1. Research Essay

2. What topic will you choose?
• Donor-conceived families
• Stepfamilies
• Queer/same-sex families
• Adoption
• Living apart together relationships
• Transnational families
• Family violence
• Extended families
• Post-separation families

3. WRITE A NUTSHELL
Is a useful way to focus your thoughts before you write To nutshell you: Pose a question: ‘what do I want to say in this essay (or in this paragraph, or in my conclusion)?’ Write a fast answer to this question in an easy style for a limited period of time (5-10 minutes) Write without worrying about grammar, spelling etcetera. Just write to keep up with your thoughts. Then review what you have written for its key and valuable ideas. Drawing on the valuable ideas within your nutshell draft a statement that outlines the purpose and scope of your proposed piece of work. You can turn this statement into a question and phrase it as a thesis statement.

4. Share your ideas for your research essay Groups of 3 or 4

5. A research question & a thesis statement
On the basis of your nutshell
Draft a research question
Write a thesis statement
What’s a thesis statement?
A line of argument that answers the question you’ve set for yourself

6. What makes for a good thesis statement?
If a thesis statement is a line of argument what makes a good line of argument?
It needs to be strong and clear
Should be a point of debate; ie it should make a contentious claim that aligns you in a broader debate
Be something that matters
Be specific
Be doable within specified the word limit

7. Peer review Your thesis statements
To do this:
Take turns
One person is to read out their thesis statement
Then go round the group, with each member suggesting how the thesis statement could be improved
Having done this take a minute to revise your thesis statement
Could you explain your argument to a friend or family member in a couple of sentences ?

8. CREAT A Mind-Map for your essay
On the basis of your revised thesis statement produce a mind-map
Key words that can guide your search for sources
Theoretical concepts that you will draw on in your essay
Relevant personal experiences; other people’s experiences – empirically based literature, media; relevant events
WHAT IDEAS AND EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN YOUR ESSAY TO MAKE A PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT?

9. Essay writing skills
What

10. resources
writing