RESEARCH PAPER Language Arts 8 th Grade

Developing an Outline

Example

Thesis Statements

Thesis Statement  “A 1 sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow.”  Indiana University Basically, the thesis statement acts as the theme of your paper. Example: Paper is on steroids in baseball “It is clear to see that steroids have harmed baseball more than they have helped.”

What does a good thesis do?  1.) Takes some sort of stand  2.) Justifies the discussion  3.) Expresses one main idea  4.) It is SPECIFIC  Indiana University

Invitation (Grabber)  Rhetorical Question – Why are steroids bad for baseball?  Dialogue – “I have never used steroids…period.”  Mystery Statements – There are many things that make a good baseball player, but not all of them are legal.  Shocking Statement – It has been theorized that at one time more than 80% of baseball players were on steroids.  Onomatopoeia – Crack! The sound of a home run used to be a call for celebration, now it only raises questions.  Personal Opinion – Steroid are the worst thing to happen to baseball in the last 20 years.  Strong Persuasive Statement – Baseball players that use steroids should be kicked out of baseball.

Other Topic Sentences  Occasion/Position  Occasion – why are you writing about this  Position – what you will prove or explain  Key words – After, Although, As, Before, Even though, If, Since, Unless, Until, When, Whenever, While “Since steroids were introduced to baseball in the 1980’s, the game has undergone a noticeable change.”

Other Topic Sentences  Where or When Plus What’s Happening?  Where or When – give a certain period of time  What’s Happening – the affect you will explain  Types – What could happen? should happen? will happen? might happen? could have happened? When steroids were introduced to baseball, the game changed forever.

Other Topic Sentences  And, But, Or, and So  Use to split up two Independent Clauses  1 st Clause – reason for writing  2 nd Clause – you stance “Baseball needed to gain fans back after the strike of 1994, but steroids did much more than raise attendance numbers.”

Other Topic Sentences  Power Statement  Throw out something filled with emotion to get the reader on your side  Really accentuate your position “To say that steroids have negatively affected baseball would be as much of an understatement as calling the Constitution just a piece of paper.”

Transitions moving from 1 topic to the next  Additional Facts  again, also, and, another, besides, but also, equally important, finally, first, further, furthermore, in addition, initially, in the first place, last, lastly, likewise, moreover, next, plus, secondly, to begin with, then too, thirdly, too  The information you are about to give relates to what you have just been talking about

Transitions moving from 1 topic to the next  Series  Initially, first, first of all, to begin, second, secondly, third, thirdly, next, after that, afterwards, to conclude, in conclusion, finally  Best when used with a process or chronological  Comparison  As, as with, as though, also, by comparison, in the like manner, in the same way, likewise, or, similarly  When your material relates to the same sub-topic

Transitions moving from 1 topic to the next  Contrast or Change  Although, anyhow, anyway, at the same time, but, by contrast, despite, either, even though, for all that, however, if, in any event, in contrast, in spite of, instead, nevertheless, neither, nonetheless, nor, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, or, otherwise, still, unless, yet  Moving from sub-topic to sub-topic or showing a difference in opinion or facts

Examples Steroids in the 80s Steroids in the 90s I want to go fromTo…

Examples  Additional Facts  In addition  Comparison  As with  Contrast or Change  However In addition, the affects of steroids would be felt in the 1990s. As with the 1980s, the 1990s would feel the affects of steroids. Steroids were a secret in the 1980’s, however that would not be the case with the 1990s

Conclusion  Summarize  Summarize the information from your paper  Convince  Convince the reader of your position  Challenge  Challenge the reader to think  Encourage  Encourage the reader to take action

Example  Lets say this is my intro paragraph:  There are many things that make a good baseball player, but not all of them are legal. Since they were introduced to Major League Baseball, steroids have provided much controversy. While the affects on the players have been noticeable, the affects on the game is harder to see. However, it is clear to see that steroids have harmed baseball more than they have helped. Even though they were exposed in the 1990s, steroids were first introduced in the 1980s.

Example (Summarize)  Then my conclusion could look like this…  Baseball has a long storied history. Unfortunately, so do steroids. Ever since the 1980s every season has been marked by steroids. Many fans no longer believe in the sanctity of the game. They question once hollowed records such as; single season home run record and career home run record. The 1990s exposed the use of steroid, but even today’s efforts cannot completely removed them from the game.

Example (Challenge)  Then my conclusion should look like this…  Forget the fact that steroids were not banned by baseball during the 80 and 90; they were still illegal in the United States. They may have drawn fans in, but the fact that the game is forever tarnished is unforgiveable. What does it do to the young generation of players to now know their heroes were cheaters? What does is say when we do nothing to punish those who broke the law because they are baseball players?