Topic Development

Topic Development

Topic DevelopmentTopic Development

The goal of topic development

is the

rough thesis statement.

Topic DevelopmentTopic Development

Rough student thesis:

The death penalty should be outlawed.

Refined thesis:

The death penalty discriminates against race.

How do I get started?

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 ?

How do I find a topic ?

websitesYouTube

news articlesmovieslyrics

lecturesbooks

websitesYouTube

news articlesmovieslyrics

lecturesbooks

I got the topic, now what ?

I got the topic, now what ?

Read&

Think

Read&

Think

How do I break down my topic?

How do I break down my topic?

Cluster it

Classify it

Question it

Cluster it

Classify it

Question it

Cluster it!Cluster it!

high schoolstudents

eatingdisorders

academicachievement

sexualorientation

datingissues

athletics

Cluster itCluster it

highschool

athletics

highschool

athletics

drug usedrug use

recruitmentrecruitment

hazinghazing

academicachievement

academicachievement

genderissuesgenderissues

Rough thesis:

High school athletes should not do drugs.

Refined thesis:

High school athletes are less likely to use drugs than students who do

not participate in sports.

Refined thesis:

High school athletes are less likely to use drugs than students who do

not participate in sports.

Cluster it!Cluster it!

Iraq War

Classify it!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! Classify it!

Topic: Internet

Place: U.S.

Time: present

Group: investors

Aspect: online fraud

Issue: How can investors be protected?

Classify it! Classify it!

Topic: Dating Place: Time: Person/Group: Event/Aspect: Issue:

SummarySummary

Cluster

Classify

Question

Cluster

Classify

Question

How do I start questioning a topic?

How do I start questioning a topic?

Begin with REPORTER-TYPE questions:

Who?

What?

Where?

Why?

How?

Investor FraudInvestor Fraud

Who are the victims of internet fraud? Who tempts them?

Why do investors become victims of online scams?

What kinds of scams occur? What is being done to protect investors?

How do these scams work? How do investors avoid them?

Topic: Censor adult pornography?Topic: Censor adult pornography?

Why: Why should pornography be censored?Why should pornography be censored?

What: What should be censored?What should be censored? Who: Who advocates censoring Who advocates censoring

pornography? pornography? How: How will censoring pornography How will censoring pornography

affect our right to freedom of speech?affect our right to freedom of speech?

Topic: right to dieTopic: right to die

Does an individual have the right to die?

Should doctors help terminally ill patients commit suicide?

Will right to die laws cause widespread manipulation of suicide?

Question it!Question it!

Iraq War

SummarySummary

Select one or two topics Find introductory info on topic Create questions based on reading Develop a thesis

ThesisThesis

topicopinion

assertion

conclusion

defense

attitude

A thesis contains two parts:

ThesisThesis

Two basic types:

1. Argumentative

2. Informative

Argumentative

Argumentative

Cats are really a person’s best friend.

Sample thesisSample thesis

Topic Cats

Assertion are really a person’s best

friend.

InformativeInformative

Picasso is one of the most influential artists of the 20th

century.

Sample thesisSample thesis

Topic Picasso

Conclusionis one of the most influential

artists of the 20th century.

Sample ThesisSample Thesis

A terminally ill patient has the right to refuse

medical treatment.

Sample ThesisSample Thesis

TV violence does not cause

kids to act aggressively.

Sample ThesisSample Thesis

In most fairy tales, the monster is shown as a hideous creature with magical powers that must be destroyed.

ThesisThesis

topicopinion

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

a question.

Should adult pornography be

censored?

Summary: A thesis is not

Summary: A thesis is not

a statement of fact a promise or statement of

purpose. a question.

Bad ThesesBad ThesesSuicide is a serious problem.

There are too many plane collisions.

Crime doesn’t pay.Comic books have changed over the years.

Blue is a better color than red.

Rough ThesesRough Theses

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: 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.

ThesesTheses

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.

ThesesTheses

Rough thesis: Stories about suicide cause people

to commit suicide.

Refined thesis: Televised news stories about suicide

trigger a significant rise in teen suicides.

Narrow?Narrow?

Topic (General)

Thesis (Specific)