12/9/2023 0 Comments Write topics![]() When you pick the essay topic, make sure it is interesting and meets your teacherâs requirements. You are ready to begin gathering and analysing your specific material (see Taking Notes from Research Reading).A good essay topic will make your writing phase easy and help you get good grades from the teacher. Now you will have some sense of direction-even if you eventually choose another path than the one you have mapped. (See Using Thesis Statements for advice on how and when to centre your papers on thesis statements.) You do not have to stick to this answer or statement, but it will help focus your investigation. For an essay of argument, formulate a tentative thesis statement at a fairly early stage-that is, a statement of your own likely position in the controversy that most interests you, or your preliminary answer to an important interpretive question.(For further advice on methods of generating ideas, see Purdue’s file on Invention.) You may want to look at some general articles in reference works such as encyclopaedias to see how others have framed questions or seen problems to discuss. Looking for controversies in the material will also help you find things worth discussing. To generate ideas from which you can choose the direction of your research or preliminary analysis, ask yourself questions about the specific topic in terms of the concepts or methods that seem applicable.Are you to argue a point with others, or to explore your own responses? Does the topic ask you to go into depth about some material already covered? Or does it suggest that you evaluate a theory or model by applying it to an example from outside the course material? Whatever the design, an essay assignment expects you to use course concepts and ways of thinking it encourages you to break new ground for yourself in applying course methodology. Note which concepts or methods the topic asks you to use.You will need to consider other possible viewpoints and defend your own in comparison. Argue (or agree or disagree) likewise asks you to take a stand based on analysis of solid evidence and explained by clear reasoning.Wording such as to what extent also asks for an evaluation of an idea. It asks for an opinion based on well-defined criteria and clearly stated evidence. Evaluate stresses applying your judgement to the results of your analysis.You will need to formulate the aspects which you are looking at in each item consider organizing your paper by using these aspects as headings. Compare means find differences as well as similarities.How and why imply an answer reached by analysis. Look for underlying assumptions and question their validity. Be able to recognize relationships such as cause and effect, even if it’s unstated in what you read. Analyse means look behind the surface structure of your source material.Be sure you understand the specific meanings of these terms. Look especially for words that define the kind of reasoning you should be using: why, how, analyse, compare, evaluate, argue, etc. ![]() Note the key terms, including those naming parts of the topic and those giving directions for dealing with it.You can save yourself time and frustration by beginning this reasoning early in the process. Remember, you are not being asked just to collect facts, but to develop and display your powers of reasoning. Before you plunge into research or writing, think through the specific topic you are dealing with.
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