Topic Development

Topic Development The goal of topic development is the rough thesis statement.

Topic Development Rough student thesis: The death penalty should be outlawed.

Refined thesis: The death penalty discriminates against race.

How do I get started? Select two or three topics Find introductory info on topic Create questions based on reading Develop a rough thesis

How do I find a topic ? websites YouTube news articles movies lyrics lectures books

I got the topic, now what ? Read & Think

How do I break down my topic? Cluster it Classify it Question it

Cluster it! high school students eating disorders academic achievement sexual orientation dating issues athletics

Cluster it high school athletics drug use recruitment hazing academic achievement gender issues

Rough thesis: High school athletes should not do drugs.

Refined thesis: High school athletes are less likely to use drugs than students who do not participate in sports.

Cluster it! Iraq War

Classify it! Place: California Time period: 19 th century Person/group: Native Americans Event/aspect: gold rush era Issue: how did the gold seekers affect Native Americans?

Rough thesis: Violence among the California gold seekers had a negative impact on Native Americans.

Classify it! Topic: Internet Place: U.S. Time: present Group: investors Aspect: online fraud Issue: How can investors be protected?

Classify it!  Topic: Dating  Place:  Time:  Person/Group:  Event/Aspect:  Issue:

Summary Cluster Classify Question

How do I start questioning a topic?  Begin with REPORTER-TYPE questions: Who? What? Where? Why? How?

Investor Fraud Who are the victims of internet fraud? Who tempts them? Why do investors become victims of online scams? What kinds of scams occur? What is being done to protect investors? How do these scams work? How do investors avoid them?

Topic: Censor adult pornography? Why should pornography be censored? Why: Why should pornography be censored? What should be censored? What: What should be censored? Who advocates censoring pornography? Who: Who advocates censoring pornography? How will censoring pornography affect our right to freedom of speech? How: How will censoring pornography affect our right to freedom of speech?

Topic: right to die  Does an individual have the right to die?  Should doctors help terminally ill patients commit suicide?  Will right to die laws cause widespread manipulation of suicide?

Question it! Iraq War

Summary Select one or two topics Find introductory info on topic Create questions based on reading Develop a thesis

Thesis topic opinion assertion conclusion defense attitude A thesis contains two parts:

Thesis Two basic types: 1. Argumentative 2. Informative

Argumentative  Cats are really a person’s best friend.

Sample thesis  Topic  Cats  Assertion  are really a person’s best friend.

Informative  Picasso is one of the most influential artists of the 20th  century.

Sample thesis Topic Picasso Conclusion is one of the most influential artists of the 20 th century.

Sample Thesis  A terminally ill patient has the right to refuse medical treatment.

Sample Thesis  TV violence does not cause  kids to act aggressively.

Sample Thesis In most fairy tales, the monster is shown as a hideous creature with magical powers that must be destroyed.

Thesis topic opinion assertion conclusion defense attitude A thesis contains two parts:

A thesis is not  a statement of fact.  There are approximately 8,000 policemen working in New York City.

A thesis is not a promise or statement of purpose. The purpose of this paper is to show how the U.S. economy works.

A thesis is not a question. Should adult pornography be censored?

Summary: A thesis is not a statement of fact a promise or statement of purpose. a question.

Bad Theses  Suicide is a serious problem.  There are too many plane collisions.  Crime doesn’t pay.  Comic books have changed over the years.  Blue is a better color than red.

Rough Theses Rough thesis: Global warming damages the earth. Refined thesis: Many scientists say the use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and could ultimately threaten the planet's future.

Theses Rough thesis: People should have their right to privacy. Refined thesis: Individuals need to guard their right to right privacy as computers make information gathering and retrieval increasingly easy.

Theses Rough thesis: Stories about suicide cause people to commit suicide. Refined thesis: Televised news stories about suicide trigger a significant rise in teen suicides.

Narrow? Topic (General) Thesis (Specific)