Writing Across the Disciplines

1. Writing Across the Disciplines

2. Organizing your paper • Title • Introduction • Thesis statement/hypothesis • Body Paragraphs • Constructing Topic Sentences • Building Main Points • In an argument, countering the opposition • Conclusion

3. Analyzing the question (examples on page 56 of your binder) • Read the essay question carefully • Underline the key words and check their meaning • Highlight the action words

4. An example would be an assignment that asks you to choose a topic to analyze. You are also required to explain your topic using a specific example. You have chosen to write your paper on civil disobedience. What it means Analyze (the action word) asks for a definition. It also requires you to examine the following elements: who uses it, for what purpose, what are its effects, what are its consequences. Examples which illustrate the concept of civil disobedience could include: 1950’s fight against McCarthyism 1960’s struggle against South African Apartheid 1970’s anti-war activists (Vietnam) Ghandi and India’s independence Martin Luther King and the integration of African Americans

5. Different Types of Action Words • Information words – ask you to demonstrate what you know about a subject (5Ws). Words like define, explain, illustrate, summarize, trace, research • Relation words – ask you to demonstrate how thing are connected. Words like compare, contrast, apply, cause, relate • Interpretation words – ask you todefend ideas of your own about a subject (opinion needs to be supported by concrete evidence. Words like assess, prove, justify, evaluate, respond, support, synthesize, analyze, argue

6. Choosing a topic • If you are having difficulty choosing a topic, make an appointment to speak with the professor. • Brainstorm - write down the various aspects of the topic you know about from lectures, general knowledge etc. • choose a topic that interests you

7. Locate/evaluate resources • When I begin my research on civil disobedience, I find that there is too much information on this topic so I will need to narrow it down. I will need to focus on one specific area of the topic to study. • How do I accomplish that?

8. Possible ways to narrow down a topic 1.Geographically 2.Demographically 3.Time Period 4. Journalistic Approach (5Ws)

9. The process Example topic: Civil Disobedience 1.Civil disobedience in the 20th century 2. Civil disobedience in 20th Century Canadian society 3. Civil disobedience and First Nations in 20th Century Canadian Society

10. A thesis statementis usually a single sentence - summarizing the fundamental argument of an essay or report. Typically, the thesis statement will appear near the end of your introductory paragraph. Thesis frequently answers the questions • What is the subject of this essay? • What is the writer’s opinion on this subject? • Does my thesis pass the ‘so what?' test? • Does my thesis pass the ‘how’ or ‘why’ test?

11. A good thesis statement • Must make an arguable assertion. For example: Heavy use of computers may disrupt family cohesion and increase divorce in society. (arguable because some people would not believe it). TIP: To test whether your assertion is arguable, ask yourself whether it would be possible to argue the opposite. (if not, then it is a statement of fact, not a thesis).

12. A Good Thesis Statement also: • Justifies discussion of the topic • Expresses one main idea • Contains specific, defining language • Make a judgment about something or Offer a solution /recommendation or Explain something

13. A winning thesis includes: 1. a narrow topic(who, what, where, when and why) 2. a specific purpose or point of view (so what) For example: Honesty is not always the best policy. Lying is harmful when it betrays trust or undermines the liar’s self image; however, telling a lie can benefit others if it serves a higher order value than honesty 3. is strongest when it is one or two sentence with two parts. For example: Drug addiction leads to social withdrawal, self alienation and disdain for the future.

14. What’s wrong with these thesis statements? Experts estimate that half of crack babies will grow up in home environments lacking rich cognitive and emotional stimulation. Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.

15. Which of these thesis statements is good? Why? • Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a great Prime Minister • Road rage causes numerous negative effects on our highways including death, injury and damage to personal property. • A successful relationship requires trust, respect and good communication. • World hunger has many causes and effects.

16. The thesis statement • Astrong thesis statement for an essay on civil disobedience and First Nations wouldbe: First Nations Canadians have used civil disobedience as a vehicle to educate the public about the issues facing them, as well as a means of forcing the government to settle outstanding land claims.

17. Method for Constructing an Introduction • Provide a hook; a hook is a statement or two that begins the introduction. It engages the reader’s attention and stimulates curiosity. • Provide background information. Include a general statement or statements that give a broader picture of the subject matter to be discussed. • Thesis statement.

18. Methods for Constructing an Introduction’s Hook • personal anecdote - My first experience of racism in high school was when…. • statistics - In the 2003 Ipsos-Reid survey commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Research, 74 percent of respondents expressed the view that there is still considerable racism in Canada. Think about the course and your professor’s guidelines

19. Methods for Constructing an Introduction’s Hook • example-real or hypothetical A new school nutritionist changes the diet at the local elementary school. As a result, average height starts increasing. The changes are seen mostly in 4th and 5th grade.

20. Methods for Constructing an Introduction’s Hook • Question with a possible answer - What if you were to wake up in the morning and have no memory of the past? How would you function? Would you even know who you were? More and more Canadians are finding themselves suffering from memory loss, some of it quite fast and without warning.

21. Methods for Constructing an Introduction’s Hook • Quotation “You’ve come a long way baby.”. Cigarette advertisers targeted females with this slogan. Virginia Slims was advertised as a “women’s only” cigarette. Phony sepia-toned photos, picturing the sorry lot of a circa 1900's woman, were juxtaposed against color photographs of a far happier modern woman wearing stylish contemporary clothing.

