1. Lunch ’n Learn Structuring and Writing an Essay How do you get from a pile of good ideas to an essay that makes sense? This workshop will help you develop your brainstormed thoughts into a coherent and well-structured piece of writing. We’ll talk about grouping and ordering ideas, developing an outline that flows, and finally, discuss some tips for revising your work until it makes sense. Dr. Julia Torrie, History Department

2. Tool: The Outline Brainstorm anywhere, anytime informally, and then more formally Consider: What is purpose of paper? What is audience for paper? What is thesis of paper?

3. Thesis: Thesis: is not a question, but the answer to a question says something debatable: ◦ e.g. “Attending University is worthwhile” ◦ better: “Attending University is worthwhile, but only if you can do it without going into debt.”

4. Why outline? keep track of information organize information logically make a start on the project  road map

5. How to outline? figure out how ideas relate to one another group like ideas consider hierarchies of information how does one idea develop another, or provide an example? are there specific positions/arguments? think about transitions from one idea to another

6. Outline objectives: arrange ideas logically show relationships between ideas build structured overview define boundaries and groups Outline process: brainstorm organize order label

7. Activity: Assignment: Write an essay that answers the following question: ◦ What’s the best way to succeed at STU? Audience: first-year students ◦ Brainstorm and then create an outline

8. Reverse Outline Two ways to use: 1) to understand complex readings ◦ write topic of sentence in left margin ◦ in right margin, note how paragraph’s topic advances the argument of the paper 2) to revise your writing ◦ follow process above, revise until you can identify topic and purpose of paragraphs quickly “Frankenstein outline:” cut out paragraphs of your draft and reassemble

9. Additional Resources: The STU Writing Centre is located in Edmund Casey Hall, Room 102. To book an appointment visit: http://writingcentre.stu.ca Handouts on topics such as writing organization; citation formats (APA, Chicago), etc. are available at: https://moodle.stu.ca/course/view.php?id=27 https://moodle.stu.ca/course/view.php?id=27 ALSO: Purdue On-line Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/