Unit 1 Tutorials: Introduction to Research

INSIDE UNIT 1

The Basics of Research Writing

Introduction to Research and the Writing Process

Defining Academic Research Writing
The Purpose of Research Writing
Managing Your Research Project

Research Questions and Topics

The Qualities of a Good Research Question

Choosing a Manageable Research Topic
Formulating a Thesis
Outlining and Classical Essay Structure

Introduction to Research and the Writing Process

by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn about the purpose of research in the academic writing process. Specifically,
this lesson will cover:
1. Role of Research in Composition
2. Research in the Writing Process

1. Role of Research in Composition

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 Research can be defined as the process of finding facts, data, statistics, and ideas from other writers and
sources in order to support the ideas in your own work. Conducting research and reporting the results of
research are fundamental to academic work in almost every discipline, as well as in many professional contexts.

While research in itself may seem like an enormous task when you are just starting a project, it is important to
understand that effective research is a straightforward, step-by-step process.

By practicing effective research techniques and becoming familiar with the tools that are available to
researchers, you will begin to see research as a valuable part of an organized system of study that includes
discovery, invention, critical thinking, and clear communication.

 TERM TO KNOW

Research
The process of finding facts, data, statistics, and ideas from other writers and sources in order to
support your own ideas.

2. Research in the Writing Process

If you've taken English Composition I, then you know that the writing process consists of five main stages:

Pre-writing
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Proofreading

Therefore, it is probably no surprise to learn that effective research follows a similar process and is based on
similar methods of preparation and analysis.
By mastering the essentials of effective research, you can train yourself to think more carefully about your work
at every stage of the writing process.

IN CONTEXT

You probably know how much a good quotation can help to emphasize an important point, but you
may not be conscious of how helpful general background research can be in the very earliest phases
of your writing, when you are just beginning to refine your topic and clarify your thesis and argument.

As you continue to build your experience as a writer throughout this course, you will see that effective research
allows you to appeal to specific audiences and more clearly define the purpose of your writing.

 SUMMARY

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 In this lesson, you learned that the role of research in composition is to promote discovery, invention,
critical thinking, and clear communication in writing. You also learned that in the writing process,
research functions as its own process that contributes to the overall writing project that you are
creating.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: THIS CONTENT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM LUMEN LEARNING'S "INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
AND THE WRITING PROCESS" tutorial.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Research
The process of finding facts, data, statistics, and ideas from other writers and sources in order to support
your own ideas.

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 Defining Academic Research Writing
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn what research writing is and what the process generally entails. Specifically,
this lesson will cover:
1. Qualities of Academic Research Writing
2. Process of Research Writing

1. Qualities of Academic Research Writing

Research writing is writing that uses evidence (from journals, books, magazines, the Internet, experts, etc.) to
persuade or inform an audience about a particular point.

Research writing exists in a variety of different forms.

IN CONTEXT

Academics, journalists, or other researchers might write articles for journals or magazines; other
scholars might create web pages that both use research to make some sort of point and that show
readers how to find more research on a particular topic. All of these types of writing projects can be
done by a single writer who seeks advice from others or by a number of writers who collaborate on
the project.

The form of research writing we will be focusing on in this course is academic research writing, which tends to
differ from other kinds of research writing in three significant ways:

1. Thesis statement: Academic research projects are organized around a thesis, or controlling idea, that
members of the intended audience would not accept as common sense. What an audience accepts as
common sense depends a great deal on the audience, which is one of the many reasons why what
"counts” as academic research varies from field to field. But in general, audiences want to learn something
new about a topic.
2. Evidence: Academic research projects rely almost exclusively on evidence in order to back up their claims.
Academic research writers use evidence, or facts and details that support an argument, in order to
convince their audiences of their position. Of course, all writing uses other means of persuasion as well, but

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 readers of academic research writing are more likely to be persuaded by good evidence than anything
else.
3. Citation: Academic research projects use a detailed citation process in order to demonstrate to their
readers where the evidence that supports the writer’s point came from. Unlike most types of non-academic
research writing, academic research writers provide their readers with a great deal of detail about where
they found the evidence they are using to support their point. This process is called citation, and we will
discuss it in greater depth in later lessons.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Research Writing
Writing that uses evidence (from journals, books, magazines, the Internet, experts, etc.) to persuade
or inform an audience about a particular point.

