, you may decide to revise your thesis, as Harba did, to give it a sharper focus and to offer a “So what?” to show readers why the thesis matters.

In a research paper, readers are accustomed to seeing the thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph. Here is Harba’s thesis in the context of her introduction. (See 58b for the entire MLA paper.)

TESTING YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

An effective thesis argues for a position in a debate. Keep the following guidelines in mind to develop an effective thesis statement.

✵ A thesis should be your answer to a question and should take a position that needs to be argued and supported. It should not be a statement of fact or a description. Make sure your position is debatable by anticipating opposing viewpoints and counterarguments.

✵ A thesis should match the scope of the research project. If your thesis is too broad, explore a subtopic of your original topic. If your thesis is too narrow, pose a research question that has more than one answer.

✵ A thesis should be focused. Avoid vague words such as interesting or good. Use concrete language and make sure your thesis lets readers know your position.

✵ A thesis should stand up to the “So what?” test (see 1c). Ask yourself why readers should be interested in your essay and care about your thesis.