Choosing, Mapping, and Narrowing a TopicChoosing, Mapping, and Narrowing a Topic

People write for many reasons, but always to communicate a People write for many reasons, but always to communicate a message. Writing is always about something. We call that message. Writing is always about something. We call that something the something the topictopic. . A topic could be anything. In school, the teacher often assigns A topic could be anything. In school, the teacher often assigns writing topics. Even when topics are assigned, students writing topics. Even when topics are assigned, students usually have to narrow, or make, the topic into something usually have to narrow, or make, the topic into something more specific.more specific.There are three steps at the topic stage.There are three steps at the topic stage.1. Brainstorming ideas1. Brainstorming ideas2. Choosing a topic2. Choosing a topic3. 3. NarrowingNarrowing the topic the topic

Step #1: Brainstorming IdeasStep #1: Brainstorming Ideas

Brainstorming is a good way to find a topic Brainstorming is a good way to find a topic to write about. Brainstorming is simply to write about. Brainstorming is simply writing down all the ideas that you have writing down all the ideas that you have about a topic. You can be alone or with a about a topic. You can be alone or with a group to do this. After all the ideas are group to do this. After all the ideas are written down you can choose the best idea written down you can choose the best idea to use for your essay. to use for your essay.

Step #2: Choosing a TopicStep #2: Choosing a Topic

Here are some helpful hints for choosing a Here are some helpful hints for choosing a topic:topic:

1. Choose a topic that is interesting to you.1. Choose a topic that is interesting to you.2. Make sure there is enough information on 2. Make sure there is enough information on your topic to do the assignment.your topic to do the assignment.3. If you are working on a school 3. If you are working on a school assignment, make sure your topic fits the assignment, make sure your topic fits the assignment.assignment.

Step #3 Narrowing the TopicStep #3 Narrowing the Topic

Once you have decided on a broad topic, Once you have decided on a broad topic, you need to narrow the topic so that there is you need to narrow the topic so that there is only one main idea. Mapping the topic will only one main idea. Mapping the topic will help you to narrow it so you can focus on help you to narrow it so you can focus on one main idea.one main idea.

Idea MapIdea Map

A helpful way to narrow a topic is with an A helpful way to narrow a topic is with an idea map. Let's look at the example idea idea map. Let's look at the example idea map below. map below. How do you think this idea map can help to How do you think this idea map can help to narrow the topic you choose?narrow the topic you choose?

Sample Planning Web for Prewriting

Native Americans

Native Dances

Pow Wows

Native Games

Enthusiasm to Community

Something fun and interestingNative

Pride

Bands

BringsCulture to Community

Competition

What is a thesis statement?What is a thesis statement?

The thesis statement is a sentence. It may be the most The thesis statement is a sentence. It may be the most important sentence in an essay. It normally appears in the important sentence in an essay. It normally appears in the introduction paragraph.introduction paragraph.

The thesis is like a preview that you see when you go to The thesis is like a preview that you see when you go to the movies. If you read the thesis statement alone, you the movies. If you read the thesis statement alone, you should be able to tell what the entire essay will be about.should be able to tell what the entire essay will be about.

The thesis acts like a The thesis acts like a signpostsignpost for readers by telling them in for readers by telling them in what direction the essay will go. It has two important what direction the essay will go. It has two important functions: functions:

1. The thesis statement presents the main idea of the 1. The thesis statement presents the main idea of the essay. essay. 2. The thesis statement helps organize the essay. 2. The thesis statement helps organize the essay.

Why do you need to have a thesis Why do you need to have a thesis statement?statement?

Having a thesis statement helps both the Having a thesis statement helps both the writer and reader. writer and reader.

For the writer, the thesis statement helps to For the writer, the thesis statement helps to organize and develop the ideas of the organize and develop the ideas of the essay. essay.

For the reader, the thesis provides a guide For the reader, the thesis provides a guide or map to the essay.or map to the essay.

Steps to writing a thesis statement.Steps to writing a thesis statement.

After you have brainstormed, chosen, and After you have brainstormed, chosen, and narrowed your topic you can begin to write narrowed your topic you can begin to write your thesis statement.your thesis statement.

1. State the main idea of the essay1. State the main idea of the essay2. Include information about the supporting 2. Include information about the supporting details you will discuss.details you will discuss.3. Use specific language.3. Use specific language.

The following features make a The following features make a good thesis statement:good thesis statement:

1. The thesis statement is a complete sentence, 1. The thesis statement is a complete sentence, but is not written as a question.but is not written as a question.2. The writer's 2. The writer's opinionopinion is included in the thesis is included in the thesis statement.statement.3. The thesis statement narrows a broad topic to 3. The thesis statement narrows a broad topic to something more specific that can be covered in a something more specific that can be covered in a five-paragraph essay.five-paragraph essay.4. One main idea is expressed in the thesis 4. One main idea is expressed in the thesis statement.statement.5. The thesis statement helps to organize the 5. The thesis statement helps to organize the essay.essay.

