Hajian: Digital Literacy 21: Writing your paper

A thesis statement is a strong statement that you can prove with evidence.  

It will be the MAIN idea of your entire paper.  It is the “point of view” from which you will present your evidence/supporting facts.

Your thesis statement will be the LAST sentence in your INTRODUCTION.

Here are some approaches to writing a thesis statement:

• Define a problem and state an opinion about it
   
• Put forth a solution to a problem
   
• Look at an issue from a new and interesting perspective
   
• Theorize how the world might be different today if something had or had not happened in the past.
•  

-adapted from CRLS Research Guide

• Teen gang activity in the United States can be stopped by a combined approach which consists of supervised youth programs, more job availability, and closer family relationships.
• Teenage gang activity can only be stopped with early education in the public school systems.
   
• Although much research has gone into finding a cure for the AIDS virus, we are no closer to a real cure than we were when the disease first became known.
• After years of research , scientists are on the verge of discovering a cure for the AIDS virus.
   

-Samples from CRLS Research Guide and Purdue Owl

Preparing to Write:

• Have your notecards and outline beside you.
  
   
• Put your notecards in the order of your outline.
  
   
• Skip the introduction - write it AFTER you have written the body of your paper.
   

Writing the Body of Your Paper (3 middle paragraphs): For the 1st paragraph in the body of your paper, begin writing about your first subtopic.  The remaining sentences will add additional details about your subtopic and help support your thesis statement.  Since this is a research paper, DO NOT USE FIRST PERSON (I think, I believe).

Remember to cite all borrowed information immediately after you write it.  If more than one sentence is coming from the SAME source, put your citation after the last sentence.  

Continuing doing these same steps for the remaining two paragraphs of your research paper.   

Before you move on to your introduction and conclusion, make sure all information is properly cited in the body of your paper.

Writing your introduction (1st paragraph):  Your introduction should be a general introduction to the topic you have researched.  Do this by beginning with a few sentences that introduce your topic.  You do not need to give too much detailed information - save the details/evidence for the body of your paper.  The purpose of the introduction is to get the reader interested in your topic and wanting to read more.  Your FINAL sentence of your introduction is your THESIS statement.  Your introduction should be at least 3 to 5 sentences long.  

Writing your conclusion (last paragraph):  Your conclusion is the last paragraph of your research paper.  You will restate your THESIS statement at the beginning of this paragraph and summarize the main points of evidence from the body of your paper.   By reading your conclusion, the reader should feel that your research is complete and you have supported your thesis.  This paragraph should be at least 3 to 5 sentences long.

Final Check:  

• Proofread your paper.  
   
• Run spell check.  
   
• Read it aloud - does it make sense?  Are any sentences awkward?  Did you fully support your thesis?  
   
• Have someone else read your paper
   
• Did you cite all of your information that you got from your three sources?
   
• Did you use all three sources?
   
• Are your citations formatted correctly?  Remember, the period is at the very end, after the parentheses
   
• Is it five paragraphs?

-adapted from CRLS Research Guide