conditional statement

Examples of conditional statement in the following topics:

• Introducing Objections Informally

  • Here's an example of introducing objections with conditional statements: "If Ophelia were to marry Hamlet, she would someday become Denmark's queen and, consequently, a major political figure. "
  • A writer can introduce these viewpoints with informal devices such as rhetorical questions and conditional statements.
  • The writer could also use a conditional statement: "If we raise our sales tax, consumers might respond by shopping in neighboring states with lower taxes."
  • Use rhetorical questions or conditional statements to informally introduce an objection

• Techniques for Acknowledging Opposing Views

  • There are several ways to introduce to your reader the counterarguments you've uncovered: quoting a source for the counterargument, paraphrasing a source, or using your own words to offer a rhetorical example or conditional statement.
  • A conditional statement (if x, then y) gives the reader's objections a voice in the context of the writer's argument

• Verb Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative

  • Grammatical mood allows speakers and writers to express their attitudes toward what they are saying (for example, whether it is intended as a statement of fact, of desire, or of command).
  • In English, there are many grammatical moods, but by far the most common are the indicative, the imperative, the subjunctive, and the conditional.
  • It is used to express factual statements.
  • The conditional mood is used for speaking of an event whose completion depends on another event.
  • In English, the conditional mood is usually of the form "would" + bare verb with no tense or aspect markers.

• Turning Your Claim Into a Thesis Statement

  • These four elements go into making a strong thesis statement.
  • The thesis statement, or problem statement, is central to your argument.
  • Obviously, not all thesis statements read exactly like the formula above.
  • The sample statement is just a suggested starting point.
  • Thesis statements do not need impressive rhetoric or copious detail.

• Introduction to the Thesis Statement

  • A strong thesis statement is specific, focused, and holds tension between ideas.
  • His statement might elicit a few nods and a comment or two.
  • Is this last statement a little more provocative?
  • And it all began with his provocative statement: his thesis.
  • Once you have a thesis statement, you'll want to gather evidence both for and against the statement.

• Introduction and Thesis

  • In academic writing, the introduction and thesis statement form the foundation of your paper.
  • A thesis statement is a brief summary of your paper's purpose and central claim.
  • A thesis statement in the social sciences should include your principal findings and conclusions.
  • The statement without a thesis: A statement of a fact, opinion, or topic is not a thesis.
  • Push the thesis statement beyond the level of a topic statement, and make an argument.

• Turning Your Topic Into a Question

  • A problem statement needs a question to solve, so part of narrowing your topic is transforming it from a statement into a specific question.
  • To develop a problem statement, you must rephrase your topic into a question.
  • Your question is also not a fully articulated problem statement.
  • However, it should work towards figuring out how to meet the criteria of a successful problem statement.
  • " is far from a developed argument, but it is something from which a problem statement can be built.

• "So What?"

  • Your new audience has different priorities, and this statement doesn't answer the "So what?
  • This statement successfully answers the "so what?
  • Problem statements should always give readers a clear answer to the question, "So what?
  • A problem statement introduces and gives an approach to a given problem.
  • Employ problem statements to establish the value of your argument, so that your reader knows why your argument is important

• Mixing Academic and Colloquial Styles

  • Example of Colloquial Style: "I didn't like any of the characters in that movie, but I could relate to the situations they got themselves into. " This statement relies on personal opinions that are not supported by any evidence, which makes it inappropriate for academic writing.
  • This statement uses effective language, although it tries to cram too much information into one sentence.
  • This stylistic flaw points to the statement's cardinal sin: it links two events without explaining their connection or significance.
  • Sure enough, one of the other doctors was still convinced that her hypothesis was better than his, and she secretly ran tests that ended up worsening patient's condition.

• Turning Your Question Into a Claim

  • A "working hypothesis" is a statement of what you think the answer to your question is.
  • When your paper is done and your hypothesis finalized, it will be an integral part of your problem statement.
  • A complete problem statement contains the following steps: a status quo, a moment when you point out a problem in the status quo, and the solution you have to that problem.
  • Since it is going to become part of your problem statement, this is the time to start paying close attention to your language.
  • If you are changing your hypothesis because you discovered that your earlier one was not working, you will need to reformulate your problem statement and restructure your argument.