The ONLY WAY to Make YOUR Argument Thesis COMPLEX!

Summary

In this engaging video, Tim Freitas from the Garden of English (GOE) addresses the common challenge of crafting powerful thesis statements for argumentative essays. He emphasizes the importance of a thesis statement as a guiding force for the rest of the paper, outlining the concept of a 'line of reasoning' and the significance of a 'complex sentence' in constructing a compelling argument. Freitas provides a clear definition of these terms and offers practical advice on how to integrate them into a thesis. He presents five different thesis templates, each with varying levels of complexity and sophistication, to suit different argument prompts and writer preferences. The video also discusses the distinction between 'closed' and 'open' thesis statements, explaining when to use each based on the writer's comfort with structure and freedom. Freitas demonstrates how to create nuanced arguments by incorporating concessions into the thesis, using the warning label prompt as an example. The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of planning and the broader aspects of essay writing, such as topic sentences, transitions, and evidence integration, which are crucial for achieving high marks on AP Language exams.

Takeaways

• 📝 **Understanding Thesis Statements**: A thesis statement is a sentence that typically appears at the end of an introduction paragraph, clearly projecting the argument of the essay.
• 🧠 **Line of Reasoning**: This refers to the complex interplay of how the thesis guides the topic sentences, transitions, paragraph interrelations, and commentary, all consistently relating back to a unifying idea or argument.
• 📚 **Complex Sentences**: A complex sentence is one that presents some ideas as being of lesser value than others, often created by including a subordinating conjunction.
• 🔗 **Subordinating Conjunctions**: These are words that help create complex sentences by connecting clauses of different importance.
• 📈 **Thesis Templates**: The video provides five thesis templates to help generate complex theses, with increasing sophistication as the template number gets higher.
• 🚫 **Closed vs. Open Theses**: Closed theses limit the scope of the paper, while open theses allow for more exploration within the argument's boundaries.
• 🎯 **Sophistication vs. Understanding**: It's important not to choose a more sophisticated template just for the sake of it; understanding how it directs your paper is crucial.
• 🤔 **Writer's Introspection**: Writers should consider their personal preferences for rigid direction or added freedom when choosing between closed and open theses.
• 📑 **Planning is Key**: A well-thought-out plan can significantly aid in creating a nuanced argument, as demonstrated by incorporating concessions into the thesis.
• 📝 **Nuanced Arguments**: Nuanced theses often start with a concession, which is then followed by the main argument, creating a more sophisticated and balanced perspective.
• 📈 **AP Language Rubric**: The highest marks in an AP Language argument essay come from creating a strong line of reasoning, which includes not just the thesis but also topic sentences, transitions, evidence, and commentary.

Q & A

What is the main problem addressed in the video?

The main problem addressed is producing killer thesis statements in response to an argument prompt for an essay.

What does Tim Freitas suggest to do after breaking down the prompt and getting ideas for the essay?

Tim Freitas suggests generating a complex thesis statement that projects a line of reasoning to help map out the rest of the paper.

What is a line of reasoning?

A line of reasoning is the complex interplay of how the thesis guides the topic sentences, transitions interrelate the paragraphs, topic sentences direct the evidence integration for the paragraph, and the commentary consistently relates back to a unifying idea, message, or argument.

What is a complex sentence?

A complex sentence is a type of sentence that presents some ideas as being of lesser value than others by including a subordinating conjunction, allowing it to project ideas with a clear hierarchy.

What are subordinating conjunctions?

Subordinating conjunctions are words that connect clauses, making one clause dependent on the main clause, thus helping to create complex sentences.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an argumentative essay?

The purpose of a thesis statement is to clearly project the writer's argument and guide the other elements of the paper, providing a unifying idea or argument.

What are the differences between an open and a closed thesis statement?

A closed thesis statement limits the scope of the paper to what is listed in the language, providing little room for exploration outside of it. An open thesis statement, while still answering the prompt, allows for more freedom in the direction the paper can take.

Why is it important to choose the right thesis template?

