Outline and First Paragraph

1. Outline and First Paragraph

2. Place categories in order • Then look at your matrix or source conversation drama • Place your categories in order • Make sure that they flow and that you can link them together • This order could be broad to narrow • Or you could start with the reasons for your argument and end with the ramifications • Ex. • 1. Pleasure and happiness, 2. foods that bring happiness, 3. the response the brain has to those foods

3. Categories • Once you have them in order • Place the subcategories underneath • EX. Brains response to food • Chemicals that the brain releases • Reactions that the brain has • How is food a reward to the brain • Immediate reaction to food

4. Subcategories • Once you have your subcategories place evidence underneath • Ex. Food is a reward • It is a prize that provides energy and nutrients • Hedonic and motivational roles of opioids in food reward: “Implications for Overeating Disorders”- Susana Pecina and Kyle S. Smith

5. Tips to make your outline even better! Add the authors intros Add quotes Add sub claims Add evidence from your matrix Add your conclusion Add your relevance

6. 1st Paragraph • You want to define your topic/ give the reader history/ relevance • If you are talking about the education system talk about the history • Give a sequence of events • If you are talking about happiness define happiness • Define it using your source definition

7. Tips for writing 1st paragraph • Write it out without looking at anything • This is just free writing • If you do this it will clear your mind of bias • It will also help you get your thoughts together • Ex. • For years the United States has struggled to come up with a combination of educational tools to create a perfect learning environment for students across the nation. With China rising above America in math in science the government has been looking for ways to get back on top for the last thirty years with an education reform. They have tried a variety of things including single sex schools and the question is there any benefits to splitting the sexes in the classroom? The answer may be yes, but I am not sure there is enough research to be so sure. • Once you have done that go back and explain your topic • Give the reader the history • Clearly define any words the sources use • Start broad in your first paragraph

8. The in-between • Follow the outline that you have made • Make sure you discuss the rebuttal throughout • Make sure it flows from category to category • Make sure you are writing in your own words and citing as you go along

9. Conclusion • Once you have finished you should sum it all up • You want to make sure that the reader knows what your stance is on the topic • Also restate the categories of your paper and how they relate back to your argument, supporting your side

10. If you get lost… • Professor Dempster and all of the UTA’s are available to help! • Send us an email or talk to us after class and we will be glad to help you

11. Happy Writing !