Thesis Statement
The controlling idea of a piece of writing, expressed in a single sentence.

Evidence
Facts and details that support an argument.

Citation
An indication that words, ideas, or facts came from another source.

2. Process of Research Writing

No essay or book simply “appeared” one day from the writer’s brain; rather, all writing projects come together
after the writer, with the help of others, works through the process of writing.

An added component in the writing process of research projects is, obviously, research. Rarely does research
begin before some initial writing (even if it is nothing more than brainstorming or pre-writing exercises) takes
place, and research is usually not fully completed until the entire writing project is completed.

Instead, research comes into play at all parts of the process and can have a profound effect on the other
stages.

IN CONTEXT

Chances are you will need to do at least some simple research to develop an idea to write about in
the first place. You might do the bulk of your research as you write your rough draft, though you will
almost certainly have to do more research based on the revisions that you decide to make to your
project.

There are two other things to think about in relation to a writing process that includes research:

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 Context of the project
Order of the steps

First, writing always takes place for some reason or purpose and within some context that potentially changes
the way you approach the process.

EXAMPLE The process that you will go through in writing for this class will be different from the process
you would go through in responding to an essay question on a Sociology midterm, or in sending an email to
a friend. This is true in part because your purposes for writing these various types of texts are simply
different.
Second, the process of writing isn’t quite as linear and straightforward as it might seem. Writers generally start
by coming up with an idea, but often go back to that original idea and make changes to it after they write
several drafts, do research, talk with others, and so on.

Thus, the writing process might be more accurately represented like this:

Instead of thinking of the writing process as an ordered list, you should think of it more as a “web” where
different points can and do connect with each other in many ways, and as a process that changes according to
the demands of each writing project.

 BIG IDEA

While writers do follow the steps in the writing process in order (from coming up with an idea all the way to
proofreading) for some projects, they also find themselves following the writing process out of order for
other projects. That’s okay. The key thing to remember about the writing process is that it is made up of

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 many different steps, and writers are rarely successful if they “just write” without following some sort of
plan.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned that the qualities of academic research writing include a thesis that
expresses the main idea of the essay, evidence that uses researched facts and details to support the
thesis, and citations that tell the reader where those facts came from. You also learned that the process
of research writing is not always linear; in fact, the order of the steps you take in this process will
depend on the purpose and context of your particular project.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Academic Research Writing: What is it?" tutorial.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Citation
An indication that words, ideas, or facts came from another source.

Evidence
Facts and details that support an argument.

Research Writing
Writing that uses evidence (from journals, books, magazines, the Internet, experts, etc.) to persuade or
inform an audience about a particular point.

Thesis Statement
The controlling idea of a piece of writing, expressed in a single sentence.

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 The Purpose of Research Writing
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you'll learn about why it's important to conduct meaningful research about writing
projects. Specifically, this lesson will cover:
1. Reasons for Research
2. Research Writing and Academic Papers
3. Research Writing at Work

1. Reasons for Research

Why was the Great Wall of China built? What have scientists learned about the possibility of life on Mars? What
roles did women play in the American Revolution? How does the human brain create, store, and retrieve
memories? Who invented the game of football, and how has it changed over the years?

You may know the answers to these questions off the top of your head. If you are like most people, however,
you find answers to tough questions like these by searching the Internet, visiting the library, or asking others for
information. To put it simply, you perform research.

When you perform research, you are essentially trying to solve a mystery—you want to know how something
works or why something happened. In other words, you want to answer a question that you (and other people)
have about the world. This is one of the most basic reasons for performing research.

But the research process does not end when you have solved your mystery.

EXAMPLE Imagine what would happen if a detective collected enough evidence to solve a criminal
case, but she never shared her solution with her colleagues.
Presenting what you have learned from research can be just as important as performing the research.

2. Research Writing and Academic Papers

Research results can be presented in a variety of ways, but one of the most popular and effective presentation
forms is the research paper. A research paper presents an original thesis about a topic and develops that thesis
with information gathered from a variety of sources.