Choosing the right thesis template is important because it ensures the thesis statement aligns with the writer's understanding and ability to execute the argument, preventing the risk of creating a poorly directed paper.

What is the significance of planning in creating a complex thesis?

Planning is significant because it helps identify areas of agreement or disagreement with the prompt, which can then be incorporated into the concessionary part of the thesis template, ensuring a nuanced and clear argument.

What is the 'Garden of English' initiative mentioned in the video?

The 'Garden of English' initiative involves giving shout outs to schools in videos. If a student can get a certain number of their classmates to subscribe to the 'Garden of English' channel, they will be mentioned in a future video.

What resources are available for students to improve their understanding of grammar and sentence structure?

Tim Freitas mentions that unit 7 of his ultimate review packet for AP English Language provides a significant grammar review, covering sentence types, coordination, subordination, and punctuation.

How can students ensure they don't miss any important information for test day?

Students can ensure they don't miss any important information by signing up for the ultimate review packet and following the 'Garden of English' YouTube channel for free note guides and updates.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Argumentative Thesis Statements

The speaker, Tim Freitas, welcomes viewers to the Garden of English (goe) and addresses the common issue of crafting effective thesis statements for argumentative essays. He emphasizes the importance of a complex thesis that not only states the argument but also outlines a line of reasoning to guide the rest of the essay. Tim introduces the concept of a 'line of reasoning' and 'complex sentence,' explaining how they interplay in an essay. He also provides a list of subordinating conjunctions crucial for creating complex sentences and offers resources for further grammar review. Tim then presents five thesis templates to help viewers generate complex theses statements tailored to their argument prompts, cautioning against choosing overly sophisticated templates without understanding their function.

05:01

🔍 Understanding Open and Closed Thesis Statements

Tim differentiates between open and closed thesis statements, explaining that closed theses limit the scope of the paper, providing a clear direction but less flexibility, while open theses allow for broader exploration within the argument's boundaries. He suggests that the choice between open and closed theses depends on the writer's preference for direction or freedom. Tim then demonstrates how to apply the thesis templates with examples, contrasting a one-sided closed thesis with a more nuanced open thesis that includes a concession. He advises that planning and understanding the argument are essential for creating a strong thesis and provides tips for incorporating nuance while maintaining clarity. Tim concludes by highlighting the importance of not only crafting a compelling thesis but also developing a strong line of reasoning throughout the essay.

Keywords

💡Thesis statement

A thesis statement is a sentence that typically appears at the end of an introduction paragraph in an argumentative essay. It clearly presents the argument or claim that the rest of the essay will support. In the video, Tim Freitas emphasizes the importance of creating a complex thesis statement that not only states the argument but also guides the rest of the paper, setting a clear line of reasoning that the essay will follow.

💡Line of reasoning

A line of reasoning refers to the logical sequence of ideas that connect and build upon each other to form a coherent argument. It is the complex interplay of how the thesis guides the topic sentences, how transitions interrelate the paragraphs, and how the evidence and commentary consistently relate back to a unifying idea or argument. In the context of the video, understanding the line of reasoning is crucial for constructing a thesis that will effectively map out the structure of the entire essay.

💡Complex sentence

A complex sentence is a type of sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. It presents ideas in a way that establishes a hierarchy, where some ideas are shown as less significant than others. In the video, Tim explains that complex sentences are created by including a subordinating conjunction, which is essential for generating complex thesis statements that can project nuanced arguments.

💡Subordinating conjunction

A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects clauses in a complex sentence, showing that one clause is dependent on another. It is used to create complex sentences by linking ideas and indicating the relationship between them. In the video, Tim provides a list of subordinating conjunctions and demonstrates how they can be used to construct a complex thesis statement, which is a critical component of an argumentative essay.

💡Argument prompt

An argument prompt is a statement or question that requires the writer to take a position and support it with reasoning and evidence. In the video, Tim discusses how to respond to an argument prompt by creating a thesis statement that addresses the prompt's requirements. The argument prompt serves as the starting point for developing an essay that includes a clear and complex thesis statement.

