Writing Format
Mr. Tripler
Opening Paragraph
- Background (general statement) - Background (general statement)
- Thesis Statement or - 3 Main points
- 3 Main points - Thesis Statement
- Wrap up Sentence - Wrap up Sentence
Body - Write these three paragraphs from weakest to Strongest.
- Topic Sentence
- NITEEC
o New Idea
o Transition
o Explain
o Example
o Connect
- Concluding sentence
Concluding Paragraph
- Restate thesis
- Paraphrase topics
- End Strong – this is the last thing your audience is going to hear. Make it something they will remember.
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Explanation
NITEEC
o New Idea - Quote
o Transition - Transitions between ideas and sentences
o Explain - Paraphrase
o Example - Historical example
o Connect - Connect to paragraph topic and thesis
- Strong Wrap Up Sentence – This is the last thing your audience is going to hear. Make it something they will remember.
Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement
1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
· An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
· An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
· An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.
2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.
3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.
4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.
Thesis Statement Examples
Example of an analytical thesis statement:
An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.
The paper that follows should:
· explain the analysis of the college admission process
· explain the challenge facing admissions counselors
Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:
The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.
The paper that follows should:
· explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
The paper that follows should:
· present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college
Research Paper Overview
The purpose of the research paper is to involve the student as directly as possible in a concentrated investigation of some particular aspect of the course's subject-matter. Successful completion of the research paper will involve competence in the subject chosen (content, coverage), competence in using appropriate methods (assumptions, definitions, approach, consistency), and competence in writing (expression, clarity, organization).
Students are encouraged to communicate with the instructor by email, and may submit preliminary outlines, drafts, and finished papers in that mode. But because of problems with electronic viruses, the instructor will not accept "attachments," but requires "text only" format, which can be inserted into an email message in various ways (e.g. cut and paste). Note that "text only" format will lose special wordprocessing features such as italics, bold type, and underlining, and may lose or confuse footnotes and footnote references. Please keep this in mind as you prepare your work, and make appropriate adjustments (e.g. use endnotes and insert the numbers into the text in an explicit manner such as \n#/).
Subject of Research
The earlier you choose an area for research, the easier it will be to write a good paper. Choose something that ties in with work of interest to you: work previously done, or work connected with another course, or something new to you. (But do not hand in a paper you have already written for another course!) Beware of choosing subjects simply because you have "an ax to grind"; your task is to discover and describe, not to crusade. Before you settle on a topic, look into the availability of sources. When you have a topic, confirm your choice with the instructor.
Drafts and Revisions
Writing and rewriting, as appropriate, are viewed as an essential part of the educational process. Because it is impossible to become familiar with the conventions of a field without practice and because any piece of writing can be improved, students are encouraged to submit a preliminary draft of the research paper if they so desire, and to revise portions of the final paper if inadequacies are discovered.
Treat any preliminary draft as seriously as if it were the final submission. If the draft is not typed legibly or if it contains an inexcusable number of grammatical or spelling errors, that will make it difficult to give it the attention it deserves.
Things to work on
What type of paper are you writing: Persuasive, Research, etc.
Citing your information
Format issues – Following the Format I gave you will help you focus your ideas.
Do not use “I” “My opinion” “Etc.” Write your thoughts as facts.
For example
“I think the Black Death is the worst disease in history” (weak statement)
Or
“The Black Death is the worst disease in history” (strong statement)
Split up our 3 reasons (3 sentences) – I have you do this to help you visual see what your ideas are, and to start the decision making process of structuring your thoughts.
Your 3 reasons are reasons your thesis is correct not just facts about the topic
Expand on your ideas – You can always write more.
Some of you may need to focus your argument more – cut down on your ideas.
Be definitve don’t say “In most cases”, “Almost”, “the Majority”, “Might” – Don’t lie but state things as concrete facts.
Two Thoughts in one Sentence – Don’t do this.
“The Bubonic Plague killed so (Many) people decided to move from the country into the cities”
Transition - This is the idea that your paper needs to be a fluid coherent piece of writing. This takes time and practice to master but it starts now. Work on transitioning between two ideas.
Connecting – Many of you write your information like it is absolute truth. You need to work on explaining your ideas – giving examples to support them – and then tieing it all together, connect it to your papers thesis.
Don’t use “Also”, “And”, etc. at the beginning of your sentences. This indicates that it is adding onto something. However, each sentence should have its own idea and concept. You use words like this as a Crutch
Leave specific facts for the body paragraphs – just introduce ideas in the opening
paragraph – Follow format
Talk about one side then the other don’t go point by counterpoint
Your thesis needs to have one overall reason for your position
Subject – Black Death
Opinion – The Black Death is worse than the AID’s pandemic of today.
Thesis – The Black Death’s effect on society makes it worse than the AID’s pandemic of today.
Final Sentence opening paragraph – a good wrap up sentence
Any pandemic that has such an overwhelming impact on every human in existence, whether it would be direct or indirect, permits it to be categorized as the worst in history.
Did you completely explain something or did you just leave a fact “dead” - Make sure you are completing your thoughts – Explain them completely.
What are your thoughts as you read it - after you have read it?
Other things to pay attention to
- Audience à who is it?
- Be concise with your writing – every word to every sentence to every paragraph should have meaning in your paper.
- Always be making connections to the thesis.
- Transitions: could be a word or rewriting sections so it flows better.
- Don’t make Outrageous, Dramatic, or Poetic statements
- Don’t Write ““ ” is another reason America is declining.” This is sloppy and fills up the paper with words that aren’t necessary or useful.
- Always answer questions like: How? Why? Go back over your paper and make sure you have answered all of these questions.