Read to develop a tentative thesis statement and outline Luo Yuqing BUPT-SH

Evaluating sources – what you need to know Overall purpose of the book The author’s background Main points Ideas or issues referred to

Evaluating sources – how can you find them Title Front and back covers Introduction Table of contents Index

Evaluating sources – during reading Subject treated objectively Sufficient support Opinions on an all-encompassing basis Current and authoritative documentation

Reading purpose at this stage Evaluate the sources Help shape your thinking Think while reading for ideas

How to read at this stage Keep a critical eye Read quickly and selectively Reflect on what you have read Do not take in everything without questioning

Should you take notes now Note-taking need to be guided by a clearly shaped central purpose and a step by step outline Premature notes will likely be difficult to fit in your later paper It distracts you from developing a well- informed controlling idea and a logical organization scheme

What should you write down now Important ideas from reading Your new insights Your constructive ideas Any information which helps develop a better sense of your subject as a whole; not minor details

Tentative thesis statement Based on a better understanding of your topic in consideration of various facts and views from your sources Develop a balanced overall opinion of your own Serve as a central focus for the organization of your paper

Possible problem at this stage – TS as broad as the paper topic e.g. Paper topic “local colorism and colloquial style in Mark Twain’s Huck Finn” Improper TS “Mark Twain’s contribution to the development of realism and to American literature as a whole was partly through his theories of localism in American fiction and partly through his colloquial style.”

Revised TS “The success of Huck Finn largely depends upon its local color and colloquial style which mark its author’s breakaway from the romantic literary tradition, bringing American literature into a new era.”

Preliminary outline – purpose To lay out the framework of your discussion To give you guidance as to what kind of supporting details to look for To fit your further reading into the context

Preliminary outline – function Show major division of your paper Establish logical and coherent relation between parts Indicate main supporting ideas Provide clear and easy-to-follow directions for your research