20 - niche

Niche

Original Source:

"The thesis is a single sentence that announces to your reader exactly what you intend to argue, to prove, to refute, to describe, to tell, or to explain. By convention, it is usually the final sentence of the first paragraph. Of course, this is not the only place a thesis can appear; but the final sentence of the first paragraph has evolved in classroom compositions as the most effective niche for the thesis, especially in the 500-word essay, which students are usually asked to write."

McCuen, Jo Ray, and Winkler Anthony C.. Readings for Writers. Cambridge, MA: Heinle & Heinle Publishing Company, 2004. Print.

Definition*:

1. an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
2. a place or position suitable or appropriate for a person or thing.

*All definitions are from the source found in THIS post.

Second Source:

"I am a big fan of Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, who have carved a niche for themselves. I think doing different kind of films gives you longevity and the ability to set yourself apart."

"Vir Das at BrainyQuote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2014. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/virdas585095.html>.

Commentary:
I remember seeing the word niche as part of ecosystems in past years, so I have always thought it to be solely a scientific term. In the original source, authors McCuen and Winkler describe the final sentence of the first paragraph of an essay as the ideal location for a thesis. In the second source, Das discusses that the actors Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller have created a place for themselves in the world of movies because they have appeared in a variety of films, which has allowed them to be unique in their performances on screen.