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 IN CONTEXT

If you are curious about the possibility of life on Mars, you might choose to research the topic. What
will you do, though, when your research is complete? You will need a way to put your thoughts
together in a logical, coherent manner. You may want to use the facts you have learned to create a
narrative or to support an argument. You may also want to show the results of your research to your
friends, your teachers, or even the editors of magazines and journals.

Writing a research paper is an ideal way to organize thoughts, craft narratives, or make arguments based on
research, and then share your newfound knowledge with the world.

No matter what field of study you are interested in, you will most likely be asked to write a research paper
during your academic career.

EXAMPLE A student in an art history course might write a research paper about an artist’s work, while a
student in a psychology course might write a research paper about current findings in childhood
development.
Having to write a research paper may feel intimidating at first. After all, researching and writing a long paper
requires a lot of time, effort, and organization.

However, writing a research paper can also be a great opportunity to explore a topic that is particularly
interesting to you. The research process allows you to gain expertise on a topic of your choice, and the writing
process helps you remember what you have learned and understand it on a deeper level.

3. Research Writing at Work

Knowing how to write a good research paper is a valuable skill that will serve you well throughout your career.
Whether you are developing a new product, studying the best way to perform a procedure, or learning about
challenges and opportunities in your field of employment, you will use research techniques to guide your
exploration.

You may even need to create a written report of your findings. And because effective communication is
essential to any company, employers seek to hire people who can write clearly and professionally.

 THINK ABOUT IT

Take a few minutes to think about each of the following careers. How might each of these professionals use
research and research writing skills on the job?

Medical laboratory technician

Small business owner
Information technologist

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 Freelance magazine writer

A medical laboratory technician or information technologist might do research to learn about the latest
technological developments in either of these fields. A small business owner might conduct research to
learn about the latest industry trends. A freelance magazine writer may need to research a given topic to
write an informed, up-to-date article.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned that the main reasons for research are to answer specific questions,
share your findings with others, and increase your understanding of challenging topics. You also
learned that research writing and academic papers are closely linked because these papers are
often the most effective way of presenting research. Finally, you looked at how you can apply
research at work by thinking about the different ways that professionals may use research skills in
their daily lives.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "The Purpose of Research Writing" tutorial.

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 Managing Your Research Project
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn the importance of outlining the scope and sequence of a research project
and of developing a plan for completing the project on time. Specifically, this lesson will cover:
1. Planning Your Project
2. Staying Organized
3. Anticipating Challenges

1. Planning Your Project

Each step of a research project requires time and attention. Careful planning helps ensure that you will keep
your project running smoothly and produce your best work. You will thus want to set up a project schedule that
shows when you will complete each step.

This will involve thinking about how you will complete each step and what project resources you will use.
Resources may include anything from library databases and word-processing software to interview subjects and
writing tutors.

To develop your schedule, use a calendar and work backward from the date your final draft is due. Generally, it
is wise to devote half of the available time to the research phase of the project, and half to the writing phase.

IN CONTEXT

If you have a month to work, plan two weeks for each phase. If you have a full semester, plan to begin
research early and to start writing by the middle of the term. You might think that no one really works
that far ahead, but try it. You will probably be pleased with the quality of your work and the reduction
in your stress level. Even in a self-paced course like this one, it is important to have a plan so that you
are prepared to complete the project by the course's end date.

As you plan, break down major steps into smaller tasks if necessary.

EXAMPLE The process of conducting research involves locating potential sources, evaluating their
usefulness and reliability, reading, and taking notes. Defining these smaller tasks makes the project more

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 manageable by giving you concrete goals to achieve.
Plan your schedule realistically, and consider other commitments that may sometimes take precedence. A
business trip or family visit may mean that you are unable to work on the research project for a few days, so
make the most of the time you have available.

 HINT

Another strategy many writers find helpful is to finish each day’s work at a point when the next task is an
easy one. That makes it easier to start again.

2. Staying Organized
Although setting up a schedule is easy, sticking to one is challenging. Even if you are the rare person who never
procrastinates, unforeseen events may interfere with your ability to complete tasks on time. A self-imposed
deadline may slip your mind despite your best intentions. Organizational tools—calendars, checklists, note
cards, software, etc.—can help you stay on track.

Throughout your project, organize both your time and your resources systematically. Review your schedule
frequently and check your progress. It helps to post your schedule in a place where you will see it every day.

