How to Do the Descriptive Outline for the I-Search

Slide 1:How to Do the Descriptive Outline for the I-Search

Slide 2:Review: These are the Sections of the I-Search

Search question the introduction (which you�ve done) Search process the story of how you found your sources (which you�ve done) What I Learned the presentation of the research What This Means to Me how this assignment changed you as a writer/researcher

Slide 3:Here are links to a couple of student I-Search essays

Look over them to remind yourself of the final form: Way to Blow Cat Factors

Slide 4:The most important thing to remember in writing your outline is. . .

The thesis sentence of your outline. . . . . .answers your research question

Slide 5:For example,

in the two sample essays mentioned a couple of slides ago. . .

Slide 7:Thus,

the research question and the thesis in the What I Learned section are. . . . . .linked.

Slide 8:How to Do the Descriptive Outline

Slide 9:Step One

Write down the research question that you finally settled on: It may not be the same question you started with; If as you�ve researched, you�ve had to change the question to satisfy what you want to know, that�s fine.

Slide 11:Step Two

Thinking about your research, answer the research question you just wrote in a single sentence with two to four parts; It should look like a previewing thesis sentence.

Slide 13:Step Three:

Use your previewing thesis to write a topic sentence/general outline

Slide 15:Step Four

For each topic sentence, write two or three generalizations that explain or clarify the information given in the topic sentence.

Slide 17:Step Five

For each generalization, locate a couple of sources from your research that prove or support the generalization; insert those URLs under the generalization

Slide 19:Use a variety of sources for each point; Don�t develop a topic sentence by using just one or two sources, even if they�re really good sources; Try not to use the same source back-to-back