22. Methods for Constructing an Introduction’s Hook • striking image - He pounds down the court, ball in hands. Deftly sidestepping every obstacle in his path, he barrels toward the net…. Michael Jordan….

23. The Funnel Method of Introduction The most common academic technique: In life, people pass through different phases. They are born into a family, and then they grow up and reach puberty. After puberty, they are considered adults. At this time, the social burden on people become heavier, and new responsibilities are added to a person’s burden. Graduating from a good university, finding a job, getting married and having children are some of these expectations. Most people consider these expectations, especially having children, reasonable and see them as sources of happiness . However, that children are far away from being the ultimate bliss in our lives; on the contrary, they bring about more responsibilities and restrictions. From the General to the Specific

24. The Turning an Argument on its Head Introduction - Canadian children are exposed to and take part in competitive sports starting at a very early age. By participating in such sports as football, tennis, and basketball, proponents (sources) claim, children learn the skills necessary to survive in today’s fiercely competitive world. Recent studies (sources), however, have demonstrated how damaging competitive sports really are to the overall psychological development of children. • In an argument paper begin with a sentence or two that presents a point of view totally opposed to what you really want to say.

25. Paragraphs and Topic Sentences • Paragraphs build on the claims made in the introductory paragraph(s) • Topic sentences illustrate the main idea of each paragraph. Offering a brief explanation of the history or recent developments in your topic withinthe early body paragraphs can help the audience to become familiarized with your topic and the complexity of the issue.

26. Paragraphs • Paragraphs may be ordered in several ways, depending upon the topic and purpose of your argument: • General to specific information • Most important point to least important point • Weakest claim to strongest claim

27. Paragraph Structure • Is a three part structure consisting of an : • Introduction – includes the topic sentence • Body – discusses the main idea of the paragraph using research • Conclusion – summarizes the connections between the main idea and the information discussed in the body (http://www.indiana.edu/`wts/pamphlets/paragraphs.shtml

28. Topic Sentences • States the main idea of your paragraph • Organizes the paragraph – after stating the main idea, the paragraph then expands on it, describes it or proves it.

29. Expanding on a main idea • Techniques: 1. illustrate your ideas with examples 2. give an authoritative quotation 3. anticipate and respond to counterarguments 4. back your ideas with more evidence 5. offer another perspective to the idea 6. brainstorm more insights about the idea 7. elaborate on causes/effects, definitions, comparisons/contrasts

30. Offering a Counterargument • Addressing the claims of the opposition is an important component in building a convincing argument. • Raising a counterargument and then refuting it demonstrates knowledge about the subject and an awareness of the different components of the issue.

31. Offering a Counterargument • Counterarguments may be located at various locations within your body paragraphs. • You may choose to • build each of your main points as a contrast to oppositional claims. • offer a counterargument after you have articulated your main claims.

32. Counterarguing effectively • Consider your audience when you offer your counterargument. • Conceding to some of your opposition’s concerns can demonstrate respect for their opinions. • Remain tactful yet firm. • Using rude or deprecating language can cause your audience to reject your position without carefully considering your claims.

33. Incorporating research into the body paragraphs • Researched material can aid you in proving the claims of your argument and disproving oppositional claims. • Be sure to use your research to support the claims made in your topic sentences--make your research work to prove your argument!

34. Incorporating Research into your Paper • Use summaries, paraphrases and quotations to help weave your voice and your research together.

35. Summary • Reduces the passage by 50 to 75 percent. • Clearly identifies the source in the first sentence of the summary. • Uses synonyms to replace major words that are not generic. Summary Techniques 1.After reading the piece, list the most important points on a sheet of paper (keep the sequence of the original). 2. Reread the piece 3. Put the original away and using your list, write a short version in your own words. http://www.uhv.edu/ac/research/write/paraphrase.asp

36. Paraphrase • Restate an original passage by rewording and using different sentence patterns. • Paraphrase ONLY for the following reasons: 1. To emphasize important ideas. 2. To clarify a difficult passage. 3. To combine details.

37. Paraphrasing Techniques 1.Understand the meaning of the passage (use a dictionary if necessary) 2.Divide the passage into smaller sections (include all important ideas) 3.Restate the information – - replace as many words as possible with synonyms but remember that words often have more than one meaning so, consider the context in which the word is used. (Dictionary may be better than a Thesaurus). 4. Change the structure of the sentence. http://www.uhv.edu/ac/research/write/paraphrase.asp

38. When to use Quotations • To present technical words for which there is no accurate paraphrase. • To avoid any doubt about the accuracy of a surprising statement or evidence. • To capture the flavor of the original. • To avoid an awkward or wordy paraphrase. • To enhance your credibility as a writer.

39. Using Quotations – But How? • Use a signal phrase to precede the quotation and introduce the speaker as: • According to William Shakespeare… • A study by Mahmoud Aziz… • Others, like Hemingway, believe…. • Avoid weak phrases like: • A study revealed…, • Experts say…., • It is believed… • In my opinion… • I feel….. • Page 126 in your binder gives more examples

40. Conclusion -- The Big Finale • Your conclusion should reemphasize the main points made in your paper. • You may choose to reiterate a call to action or speculate on the future of your topic, when appropriate. • Avoid raising new claims in your conclusion.

41. Organizing your argument • Title • Introduction • Body Paragraphs • Constructing Topic Sentences • Building Main Points • Countering the Opposition • Conclusion