💡Topic sentences

Topic sentences are the opening sentences of a paragraph that present the main idea or argument of that paragraph. They are crucial for guiding the reader and providing a clear structure to the essay. In the video, Tim mentions that a line of reasoning includes how topic sentences direct the evidence integration for the paragraph, highlighting their importance in the overall flow of an argumentative essay.

💡Evidence integration

Evidence integration is the process of incorporating supporting details, examples, and evidence into an essay to strengthen the argument presented in the thesis statement. In the context of the video, Tim discusses how the integration of evidence in the body paragraphs should be directed by the topic sentences and relate back to the thesis, reinforcing the essay's central argument.

💡Commentary

Commentary in an essay refers to the author's interpretation, analysis, or opinion on the evidence presented. It is the way the writer discusses and reflects on the evidence to support their argument. In the video, Tim emphasizes that the commentary should consistently relate back to the unifying idea or argument, which is guided by the thesis statement.

💡Complex thesis templates

Complex thesis templates are preconstructed outlines or frameworks that help writers formulate a complex thesis statement. In the video, Tim provides five thesis templates that ensure the creation of a complex thesis, suitable for various argument prompts. These templates are designed to guide writers in crafting a nuanced argument that can be expanded upon in the body of the essay.

💡Open and closed thesis statements

Open and closed thesis statements refer to the flexibility or rigidity of the direction set by the thesis. A closed thesis statement limits the scope of the paper, providing a clear and narrow focus, while an open thesis statement allows for a broader range of exploration within the essay. In the video, Tim explains that the choice between an open or closed thesis should be based on the writer's preference and the requirements of the specific argument prompt.

💡AP English Language

AP English Language refers to the Advanced Placement course and examination offered by the College Board for high school students. The course focuses on the study of rhetoric and the analysis of nonfiction texts. In the video, Tim Freitas is preparing students for the AP English Language exam, specifically for crafting effective argumentative essays with strong thesis statements.

Highlights

The video focuses on creating complex thesis statements for argumentative essays.

A complex thesis statement should project a line of reasoning that helps map out the rest of the paper.

The importance of a thesis statement is emphasized as it guides the topic sentences, transitions, and paragraphs.

A line of reasoning is defined as the complex interplay of various elements of an argumentative paper.

A complex sentence is introduced as a type of sentence that presents some ideas as less valuable than others.

Subordinating conjunctions are key to creating complex thesis statements.

The video provides a list of subordinating conjunctions to use in thesis statements.

Five thesis templates are presented to help generate complex theses.

The templates increase in sophistication, which can affect the direction and focus of the paper.

The difference between closed and open thesis statements is explained, with advice on choosing the right one.

Closed thesis statements are better for high-stress and time-constrained situations, while open ones allow more exploration.

The presenter demonstrates how to construct a complex thesis using the provided templates.

An example of a nuanced argument is given, showing how to incorporate concessions into a thesis.

The importance of planning and understanding the argument before writing a thesis is emphasized.

The presenter offers additional resources for a comprehensive review of AP English Language.

The video concludes with a reminder that writing a thesis is just one part of creating a strong argumentative essay.

The presenter encourages introspection and understanding of one's writing style and preferences when choosing a thesis template.

The video includes a shout-out initiative for subscribers, encouraging engagement with the Garden of English community.

The presenter provides a detailed breakdown of the warning label prompt from the Amsco book as an example.

The video offers a free note guide配套 with rhetorical analysis YouTube videos for additional study resources.

