1. Unit 5: In Search of Good Data
5.1.1 Developing a Thesis:
Mind Maps

2. Posing a question
Collecting data &
information
Making sense of data
Making the case
Evaluating
conclusions

3. How To Get Started on a Topic Search
Social issue of interest to you
Sport or hobby that you enjoy
Issue from another course that you want to investigate
Interesting article or news item in the media (newspaper/magazine/internet)

4. How To Get Started on a Topic Search
Question/issue from this textbook
Issue arising from employment or future career
Issue generated through brainstorming
We will give you data, you will develop a topic and thesis from that

5. Developing a Thesis Thesis: Example:
A formal question/statement that a project will answer or discuss
Example:
What factors are contributing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

6. How To Formulate a Possible Thesis?
Mind Map
Starts with broad general topic
Generates subtopics related to main theme
Start from the inside-out
Lines b/t related words
Brainstorming tool

7. How to Mind Map Start in centre of landscape page
Write central idea and give it an image
Use images and colours throughout
Connect lines to central image: major ideas are thick, then get thinner
Print one word per line, same length as word
Go for SPEED, not neatness
Look for associations and create emphasis

8. How to Brainstorm D O V E Defer judgement
Opt for Original and Off-beat
Vast numbers are important
Expand on ideas by hitchiking/ piggybacking/ free-association