Organize project documents in a binder or electronic folder, and label project documents and folders clearly.
Use note cards or an electronic document to record bibliographical information for each source you plan to use
in your paper. Tracking this information throughout the research process can save you hours of time when you
create your references page.

 HINT

Some people enjoy using the most up-to-date technology to help them stay organized. Other people prefer
simple methods, such as crossing off items on a checklist. The key to staying organized is finding a system
you like enough to use daily. The particulars of the method are not important as long as you are consistent.

3. Anticipating Challenges
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

You have identified a book that would be a great resource for your project, but it is currently checked out of
the library.
You planned to interview a subject matter expert on your topic, but she calls to reschedule your meeting.
You have begun writing your draft, but now realize that you will need to modify your thesis and conduct
additional research.
You have finally completed your draft when your computer crashes, and days of hard work disappear in an
instant.

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 These troubling situations are all too common. No matter how carefully you plan your schedule, you may
encounter a glitch or setback. Managing your project effectively means anticipating potential problems, taking
steps to minimize them where possible, and allowing time in your schedule to handle any setbacks.
Many times a situation becomes a problem due only to lack of planning.

EXAMPLE If a book is checked out of your local library, it might be available through interlibrary loan,
which usually takes a few days for the library staff to process. Alternatively, you might locate another,
equally useful source. If you have allowed enough time for research, a brief delay will not become a major
setback.
You can manage other potential problems by staying organized and maintaining a take-charge attitude. Take a
minute each day to save a backup copy of your work on a portable hard drive. Maintain detailed note cards and
source cards as you conduct research—doing so will make citing sources in your draft infinitely easier.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned about the importance of planning your project when you receive a research-
based writing assignment. This includes creating a schedule and determining which resources you will
need to use. Additionally, you learned that staying organized and anticipating challenges are
necessary to keeping a research project on track.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Managing Your Research Project" tutorial.

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 The Qualities of a Good Research Question
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn about the characteristics that make for good research questions.
Specifically, this lesson will focus on:
1. Objective Answers
2. Available Information
3. Open Inquiries

1. Objective Answers
First, a good research question is a question that can be answered in an objective way, at least partially and at
least for now. Later, when you develop an argumentative thesis, you will be able to take a position on the topic.

Be wary of questions that include “should” or “ought” because those words often (although not always) indicate
a values-based question.

EXAMPLE The question “Should assisted suicide be legal?" cannot be answered objectively because
the answer varies depending on one’s values.
However, most values-based questions can be turned into research questions by judicious reframing.

EXAMPLE The question “Should assisted suicide be legal?” can be rephrased as “What are the ethical
implications of legalizing assisted suicide?”
Using a “what are” frame turns a values-based question into a legitimate research question by moving it out of
the world of debate and into the world of investigation.

2. Available Information
Second, a good research question is one that can be answered using information that already exists or that can
be collected.

EXAMPLE “Does carbon-based life exist outside of Earth’s solar system?” seems like a perfectly good
research question in the sense that it is not values-based, and can thus be answered in an objective way.
However, you would have a difficult time finding concrete information on this topic.

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 Collecting data about the presence of life outside of Earth's solar system is not yet possible with current
technology. This is not a good research question because it is not possible to obtain the data that would be
needed to answer it.

3. Open Inquiries
Finally, a good research question is a question that hasn’t already been answered, hasn’t been answered
completely, or hasn’t been answered for your specific context.

If the answer to the question is readily available in an encyclopedia, textbook, or reference book, then it is a
homework question, not a research question. It was probably a research question in the past, but if the answer
is so thoroughly known that you can easily look it up and find it, then it is no longer an open question.

However, it is important to remember that as new information becomes available, homework questions can
sometimes be reopened as research questions. Equally important, a question may have been answered for one
population or circumstance, but not for all populations or all circumstances.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned about the qualities inherent to good research questions. Specifically, you
looked at how good research questions are questions that have objective answers, available
information, and open inquiries that can be further investigated.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "The Qualities of a Good Research Question"
tutorial.