Transcripts

hey welcome back to the Garden of

English I'm Tim Freitas here at the goe

we fix problems I can fix it and the

problem you all are having right now is

producing killer thesis statements in

response to your argument prompt sure

you've broken down the prompt and sure

you've gotten a bunch of ideas to

consider as you begin to create your

essay but now you need to actually

generate not just a thesis but a complex

thesis that will project a line of

reasoning that will help you map out the

rest of your paper score that thesis

point and rock your overall score on

exam day so if you're on board with all

this awesomeness I'm projecting right

here spank that like button and hit the

subscribe so you never miss out on any

of the other awesome tips that we have

to offer speaking of subscribe I wanted

to just let you know about a little new

goe initiative I love giving shout outs

and videos so here's the deal if you can

get 15 kids in your class or 60 of your

class if they're at 15 kids in it to

subscribe to the goe and you let me know

in the comments right below this video

I'll give you a shout out in the next

goe production I hope to be dropping a

lot of names of schools in the very near

future anyway back to argument thesis

statements PSA

if you didn't know a thesis is a

sentence that typically goes at the end

of your introduction paragraph and it

clearly projects your argument moments

ago I mentioned that you need to

generate a complex thesis statement that

hopefully projects a line of reasoning

as well well before you can create such

a thing you need to know the definition

of two elements of language that I just

mentioned line of reasoning and complex

sentence the AP English language course

in exam description doesn't even

actually Define what line of reasoning

is which is quite odd but I'm going to

do so now because it's going to help us

on test day and in future argument

videos and we discuss body paragraphing

evidence and commentary a line of

reasoning is the complex interplay of

how the thesis guides the topic

sentences transitions interrelate the

paragraphs topic sentences direct the

evidence integration for the paragraph

and the commentary in some way

consistently relates back to a unifying

idea message or argument today what we

want to consider from that definition is

the fact that a thesis guides other

elements of the paper and there's a

unifying idea or argument and this leads

into the next term that you need to know

which is complex sentence a complex

sentence is a type of sentence that

projects ideas but does so in a way that

presents some ideas as being of lesser

value than other bigger or more

important ideas the way you create

complex thesis statements or complex

sentences in general is by including a

subordinating conjunction now I don't

have enough time in this quick video to

give you a full grammar lesson but if

you'd like a significant grammar review

you can check out unit 7 of my ultimate

review packet for AP English Language it

goes into greater detail about sentence

types coordination subordination and

punctuation all things that you need to

know for test day and just so you know

for you students who sign up for the

ultimate review packet at the link in

the description you'll have access to

all of the unit 1 videos and resources

as well as free note guides that go with

our rhetorical analysis YouTube videos

we just added those with these you can

make sure that you don't miss any

important information for test day not

only in the ultimate review packet but

also on our YouTube channel as well but

for now let's get back to creating a

complex thesis statement to create this

complex thesis you just need to generate

a complex sentence in response to the

prompt that you're engaging with and the

easiest way to do this is by making sure

that your thesis includes a

subordinating conjunction here's a list

of some subordinating conjunctions right

here

now of course I'm going to model what a

complex thesis looks like for you in

just a few moments but I'd like to

remind you of the prompt I'm writing an

argument in response to you know it's

the one we covered in our last video I'm

looking at the warning label prompt from

the Amsco book it's going to pop right

up here on your screen just in case you

forgot it

okay as I begin to generate my thesis I

want to remember that I've already

developed a small argument here from

when we broke down the prompt itself no

when I originally broke down the prompt

I suggested that it's generally

appropriate to apply warning labels to

things so what I'm going to do now is

I'm going to try to make my generic

claim a more complex one and I'm going

to do so by putting it in a thesis

template on the screen I'm going to show

you five thesis templates that will

guarantee that you have written a

complex thesis and they'll work for just

about any argument prompt that you could

possibly see

I want to point out a couple of things

about the templates that you just saw

first there's a file linked right below

in the description that contains these

second I need you to notice that as the

template number gets higher the

sophistication potential of the thesis

increases as well but if you try a more

sophisticated template and you don't

fully understand how it functions to

direct your paper you do run the risk of

turning what could be an amazingly

excellent paper into quite a piece of

junk so don't just go for the higher

thesis number because you think it will

automatically make you a better writer

you have to remember in the famous words

of Batman it's not who I am underneath

but what I do

