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Topic Development. Topic Development. The goal of topic development is the rough thesis statement. Topic Development. Topic: Death Penalty Research Question: Should the death penalty be outlawed? Rough thesis: The death penalty should be outlawed. Refined thesis:
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Topic Development The goal of topic development is the rough thesis statement.
Topic Development Topic: Death Penalty Research Question: Should the death penalty be outlawed? Rough thesis: The death penalty should be outlawed.
Refined thesis: The death penalty discriminates against race.
How do I get started? Select two or three topics Find introductory info on topic Create questions based on reading Develop a rough thesis
How do I find a topic ? websites YouTube news articles movies lyrics lectures books
I got the topic, now what ? Read & Think
How do I break down my topic? Cluster it Classify it Question it
Cluster it! athletics academic achievement eating disorders high school students sexual orientation dating issues
Cluster it gender issues drug use high school athletics academic achievement recruitment hazing
Research Question: Who uses drugs the most: athletes or non-athletes? Rough thesis: High school athletes consume more drugs than non-athletes. Refined thesis: High school athletes are less likely to use drugs than students who do not participate in sports.
Cluster it! Crime
Classify it! Place: California Time period: 19th century Person/group: Native Americans Event/aspect: gold rush era Issue: how did the gold seekers affect Native Americans?
Rough thesis: Violence among the California gold seekers had a negative impact on Native Americans.
Classify it! • Topic: Interpersonal Dating • Place: • Time: • Person/Group: • Event/Aspect: • Issue:
Summary Cluster Classify Question
How do I start questioning a topic? • Begin with REPORTER-TYPE questions: Who? What? Where? Why? How?
Classify it! Topic: Internet Place: U.S. Time:present Group: investors Aspect:online fraud
Investor Fraud • Who are the victims of internet fraud? Who tempts them? • Why do investors become victims of online scams? • How do these scams work? How do investors avoid them?
Question it! Iraq War
Summary Select one or two topics Find introductory info on topic Create questions based on reading Develop a thesis
Thesis opinion topic assertion conclusion defense attitude A thesis contains two parts:
Topic • gun control • Assertion • reduces the crime rate.
Picasso is one of the most influential artists of the 20th • century.
Topic Picasso Conclusion is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Two basic types: 1. Argumentative 2. Informative
Gun control reduces the crime rate. Picasso is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Argumentative/Informative During the 1960s, feminism was an important movement. Feminism has been beneficial to women.
Argumentative/Informative The mass extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by a huge asteroid colliding with the earth. There are three major theories as to why dinosaurs became extinct.
A terminally ill patient has the right to refuse medical treatment.
TV violence does not cause • kids to act aggressively.
In most fairy tales, the monster is shown as a hideous creature with magical powers that must be destroyed.
opinion topic assertion conclusion defense attitude A thesis contains two parts:
A thesis is not. . . • A thesis is not a statement of fact. • There are approximately 8,000 policemen working in New York City.
A thesis is not. . . A thesis is not a promise or statement of purpose. The purpose of this paper is to show how the U.S. economy works.
A thesis is not. . . • A thesis is not aa question. Should adult pornography be censored?
Summary: A thesis is not. . . a statement of fact a promise or statement of purpose. a question.
Bad Theses • Suicide is a serious problem. • There are too many plane collisions. • Blue is a better color than red.
Rough thesis: Global warming damages the earth. Refined thesis: Many scientists say the use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and could ultimately threaten the planet's future.
Rough thesis: People should have their right to privacy. Refined thesis: Individuals need to guard their right to right privacy as computers make information gathering and retrieval increasingly easy.
Rough thesis: Stories about suicide cause people to commit suicide. Refined thesis: Televised news stories about suicide trigger a significant rise in teen suicides.