Unit 5: In Search of Good Data 5.1.1 Developing a Thesis: Mind Maps

Posing a question Collecting data & information Making sense of data Making the case Evaluating conclusions

How To Get Started on a Topic Search Social issue of interest to you Sport or hobby that you enjoy Issue from another course that you want to investigate Interesting article or news item in the media (newspaper/magazine/internet)

How To Get Started on a Topic Search Question/issue from this textbook Issue arising from employment or future career Issue generated through brainstorming We will give you data, you will develop a topic and thesis from that

Developing a Thesis Thesis: Example: A formal question/statement that a project will answer or discuss Example: What factors are contributing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

How To Formulate a Possible Thesis? Mind Map Starts with broad general topic Generates subtopics related to main theme Start from the inside-out Lines b/t related words Brainstorming tool

How to Mind Map Start in centre of landscape page Write central idea and give it an image Use images and colours throughout Connect lines to central image: major ideas are thick, then get thinner Print one word per line, same length as word Go for SPEED, not neatness Look for associations and create emphasis

How to Brainstorm D O V E Defer judgement Opt for Original and Off-beat Vast numbers are important Expand on ideas by hitchiking/ piggybacking/ free-association

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