Karen S. Wright

As you begin your research, ask yourself the questions of a journalist: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Subject, Topic, Question, Thesis= Continuum:

Level 1: Broad subject area Level 2: Topic for exploration Level 3: Key question that concerns you Level 4: Your thesis (your statement of opinion or main idea in answer to the question.)

Thesis

1. Narrows your topic to a single main idea;

2. Asserts your position in a clear sentence;

3. States not only a fact but also an opinion;

Thesis

4. Makes a generalization that can be supported by facts, details, and examples.

5. Curiosity in readers prompts them to think, “Why do you say that?” and then read on.

A good thesis statement will have one or more of the following:1. A strong, thought-

provoking, or controversial statement. (Bilingual education has not fulfilled its early promise.)

2. A call to action. (All inner-city schools should set up bilingual programs.)

A good thesis statement will have one or more of the following:3. A question that will be answered in

detail in the essay. (What can bilingual education accomplish for a child? It can lead to academic and personal development.)

4. A preview or reflection (Bilingual education suffers from two main problems: a shortage of teachers and a lack of parental involvement.)

•Once you have developed your thesis statement, write it on a Post-it note or an index card and keep it near you as you write.

•Your focus for your paper will be on this statement.

The best introductions include an anecdote, a short story--draw a picture of your problem with words.

Look up key words on your topic in the dictionary and consider connotations and synonyms, too.

Make your definition of the problem more vivid with details about color, light, location, movement, size, smell, sound, taste.

Sometimes doing an interview or a survey can produce good definitions or even interesting ideas for writing.

Convey information on what causes or produces your topic and what effects or results emerge from it.

Example: What causes poverty in America?

Help your reader understand your topic by describing what it might be similar to and different from.

What solutions have been tried?

What has worked?

What has not worked

Give your reader information, facts, and statistics on what others say about your topic.

Suggest possible solutions to the problem.

No

No research paper is complete without a call to action.

•What now needs to be done?•From where will the resources come?

Begin by defining the problemWrite a thesis statement to explain the topic of your paper.Write the problem/analysis and problem/solution.

Fairly present the other side of the argument.Offer a rebuttal to the opposite point-of-view.Call to action—encourage others to act on the possible solutions.