Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Some Parameters
We will not exhaust every aspect of academic writing We will focus on the overall process of writing an academic paper We will not focus on rules We will instead focus on strategies
Other Purposes
Discover knowledge Make a point Persuade the reader Share information Synthesis Information Analyze a topic Document your observations All of the above
Reading a Text
Compare these two images about Japanese Concentration camps during World War II. The first is by American photographer Ansel Adams. The second is a cartoon by Theodor Dr. Seuss Geisel.
Dr. Seuss
Uses cartoon Stirs animosity Used for propaganda Exaggerated Politically motivated Uses stereotypes Makes characters look happy Emphasizes danger Focused on the larger view
Clustering
Write your main point in the center of the page and circle it As ideas come to you, branch off from the main point Think of the cluster as a tree, each idea branching off a previous idea Do not censor or edit yourself
Cluster Example
Thesis Examples
Dr. Seuss propaganda cartoons during World War II reduced Japanese Americans to stereotypes, played on the fears of the American public during a time of war, and focused on a the broad, generalized issues of the situation rather than the individual circumstances of the people involved.
Developing an Outline
Once you establish a thesis, use it to help you develop an outline of the paper An outline will:
Help you organize your ideas Keep you focused Save time
Outline Example
Thesis Main Point
Supporting Point Detail Detail Supporting Point Detail Detail
Main Point
Supporting Point Detail Detail Supporting Point Detail Detail Supporting Point Detail Detail
Supporting Point Detail Detail Supporting Point Detail Detail
Main Point
Conclusion
Introductions
The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to:
Bait the reader Contextualize your argument or topic Provide necessary background information about the topic
Example
Topic Sentence: Dr. Seuss emphasized the danger posed by Japanese Americans during World War II.
Main Point: His pictures show a parade of smiling Japanese marching down the West Coast collecting explosives. Detail: Each box of TNT these cartoon characters carry plays on the often