Incorporating and Discussing Evidence

Incorporating research into the body paragraphs Researched material can help strengthen your thesis and any assertions you make. Researched material can aid you in proving the claims of your argument and disproving oppositional claims. Be sure to use your research to support the claims made in your topic sentences--make your research work to prove your argument!

Essentials of Every Paragraph SAY IT SUPPORT IT EXPLAIN IT

Guidelines Use your own voice for the thesis and topic sentences. (SAY IT) Select quotations that fit your message. Integrate quotations smoothly. (SUPPORT IT) Defend the significance of the quotation in your own voice. (EXPLAIN IT)

Incorporating Research into your Paper Use summaries, paraphrases and quotations to help weave your voice and your research together.

Summary Reduces the passage by 50 to 75 percent. Clearly identifies the source in the first sentence of the summary. Uses synonyms to replace major words. Must do justice to its source, but also has to have a slant or spin that prepares the way to your own claims.

Summary Techniques 1.After reading the piece, list the most important points on a sheet of paper (keep the sequence of the original). 2. Reread the piece 3. Put the original away and using your list, write a short version in your own words.

Example of a Good and Bad Summary Summary: In his article, “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko accuses the fast-food companies of an evil conspiracy to make people fat. I disagree because these people have to make money. This is an unfair

Paraphrase Restate an original passage by rewording and using different sentence patterns. Paraphrase ONLY for the following reasons: 1. To emphasize important ideas. 2. To clarify a difficult passage. 3. To combine details.

Paraphrasing Techniques 1.Understand the meaning of the passage (use a dictionary if necessary) 2.Divide the passage into smaller sections (include all important ideas) 3.Restate the information – - replace as many words as possible with synonyms but remember that words often have more than one meaning so, consider the context in which the word is used. (Dictionary may be better than a Thesaurus). 4. Change the structure of the sentence.

When to use Quotations To present technical words for which there is no accurate paraphrase. To avoid any doubt about the accuracy of a surprising statement or evidence. To capture the flavor of the original. To avoid an awkward or wordy paraphrase. To enhance your credibility as a writer.

Using Quotations – But How? Use a signal phrase to precede the quotation and introduce the speaker as: According to William Shakespeare… A study by Mahmoud Aziz… Others, like Hemingway, believe…. Avoid weak phrases like: A study revealed…, Experts say…., It is believed… In my opinion… I feel…..

Transitions  Signal relationships between ideas such as: "Another example coming up—stay alert!" or "Here's an exception to my previous statement" or "Although this idea appears to be true, here's the real story."  Basically, transitions provide the reader with directions for how to piece together your ideas into a logically coherent argument. Transitions are not just "window dressing" that embellish your paper by making it sound or read better. They are words with particular meanings that tell the reader to think and react in a particular way to your ideas.  In providing the reader with these important cues, transitions help readers understand the logic of how your ideas fit together. Signs that you might need to work on your transitions  Your instructor has written comments like "choppy," "jumpy," "abrupt," "flow," "need signposts," or "how is this related?" on your papers.  Your readers (instructors, friends, or classmates) tell you that they had trouble following your organization or train of thought.  You tend to write the way you think—and your brain often jumps from one idea to another pretty quickly.  You wrote your paper in several discrete "chunks" and then pasted them together.  You are working on a group paper; the draft you are working on was created by pasting pieces of several people's writing together.

Conclusion -- The Big Finale Your conclusion should reemphasize the main points made in your paper. You may choose to reiterate a call to action or speculate on the future of your topic, when appropriate. Avoid raising new claims in your conclusion.