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 Choosing a Manageable Research Topic
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn about the difference between suitable and unsuitable topics for academic
research essays and how to begin exploring those topics further. Specifically, this lesson will cover:
1. Overly Broad or Narrow Topics
2. Prewriting Strategies
2a. Freewriting
2b. Listing
2c. Clustering
2d. Questioning

 BEFORE YOU START

Take a few minutes to watch this video from the John M. Pfau Library at California State University - San
Bernardino. This video will help you visualize the process of selecting an appropriate research topic. The
end of the video contains a few “test yourself” questions. Consider why the answers are what they are as
you watch.

1. Overly Broad or Narrow Topics

A great topic will set you up for a strong essay by being focused and rich, falling in the sweet spot between
broad and narrow.

Broad simply means too big; narrow means too small. The specifics of those sizes will depend somewhat on the
assignment’s parameters, such as its length, focus, purpose, etc.

However, if you can spot broad and narrow topics, you can find your place between the two extremes. Before
you commit to a topic, do some prewriting to see how much content you generate about the proposed topic.

If you don’t have much to say, you might have a topic that’s too narrow. If you have too much, then you might
have a topic that’s too broad.

2. Prewriting Strategies

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 The term prewriting conjures up a lot of interesting activities and practices. You’ve probably tried many different
prewriting strategies in the past and may have a good idea of what works for you and what doesn’t.

Keep in mind, however, that the kind of writing project you’re working on can impact how effective a particular
technique is to use in a given situation.

 TERM TO KNOW

Prewriting
An activity or a set of activities that writers use to generate ideas for writing projects.

2a. Freewriting
Freewriting involves setting a goal for a short amount of time (5 minutes or 10 minutes are good options) to
write anything that comes to mind about a topic.

The goal is to not worry about what comes out of your pen or keyboard. Instead, just free your mind to make
associations as it wishes. This strategy is amazingly productive for rich ideas, and it’s nice not to have to worry
about spelling and grammar while you do it.

2b. Listing
If you're a list-maker by nature, there’s no reason not to harness that for academic writing purposes. You can
simply jot down notes about major ideas related to the subject you’re working with.

This also works well with a time limit, such as 10 minutes. After you’ve had time to reflect on your list, you can
rearrange it in hierarchical order, and create a basic outline quite easily.

2c. Clustering
Also known as “mapping,” clustering is a more visual form of brainstorming. It involves coming up with topic
ideas and drawing lines to connect those ideas to sub-categories and other related concepts.

You can end up with a quite extensive “bubble cloud” as a result. This also works well with a 10-minute time
limit.

2d. Questioning
In the early stages of the writing process, the way to find answers is simply to ask questions.

When you have a topic in mind, asking and answering questions about it is a good way to figure out the
directions your writing might take.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned that finding a good research topic involves trimming down overly broad
topics or expanding on overly narrow topics. When trying to develop ideas for a topic, there are

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 several prewriting strategies that can be helpful: freewriting, listing, clustering, and questioning. The
effectiveness of the strategy you use often depends on the nature of the writing project.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Prewriting Strategies" tutorial.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Prewriting
An activity or a set of activities that writers use to generate ideas for writing projects.

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 Formulating a Thesis
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn how to create and revise a strong thesis statement. Specifically, this lesson
will cover:
1. Elements of a Thesis Statement
2. Strong Thesis Statements
3. Weak Thesis Statements
4. Thesis Statement Revision

1. Elements of a Thesis Statement

For every essay you write, you must focus on a central idea. This idea stems from a topic you have chosen or
been assigned. It is not enough to merely discuss a general topic or answer a question with a yes or no. You
have to form a specific opinion, and then articulate that into a controlling idea—the main idea upon which you
build your thesis statement.

The thesis is not the topic itself, but rather your interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic you
are working with, you must ask yourself, “What do I want to say about this?” Asking and then answering this
question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful, and confident.

A thesis statement is one sentence long and appears toward the end of your essay's introduction. It is specific
and focuses on one to three points of a single idea—points that are able to be demonstrated in the body of the
essay.

In this way, the thesis forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information.
Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.

 HINT

You can find thesis statements in many places, such as in the news, in the opinions of friends, coworkers, or
teachers, and even in songs you hear on the radio. Become aware of thesis statements in everyday life by
paying attention to people’s opinions and their reasons for those opinions. Pay attention to your own
everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays.