it defines me the same goes with the

thesis statement good intentions don't

necessarily mean good execution third

you'll see that each statement is marked

as either being opened or closed all a

closed thesis statement is is a

statement that really limits what your

paper will talk about in a closed thesis

you really don't have much wiggle room

outside of what is listed in that

language you can't explore too much more

in your paper these types of thesis

statements are great for high stress and

time situations because they provide a

solid reference point for you to return

to if you get some writer's block the

open thesis still answers the prompt

well but doesn't limit the direction you

can go as much and allows you to be much

more well open sure you'll have to stay

within the barriers of the argument that

the thesis projects but you have a wide

open field of places to go before

reaching the fence and the limitations

of your argument itself open thesis

statements are significantly better to

use when writing longer papers now am I

encouraging closed over open on the exam

day yeah it depends you need to know

what you need as a writer yourself you

have to be introspective do you like

that rigid direction or do you like a

little added Freedom whatever your

preference that's what you need to

embrace okay so now that I've covered

all that let's actually see some of

these templates in action and discuss

their qualities remember all of these

thesis statements are complex but not

all of them are nuanced so let's start

by taking a peek at what thesis

statement one would look like if I

wanted to complexly argue that warning

labels are generally helpful and

appropriate check out how I'd construct

my thesis here placing cautionary labels

and ratings on commonly agreed upon

troubling content is appropriate because

such markings allow others to freely

choose what they'd like to experience

and they provide a way for Guardians to

protect their young from being exposed

to overly mature content this is a

complex sentence but notice how my

argument is significantly one-sided I'm

only going to argue that placing warning

labels on things is appropriate and I'm

going to provide body paragraphs that

discuss examples of people freely

choosing what they I'd like to

experience and examples of parents

protecting their children since this is

a closed thesis I'm not going outside of

the perimeters listed after the word

because and let me be clear this thesis

can lead to a solid argument that could

potentially score full marks on your AP

Lang argument essay but I want to

contrast this thesis with a thesis

that's created with template number

three this is because thesis statement 3

develops nuanced complexity as it

projects a concession that needs to be

dealt with first and it's an open thesis

so I can go in many directions okay so

let's look at it and then let's chat

about it here it is although many

individuals can find just about any

situation offensive and it's incredibly

unrealistic to apply warning labels to

everything placing cautionary labels and

ratings uncommonly agreed upon troubling

content is appropriate the way this

thesis works is like this it projects

that at the beginning of my paper I'm

going to have to concede that's just

another word for admit something what

I'm conceding is that almost any

situation can be found offensive and

it's unrealistic to Mark everything

because of this truth you know that's

true through I know it's true just

concede it but my thesis then moves to

project the crutch of my argument that

warning labels are appropriate since

there are some areas where troubling

content is commonly agreed upon so once

I admit my first concessionary point I

can then write about as many examples as

I would like that prove people can

commonly agree upon troubling content

and then explain how labels are

appropriate in those circumstances I

could write one body paragraph about

that I could write 20. because I start

my concession with the word although it

subordinates that clause and in doing so

automatically makes the beginning of the

thesis hold less weight than my actual

argument which can be found in the

second Clause my argument is highlighted

because it's the main Clause of the

thesis and I have now created a nuanced

argument and here's a tip as a writer if

you could explore some Nuance you want

to but you also want to make sure that

your stance is clear so make sure you

know what you're doing if you try using

more advanced templates the way I

generated the concession part of my

thesis was by going back to my planning

guide that we looked at my last video to

see where I partially agreed or

disagreed with positions or assumptions

from The Prompt then I just added those

pieces into the concessionary part of my

thesis template that's why planning is

so important my entire complex thesis

was generated from only my planning and

my planning took about four or five

minutes here are some more example

Theses for each of the templates that

I've provided for you

each one is strong in its own way but

knowing how to write a thesis isn't

going to always earn you the highest

marks because the most points you can

get are in row b of the AP laying rubric

so I'm glad you know how to practice

writing awesome thesis statements but

now you need to know how to generate

everything else that goes into creating

a strong line of reasoning strong topic

sentences transitions evidence and

commentary fortunately for you I have

all the tips and tricks that you need to

learn and master for these tasks and you

can find out how to do all of this by

clicking right over here