Skip to main content

What Is A So What In An Essay?

by
Last updated on 4 min read

The ‘so-what? ‘ question is a hypothetical question that a reader will ask if they can’t see why your research and this paper is important. The reader is really asking: Why should I read on? Why should I care ? Often when working on a project and writing it into being, we become myopic about the details.

How do you answer so what in an essay?

You need to state, and make your argument, and then you need to tell your readers why that argument needs to be made, and what your research is contributing to your field: a critique, an innovation in theory or methodology, an additional empirical case that explains a current problem in a new way, and so on.

What is a so what statement?

Play the “So What” Game.

Whenever you make a statement from your conclusion, ask the friend to say, “So what?” or “ Why should anybody care? ” Then ponder that question and answer it.

What is the so what factor in an essay?

Regardless of where you place your thesis and what form it takes, your writing will benefit from an articulation of the motive , or the “so what?” factor. Rather than telling readers what an argument is, a motive tells readers what the argument is worth — why the argument is worth making in the first place.

Does your writing pass the so what test?

If your writing doesn’t pass the “so what” test, you need to fix the points or restart it from scratch. Unless you are writing in your own journal, whatever you write for your readers should deliver value.

How do you end an essay?

  1. Restate the thesis by making the same point with other words (paraphrase).
  2. Review your supporting ideas.
  3. For that, summarize all arguments by paraphrasing how you proved the thesis.
  4. Connect back to the essay hook and relate your closing statement to the opening one.

What are in introductions?

The introduction consists of two parts: It should include a few general statements about the subject to provide a background to your essay and to attract the reader’s attention. It should try to explain why you are writing the essay. It may include a definition of terms in the context of the essay, etc.

How do you write a good conclusion?

  1. Include a topic sentence. Conclusions should always begin with a topic sentence. ...
  2. Use your introductory paragraph as a guide. ...
  3. Summarize the main ideas. ...
  4. Appeal to the reader’s emotions. ...
  5. Include a closing sentence.

What is an example of a strong thesis statement?

Example: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good. In this persuasive thesis statement, you see that I state my opinion (the best type of sandwich), which means I have chosen a stance.

What is a so what in English?

informal. used to mean “ it’s not important ” and “I don’t care”: So what if I’m 35 and I’m not married – I lead a perfectly fulfilling life! “Andrew won’t like it, you know.” “So what? – I don’t care what Andrew thinks!”

What’s a so what factor?

So what makes content meaningful and memorable ? It’s the so-what factor, the all-important reason why anyone should care.

What is the so what factor in a thesis?

the “so what?” test. No one wants to write a paper that doesn’t matter, much less read one. Choose a topic worth arguing about or exploring . This means to construct a thesis statement about a problem that is still debated, controversial, up in the air.

What does the question so what mean in writing?

The most compelling interpretations are the ones in which the reader feels that the writer’s claim is significant, that it matters. The so what question asks you to explore your claim’s larger stakes in the hopes of uncovering significance .

What is the so what test in writing?

To apply this test, one just breaks a paper down into paragraphs, sentences , or even clauses or individual words and asks “so what?” Asking this one simple question and thinking deeply about the answer while editing can remove extraneous words, tighten up vague or rambling sentences, and craft arguments that are ...

How do you test a thesis?

To test a thesis, you need to ask questions to determine whether it is sufficiently interesting , arguable, specific, manageable, researchable, and significant. The thesis-testing process requires effort but will likely result in your satisfaction and a more successful essay.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay . It consists of the topic of the essay and the writer’s claim about the topic that will be proven throughout the essay. The thesis usually appears at the end of the introduction, often as the last sentence, and lets the reader know what to expect.

Edited and fact-checked by the FixAnswer editorial team.
Amira Khan

Amira writes about philosophy and religion, exploring ethical questions, spiritual practices, and the world's diverse belief systems.