 TERM TO KNOW

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 Thesis Statement
The controlling idea of a piece of writing, expressed in a single sentence.

2. Strong Thesis Statements

A strong thesis statement contains the following qualities.

Specificity: A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the
creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until
you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic.

EXAMPLE Health care is a broad topic, but a proper thesis statement would focus on a specific area of
that topic, such as options for individuals without health care coverage.
Precision: A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain
focused on the topic.

EXAMPLE If the specific topic is options for individuals without health care coverage, then your precise
thesis statement must make an exact claim about it, such as that limited options exist for those who are
uninsured by their employers. You must further pinpoint what you are going to discuss regarding these
limited options, such as whom they affect and what the cause is.
Ability to be argued: A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. A factual statement is
often not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis statement contains a point of view that can be supported
with evidence.

Ability to be demonstrated: For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and
examples for your opinion. You can use some personal observations in order to do this, but you should also
consult outside sources to demonstrate that what you assert is valid. A worthy argument is backed by examples
and details.

Forcefulness: A thesis statement that is forceful shows readers that you are, in fact, making an argument. The
tone is assertive and takes a stance that others might oppose.

Confidence: In addition to using force in your thesis statement, you must also use confidence in your claim.
Phrases such as "I feel" or "I believe" actually weaken the readers’ sense of your confidence because these
phrases imply that you are the only person who feels the way you do. In other words, your stance has
insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative stance on the matter persuades your readers to have faith in your
argument and open their minds to what you have to say.

IN CONTEXT

Each of the following thesis statements meets several of the qualities discussed above:

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 1. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet spoils the outcome for the audience and
weakens the plot.
2. Holden Caulfield, J. D. Salinger’s character in Catcher in the Rye, is a confused rebel who voices
his disgust with phonies, yet in an effort to protect himself, he acts like a phony on many
occasions.
3. Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements,
and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown.
4. Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing
future drug addiction.

3. Weak Thesis Statements

Now that you've looked at the qualities of a good thesis statement and seen some examples, you should also
be aware of the pitfalls to avoid when composing your own thesis.

A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your
essay.

EXAMPLE My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.
A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim, or insults the opposing side.

EXAMPLE Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning
required high school books.
A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with, or provides a
dead end.

EXAMPLE Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.

A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.

EXAMPLE The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.

4. Thesis Statement Revision

Your thesis will probably change as you write, so you will need to modify it to reflect exactly what you have
discussed in your essay.

This is why your thesis statement begins as a working thesis statement, or an indefinite statement that you
make about your topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and guiding your writing.

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 Working thesis statements often become stronger as you gather information and form new opinions and
reasons for those opinions. Revision helps you strengthen your thesis so that it matches what you have
expressed in the body of the paper.

The best way to revise your thesis statement is to ask questions about it and then examine the answers to
those questions. By challenging your own ideas and forming definite reasons for those ideas, you grow closer
to a more precise point of view, which you can then incorporate into your thesis statement.

 TERM TO KNOW

Working Thesis Statement

An indefinite statement made about a topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning
and guiding the writing.

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned that the elements of a thesis statement include a specific focus and a
suggestion for how the essay will be organized. Strong thesis statements are specific, precise, forceful,
confident, able to be demonstrated, and able to be argued. Conversely, weak thesis statements simply
declare the topic of the essay or contain obvious facts that cannot be argued. Thesis statement
revision involves ensuring that all ideas expressed in the essay are accurately reflected in the thesis.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content and supplemental material has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Developing a
Strong, Clear Thesis Statement" and "Formulating a Thesis" tutorials.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Thesis Statement
The controlling idea of a piece of writing, expressed in a single sentence.

Working Thesis Statement

An indefinite statement made about a topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and
guiding the writing.

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 Outlining and Classical Essay Structure
by Sophia

 WHAT'S COVERED

In this lesson, you will learn how to construct an outline for an academic research essay. Specifically,
this lesson will focus on:
1. Classical Essay Structure
2. Organizing Your Writing
3. Outline Structure

1. Classical Essay Structure

Like most other forms of writing, essays use sentences and paragraphs and should include a structure of ideas
that flows logically from one point to the next.

