DocEssay-topic2thesis

 DOCUMENTED RESEARCH PAPER  FROM TOPIC TO THESIS The first step after choosing your topic is to analyze your topic. The word “analyze” means to break something down into its parts and looks at how the parts relate to each other. Your research sources should examine different aspects of your topic. Try to see relationships between the different sources and form them into a whole concept. Analyze your topic by thinking and writing about the following questions:  1) Briefly explore your topic using the following questions reporters usually ask:  Who?_  __What? __  When?  __Where? ___  __Why? ___  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">How?_ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">2) Is your topic too broad? (e.g. War) Too narrow? (e.g. The straps on army issued gas masks are difficult to use) What are the main points you will discuss? List them from most important to least important): <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> __<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">a) __ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">b) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> __<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">c) __ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">d) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">3) Give a brief explanation of any issues that may make your topic arguable or controversial: <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">4) Who would be interested in reading about this topic and why? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';">RESEARCH CHECK POINT: <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> As you gather information and think about your subject, you may find that you need to refine, clarify, extend, or narrow your focus. You may need to return to an information search to widen or narrow your search, or even head down a different path, following new ideas related to your topic. No matter how profound and interesting the information you’ve found might be, you may have to GET RID OF some of it. If it doesn’t relate to and support the thesis you’ve chosen, don’t try to cram it into your paper. You may see some gaps where you need additional support for a point you want to make. You may have to do a bit more research! <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Developing a thesis requires some preliminary questions. Please answer the following. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">1) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">How can I persuade my readers that my position is of merit? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">2)  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Do I want to emphasize the positive or negative aspects of my subject? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">3) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Is one aspect of my subject more important or more relevant to my audience than others? If so, what do I need or want to stress in my thesis? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">4)  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">If my subject is an event or thing, what caused or created it? Would understanding the cause or a precedent make it easier for my audience to understand my subject? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">5) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">What effects has my subject had or is it likely to have? Are the effects important or unexpected?  <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri;">6) <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">How important will my topic be in the near and far future? <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; layout-grid-mode: line; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">The task is to refine your ideas and develop a thesis, which can be “proved” or supported by your research sources. Read through the following list of thesis approaches to see which fits your thinking. <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">APPROACH EXAMPLE _ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">MY THESIS STATEMENT <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Now write your thesis statement in a declarative sentence. __<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> (I believe) ___ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif';">Checklist-My thesis statement: <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Uses the__ _ __(select from the list above) thesis approach__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Is not too broad__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Is not too narrow or technical__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Can be proved with the material I have found in my research__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Sets up the way I will organize my discussion with three distinct points or aspects of the topic__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Points to the conclusion I will draw__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> _ __Is scholarly-the topic is significant and relevant in society today; no celebrities’ or presidents’ biographies please!__ <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> ___Uses 3rd person point of view (no “I’s” or “we’s” or “me’s” or “my’s” or “ours’” or “you’s” or “yours <span style="font-size: 10pt; layout-grid-mode: line; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">PRINT AND FILL OUT AND TURN IN TO MRS. CLARK **
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Part I: **<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TOPIC <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Part II: **<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">THESIS STATEMENT <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Part III: **<span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Impact','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">WRITE THESIS <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Chronology **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... The rise of the Imagist Movement can be traced over a period of twenty years.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Procedure **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Five steps are required to produce liquid oxygen.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Cause/Effect **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Economic factors caused deterioration in Sino-Soviet relations in 1950.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Problem **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Differing Moslem ideologies make Israeli-Palestinian peace difficult.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Solution **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... The energy crisis can be solved by solar and nuclear power.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Comparison **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Acupuncture is a better anesthetic than malothane.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Similarity **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... TV and motion picture writing are similar in several respects.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Difference **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Marriage rites differ among Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, and Western families.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Relationship **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Hemingway’s life experiences influenced his work.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Analysis **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Three major issues are related to the crisis in North Korea.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Pro... **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban missile crisis was good foreign policy.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Con **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Four medical theories oppose radical mastectomy in breast cancer.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Category **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">... Several ethnic populations in American grew during the past ten years.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; background: #d9d9d9; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">RESEARCH CHECKPOINT: **__**<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> A well-written thesis statement, usually expressed in one or two sentences, is the most important part of your entire paper. It should both summarize for your reader the position you will be arguing or topic you will be explaining **__and __set up the__ pattern of organization __(usually three distinct points you will prove through evidence and analysis of that evidence) in your paper.__
 * //<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Important: A thesis sentence is not a statement of accepted fact; it is the position that needs the research/proof you will provide in your paper. //**