An example thesis statement found An example thesis statement found in a paragraph written by a student. in a paragraph written by a student. To become a successful writer, students To become a successful writer, students

should follow some important steps. Just should follow some important steps. Just attending class is not enough. attending class is not enough. There is a There is a need for a good background in grammar need for a good background in grammar and vocabulary, skills in writing essays, and and vocabulary, skills in writing essays, and skills in editing.skills in editing. Learning to be a successful Learning to be a successful writer involves a lot of hard work.writer involves a lot of hard work.

What is an Outline?What is an Outline?

So far, we have done two things:So far, we have done two things: (1) Decided on a topic and (1) Decided on a topic and

(2) Written a thesis statement. (2) Written a thesis statement. Now, we can talk about how you will decide Now, we can talk about how you will decide

how to how to organizeorganize the parts of your essay that the parts of your essay that you decided to use when you wrote your you decided to use when you wrote your idea map. We will decide how to organize idea map. We will decide how to organize your essay using an your essay using an outlineoutline..

Think of outlines as bookshelves. They are Think of outlines as bookshelves. They are the shelves on which you organize your the shelves on which you organize your ideas and sentences. ideas and sentences.

An outline can take many forms such as An outline can take many forms such as words, phrases, sentences and maps. We words, phrases, sentences and maps. We will talk about formal outlines here.will talk about formal outlines here.

Formal outlines use Roman numerals for Formal outlines use Roman numerals for main topics. We alternate using letters and main topics. We alternate using letters and numbers for subtopics.numbers for subtopics.

I. I. A.A. B.B. 1.1. 2.2. a.a. b.b.

You cannot have a one without at least a You cannot have a one without at least a two or an "A" without at least a B.two or an "A" without at least a B.You should have an equal numbers of You should have an equal numbers of subtopics which are represented by A. and subtopics which are represented by A. and B., and 1. and 2. and a. and b.B., and 1. and 2. and a. and b.

ExampleExampleIn module two, Sarah mapped out things In module two, Sarah mapped out things that she likes to do. Let's look at an example that she likes to do. Let's look at an example outline using what Sarah likes to do.outline using what Sarah likes to do.

Title: Things Sarah likes to doTitle: Things Sarah likes to do I. Sports I. Sports A. basketball A. basketball B. camping B. camping C. hikingC. hiking D. rock climbingD. rock climbing II. Reading II. Reading A. Science fiction A. Science fiction B. Fantasy B. Fantasy C. WesternsC. Westerns III. Writing III. Writing A. Children's books A. Children's books B. Poetry B. Poetry C. FantasyC. Fantasy IV. Watching TV IV. Watching TV A. college football A. college football B. Seinfeld B. Seinfeld C. CSIC. CSI

1. But, what can we do with this outline?1. But, what can we do with this outline?2. What does it tell us?2. What does it tell us?

From this outline, we know that we need to From this outline, we know that we need to eliminate one of the subtopics.eliminate one of the subtopics.

Which one should we eliminate?Which one should we eliminate?

Since we learned that we should have an Since we learned that we should have an equal number of subtopics, we may want to equal number of subtopics, we may want to eliminate a subtopic under sports. Sarah eliminate a subtopic under sports. Sarah likes rock climbing the least, so we will likes rock climbing the least, so we will eliminate that detail. Now, Sarah's new and eliminate that detail. Now, Sarah's new and improved outline looks like this. Notice that improved outline looks like this. Notice that the details listed under sports now begins the details listed under sports now begins with basketball.with basketball.

If Sarah had not done an outline before her paper If Sarah had not done an outline before her paper she would have had an essay that was poorly she would have had an essay that was poorly

organized.organized. I. Sports I. Sports A. basketball A. basketball B. camping B. camping C. hikingC. hiking II. Reading II. Reading A. Science fiction A. Science fiction B. Fantasy B. Fantasy C. WesternsC. Westerns III. Writing III. Writing A. Children's books A. Children's books B. Poetry B. Poetry C. FantasyC. Fantasy IV. Watching TV IV. Watching TV A. college football A. college football B. Seinfeld B. Seinfeld C. CSIC. CSI

From the outline, we know:From the outline, we know: Paragraph #1 would be the introduction.Paragraph #1 would be the introduction.

Body Paragraph I would be about sports.Body Paragraph I would be about sports.Body Paragraph II would be about reading. Body Paragraph II would be about reading. Body Paragraph III would be about writing.Body Paragraph III would be about writing.Body Paragraph IV would be about watching Body Paragraph IV would be about watching TVTV

Paragraph #6 would be the conclusion.Paragraph #6 would be the conclusion.