Most essays end up with three primary components, though of course there's room for variation, even within
the confines of traditional academic essays:

1. Introduction: Essays generally begin with an introduction that lays out the primary purpose, goal, or point of
the essay. Most include a thesis statement toward the end of the introduction.
2. Body Paragraphs: Essays also include body paragraphs, which are paragraphs that contain the primary
points or ideas of the essay, making up the body of the work.
3. Conclusion: After the body paragraphs usually comes a conclusion, which is a final paragraph or two that
wraps up the main points of the essay, and may point to further questions, ideas, and areas of thinking that
are beyond—but still linked to—the essay's scope.

In terms of qualifying as an essay, there are no rules regarding the number of paragraphs or supporting points
included. Obviously, the length and depth of these components are likewise variable, depending on the writer's
needs and the assignment's requirements.

2. Organizing Your Writing

When you write, you need to organize your ideas in an order that makes sense, and an outline can help you do
that.

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 Especially for a longer essay, an outline will help you determine the order of your paragraphs, ensuring that
your purpose stands out clearly and all parts of the paper work together to consistently develop your main
point.

Order refers to your choice of what to present first, second, third, etc. in your writing. The order you pick closely
relates to your purpose for writing that particular assignment.

IN CONTEXT

When telling a story, it is usually important to first describe the background for the action. When
writing an argumentative research essay, you will want to group your support effectively to convince
readers that your point of view on an issue is well-reasoned and worthy of belief.

 TERM TO KNOW

Outline
A prewritten plan for an essay or other piece of writing which generally includes primary ideas and
a structural organization.

3. Outline Structure
There are two types of formal outlines:

Topic outlines, which use words and phrases to represent ideas

Sentence outlines, which use complete sentences to state ideas

You format both types of outlines the same way.

 STEP BY STEP

1. Place your introduction and thesis statement at the beginning, under Roman numeral I.
2. Use Roman numerals (II, III, IV, V, etc.) to identify main points that develop the thesis statement.
3. Use capital letters (A, B, C, D, etc.) to divide your main points into parts.
4. Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) if you need to subdivide any As, Bs, or Cs into smaller parts.
5. End with the final Roman numeral expressing your idea for your conclusion.

IN CONTEXT

Here is what the skeleton of a traditional formal outline looks like. The indention helps clarify how the
ideas are related.

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 I. Introduction
A. Thesis statement
II. Main point 1 → becomes the topic sentence of body paragraph 1
A. Supporting detail → becomes a support sentence of body paragraph 1
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

B. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

C. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

III. Main point 2 → becomes the topic sentence of body paragraph 2

A. Supporting detail → becomes a support sentence of body paragraph 2
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

B. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

C. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

IV. Main point 3 → becomes the topic sentence of body paragraph 3

A. Supporting detail → becomes a support sentence of body paragraph 3
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

B. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

C. Supporting detail
1. Sub-point
2. Sub-point

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 V. Conclusion

 SUMMARY

In this lesson, you learned what classical essay structure looks like in the context of academic research
writing. You also learned that an outline is a helpful method of organizing your writing. Since it is meant
to emulate an essay, a typical outline structure consists of the introduction and thesis at the beginning,
followed by the main points and supporting details in the middle, then a conclusion at the end.

Best of luck in your learning!

Source: This content has been adapted from Lumen Learning's "Outlining" tutorial.

 TERMS TO KNOW

Outline
A prewritten plan for an essay or other piece of writing which generally includes primary ideas and a
structural organization.

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 Terms to Know
Citation
An indication that words, ideas, or facts came from another source.

Evidence
Facts and details that support an argument.

Outline
A prewritten plan for an essay or other piece of writing which generally includes primary
ideas and a structural organization.

Prewriting
An activity or a set of activities that writers use to generate ideas for writing projects.

Research
The process of finding facts, data, statistics, and ideas from other writers and sources in
order to support your own ideas.

Research Writing
Writing that uses evidence (from journals, books, magazines, the Internet, experts, etc.) to
persuade or inform an audience about a particular point.

Thesis Statement
The controlling idea of a piece of writing, expressed in a single sentence.

Working Thesis Statement

An indefinite statement made about a topic early in the writing process for the purpose of
planning and guiding the writing.

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