What would you think if you received a text that looked like this:

Dear Bob,I am writing to you to declare my intention to accept your invitation and attend the sporting event. I would like to accompany you half past the hour of seven o’clock. Will that fancy you?Sincerely,Carly

It’s Simple Math…

Question + Answer = Research/Inquiry

You have a question; go find the answer!

Claim / Thesisargumentative / Research

What is a claim / thesis?

Sea World 1. What is the question (topic) being explored?

2. What is the claim being made?

How do you write a thesis?• Your thesis is a direct answer to the question of

how your topic used their power to either positively or negatively affect an individual, a group of people, or society as a whole.

Use bold wording as if it’s a matter of fact. Bob used his power positively affecting an entire group of people through means of music…

I argue that Bob used his power positively impacting a society as a whole because…

Don’t use words like I think, I believe, I’m pretty sure, It’s obvious that…

Evidence

What is evidence?

Evidence• Evidence is support or facts that are

undisputable.

• Evidence is what you use to support your claim/thesis that you present in your paper

(both in argumentative and explanatory/expository writing).

What is Warrant and Backing?

Warrant and Backing• Warrant is the logical connection between your thesis and the

evidence you used.

• This is where you support your thesis by explaining how the data/evidence proves your thesis AND explain for the reader what the evidence is actually saying.

• This is where you get to elaborate and get the reader on your side!

DON’T ASSUME THE READER WILL MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR EVIDENCE AND THESIS

Women's complex and controversial roles are clearly portrayed in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories: “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” In these stories, Doyle portrays the two-edged social conflict concerning the treatment, role, and portrayal of women in London during the nineteenth century (Bobby 54-6). He shows the epitome of both the traditional and culturally-molded woman within society in “Speckled” and “the New Woman” out of the traditional bonds of socially-accepted roles for women in “Scandal” through means of control, success, and education of the women. He shows the epitome of both the traditional and culturally-molded woman within society in “Speckled” and “the New Woman” out of the traditional bonds of socially-accepted roles for women in “Scandal” through means of control, success, and education of the women.

Ratio: Warrant is at least 2x longer than the evidence

What makes a warrant good?

• A good warrant will be a reasonable interpretation of facts.

• A good warrant will not make illogical interpretive leaps.

• A good warrant will not assume more than the evidence supports.

How do I use my Evidence?

Presenting Evidence

Present it by Paraphrasing, Summarizing and/or Using Quotations.

• What is paraphrasing?• What is summarizing?• What are quotations?

What is paraphrasing?

• When you paraphrase, you put into your own words an idea that the writer conveys in the text.

• In other words, paraphrasing should be your own way of stating the exact idea that the writer conveys.

Example of paraphrasing

• Johnny threw the overly ripe apple across the fence.

• Johnny heaved the mushy apple to the other side of the fence.

What is summarizing?

• When you summarize, you use considerably fewer words to convey a writer’s ideas.

• In other words, you summarize the writer’s points, perhaps using only a few sentences to convey an idea that the writer develops in a page or more.

What are quotations?• When you quote from the text, you copy the words exactly as

they appear in the original and you put “quotation marks” around the words you take from the text.

• In other words, you write down exactly what is in the original text.

Example: In __Title of source____ , scholar __Name of author_ states, “ ” (3).

According to __________, “ ” (4).

OR

“ ” (Thornton 3).

SIDE NOTE…

IN A BOOK I WANT TO USE IN MY PAPER“I have a dream.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words changed the course of history in America.

CITING IT“‘I have a dream.’ Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words changed the course of history in America” (King 29).

The Research Format

• The over-arching Thesis

• The topic sentence (mini-thesis)• Evidence• Warrant / Backing (Elaboration)• Concluding Sentence –Defending the Thesis

Practice ExampleAny American can grow up to be president.

According to scholar Jones, Bill Clinton came from a poor town in a poor state and became president (34).________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________CONCLUDING SENTENCE (DEFEND MAIN THESIS)_________________________________________

What should it look like?• Introduction:

– Background information– OVER-ARCHING THESIS

• Question 1 (1-3 paragraphs)

– Topic Sentence / Mini-Thesis (answers the question)

– Evidence (Using either direct quote, paraphrase or summary) You can bring in more than 1 source to answer any of the questions.

– Warrant and Backing (Tell the reader what the evidence says and then give your explanation on how your evidence connects to your Topic Sentence (Mini-Thesis)

Concluding Sentence(s) (Defends/connects the paragraph to the OVER-ARCHING THESIS)

• Question 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 same thing…

• Conclusion Restate your thesis and tie it all together with a powerful ending!

You must cite anything you get from any of your sources NO MATTER WHAT!

That means citing any summarizing, paraphrasing AND direct quotes from the texts…

CITE IT IN YOUR PAPER AND IN THE WORKS CITED PAGE

Signal when you bring in an outside source (before and after)

• Paraphrase: In __________, researcher John Paul states that Malcom X acted with an intent to… (14).

• Summary: In the book __________, author and researcher John Paul discusses/explores how Malcom X acted with an intent to… (14-56).

It needs to sound like YOU.

• Direct Quotation: In ___________, scholar John Paul states, “Malcom X made his decisions and took action with the motive to alleviate the pain and suffering of his people” (14).

How do I cite my sources?

• In-text Citation (parenthetical documentation)

– Online Databases • (Thornton) / (Last name of author).

– Ebooks and Print Books • ( Thomason 51-6). (Last name page number(s)).

– No author given• (“Bobby As a Leader”). (Title).

How do I cite my evidence?

• Works Cited Page…

Research

Get Your Background Information fromAn encyclopedia like Britannica Biography Reference Center

Good DatabasesAmerican HistoryHistory Reference CenterSalem HistoryIssues and Controversies in American History

EasyBib!!!