1. Warm Ups: Writing Week 9/29 -10/8 Quiz on 10/8

2. Academic Writing 9/29 &30
Your opinions count as long as they are supported
Know your topic
State your main point early and clearly
Instead of writing I think the facts reveal, come right out and say, The facts reveal.
Use appropriate evidence, such as examples and concrete details, to support each point
Make obvious and clear transitions from point to point
Be organized
Format the project for the audience and purpose you have in mind.

3. Choosing the Topic Once you have the Topic
10/4
To choose a topic, try answering the following questions:
Is the topic interesting and important to you?
Is the topic focused enough for you to write about?
Do you have some ideas about how to pursue the topic?
What do you know about the topic?
What seems important – or unimportant- about it?
What do you expect to conclude about the topic?
What do you need to find out more about the topic?

4. Exploring a Topic /5
Brainstorm: Jot down key words and phrases about the topic and see what they get you to think about next.
Free write: Write without stopping for ten minutes or so to see what insights you come up with
Graphic Organizer: Draw or make word pictures about your topic OR try clustering
Ask Questions: What is it? What caused it? What is it like or unlike? Who? What? Where? When? Why?

5. Organizing an Argument 10-6/7 (slides 6-8)
Introduction
Get’s readers’ attention and interest
Establishes your qualifications to write about your topic
Establishes common ground with the reader
Demonstrates fairness
States or implies your argumentative thesis

6. Organizing an Argument
Lines of Argument
Present good reasons and evidence in support of your thesis, usually in order of importance
Demonstrate ways your argument is in the reader’s best interest

7. Organizing an Argument
Consideration of other Arguments (opposing view)
Examines alternative or opposing points of view
Notes advantages and disadvantages of alternative views
Explains why one view is better than others (counterargument)
Conclusion
May summarize the argument briefly
Elaborates on the implication of your thesis

8. Developing a Working Thesis 10/8
A working thesis includes 2 parts:
A topic – states what you are writing about
A comment – makes an important point about the topic
EX. The current healthcare crisis arises from 3 major causes.
A successful thesis has 3 characteristics:
It is potentially interesting to the intended audience
It is as specific as possible
It limits the topic enough to make it manageable
TOPIC
COMMENT

9. US Academic Style 10/12 Consider your Purpose and Audience carefully
State your claim and thesis clearly and support it with evidence
Carefully document all of your sources
Make clear links between ideas
Pay attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation and mechanics

10. Structure of your Paper
PP. #1
Introduction
PP. #2
Your Stance
PP. #3
Opposing View
PP. #4
Counter Argument
PP. #5
Visual/Verbal Paragraph
PP. #6
Conclusion