PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT To plan each subtopic, consider the following: What are the main ideas of the subtopic? VIDEO GAME EXAMPLE – Subtopic 1 = History of Video Games Main ideas = 1) Beginnings/Invented, 2) Rise to Popularity, 3) Commercial success today (3 paragraphs in my first subtopic) After you have your main ideas, think of details V.G. – Sub#1, Para#1 = Beginnings of Video Games Who invented them What did they look like Who used them How much did they cost What were the “games” After you have your details, consider if anything needs to be cited (because you paraphrased or directly quoted) (I would write the ACTUAL details, not what I have here)

1) YOUR INTRODUCTION… Introductions don’t need to be written first. Some people find it necessary to write it first; others find it suffocating and intimidating. FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

2) PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION ONE main idea (topic sentence/transition sentence indicating relationship) MULTIPLE details, definitions, support points for clarification and elaboration of main idea NO new idea at end of paragraph NOT longer than 1/2 – 2/3 of a page (VISUAL BALANCE )

Everything that is taken from a source and is not common knowledge MUST be cited (whether a direct quote or paraphrase) Everything that you cite within the paper must be properly cited in MLA format on your Works Cited page Best to introduce author’s credentials – helps indicate authority or bias (whichever you need to best support your main idea) Cannot simply plop a citation at the end of every paragraph – that would indicate none of the words or thoughts are your own 3) CITING & CREDENTIALS

WORKS CITED & PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS

4) CONCLUDING YOUR THOUGHTS REVIEW RELATE REACH This paragraph should be as long, if not longer, than other paragraphs because it’s what you’ve been working toward throughout the paper. Don’t skimp or lose steam. It’s “DESSERT!”

5) WRITING REVIEW Here’s a revision checklist: 1.Don’t stray from your original intent. Readers should be able to see how the information you have presented connects to your thesis statement. 2. No personal pronouns (I, me, my, our, we, us) – they diminish your authority in a paper of this purpose 3.Diction and command of subject area – use specific words and technical language. This is not an info-mercial. It is a formal analytical research paper designed to highlight your new-found authority on a concept. 4.Citations – there should not be an over- OR under-dependence on citations. If you have written an entire subtopic (2-4 paragraphs) and have ZERO citations, there’s a problem. If you’ve written 2-4 paragraphs and every sentence is cited, there’s a problem. BALANCE. 5. CHALLENGE – active verbs – try to eliminate passive verbs when possible (is, are, was, were, be, being, been, has, have). Example: There have been many changes in the automobile industry.  Technological innovations and environmental demands drastically changed the automobile industry. 6.ALWAYS check your work against the rubric. Always. Every class. Every assignment. From now ‘til your done with school.