Thesis &
Outline
EXAMPLE:
Your outlines does
NOT need to be in complete sentences.
You may use phrases for each point.
Clause 1
Santa Clause
Professor Zaiens
Developmental Communications 36B
1 December 2009
American Women and Diabetes
Thesis: Thousands of American women are diagnosed with diabetes each year. By understanding this disease and its causes and treatments, women can live healthier lives.
I. First major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
II. Second major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
III. Third major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

See full paper here.

See full paper here.

Finding Print Sources
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On-line catalog—in library
Click on Internet Explorer—Library home page
3 ways of searching title must be spelled correctly omit “a,” “an,” or “the” if first word of title books sorted by date of publication topic (keyword) author

Finding Print Sources
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Citation information—found on Detail page
Info given on author, title, copyright, location—Call number
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Call number—number found on spine of book, indicates where book is found in library

Additional Library Resources—Books On-Line
• E-Books
• In catalog, click on URL, which takes you to
NetLibrary
• Go to www.netlibrary.com
• Create a free account while on campus
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Need a password—Mission

To use resources
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On campus--no password is necessary
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At home--need Mission passwords (use the handout I gave you or get the handout at the
Library Reference Desk)

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Intended for general readers
Wide subject area
Authors not experts
Brief articles
Only reviewed by editor, not experts
Weekly, monthly
– ex: Time, NewYorker

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Intended for specialists
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Specific in focus
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Authors are experts
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Longer articles
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Peer reviewed, includes bibliography
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Monthly, quarterly

Magazines and Journals
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EBSCOhost used most--entire article on line
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Current articles listed first
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Review abstract--summary of article
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Citation info--needed for Works Cited page
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Article can be emailed, saved, or printed
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User ID—Mission password--la

Locate Appropriate Sources of Information
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Non-print sources
– Audio-visual materials
– Interviews
– CD-ROM’s
– Databases Use this link to get to the LAMC
Library Database page. (Remember: to access the databases from home, you must use the passwords on the Library
Handout I gave you). Use EBSCOhost or
National Newspapers (ProQuest).
– Internet

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You must provide information about each source used in your paper. For example, if your source is a book, you must include
– Author
– Title
– Publication data (publisher, place published, year published)
– Page numbers
To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for
APA), use this link to the Learning Center .

How to create Works Cited or Reference page
To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for
APA), use this link to the Learning Center .
To see the PowerPoint on how to format a journal from the Library database, click here .

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Direct quotation with parenthetical citation
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Paraphrase with parenthetical citation
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Summary with parenthetical citation

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Author included in text
– According to Hofritz, “Some candidates are unprepared to meet the requirements of political office” (90).
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Author included in citation
– Another writer states, “Some candidates are unprepared to meet the requirements of political office” (Hofritz 90).
HOMEWORK: Go to the Writing Lab & ask for the “Using Quotations in MLA” handout.

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Hofritz, for example, believes that not all candidates are prepared to hold political offices (90).

 Use 4” x 6” or 5” x 8” index cards
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Take notes on each source, one card per statement or fact or topic
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List author and topic on top of card
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Be sure to indicate whether information is a quote, paraphrase, or summary
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Be SURE to note page number!

Berk ADHD : Treatment--Stimulants
“ Researchers do not know precisely why stimulants are helpful. Some speculate that they change the chemical balance in brain regions that inhibit impulsiveness and hyperactivity, thereby decreasing the child’s need to engage in off-task and self-stimulating behavior.”
Direct quote, p. 360

 A huge volume of information from thousands of sources worldwide
 Up-to-the-minute information on news, weather, etc.
 Information when you need it—no trips to the library, which is closed at midnight

 A huge volume of information from thousands of sources worldwide
 Anyone can publish a web site
 Sites need not be maintained or updated
 Sites are not supervised or reviewed for accuracy
 Sites such as AOL are peppered with sales pitches
 Breaking news is unfiltered

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A browser program (Microsoft Explorer or Netscape
Navigator) helps you find the site you want.
Identify Keywords . Be as specific as possible.
Use Subject Directories (INFOMINE, Lycos, Yahoo)
Use a Search Engine (Alta Vista, WebCrawler,
Infoseek, etc.)
Use a Meta-Search Engine (MetaFind, DogPile,
PROFUsion)

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A Web site has its own address or URL (Uniform
Resource Locator). It must be typed exactly.
 The last part of the URL, called the domain , reveals the site’s type of sponsor
 .com
companies trying to sell something
 .edu
 .gov
educational institutions state or federal agencies
Sometimes you need a name you use online, called a username , and a password to get started.

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Two ways to search
– Search engine--i.e. Google
• Computer recommends websites
– Subject Directory--i.e. lii.org
• Librarian recommends websites which have been reviewed
• Better for academic purposes

 →Recommended Websites
– → Subject Directories
– The Best Information on the Net (BIOTN)
– Internet Public Library
– Librarians Index to the Internet (lii.org)
• enter topic→search
– result list—recommended websites, emphasis on quality, not quantity
– list is annotated—address, when ref. was added

Does some ranking
– frequency
– Proximity
Advanced search
– Date—select more updated period of time
– Domain
• .edu (educational organization—often more reliable websites)
• .org (nonprofit organization—may be biased)
• .com (commercial entity)
• .net (network of an institution)
• .gov (government source—reliable)
• .mil

 Evaluate appropriateness
 Evaluate the source
 Evaluate the level of technical detail
 Evaluate the presentation
 Evaluate completeness
 Check the links to see if they work and are reputable

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 http://www.latimes.com
http://www.pathfinder.com
http://www.csun.edu
http://www.library.csun.edu
http://www.library.csun.edu/websrch.html

 http://www.bartleby.com
 http://www.lamission.edu
 http://www.laccd.edu

 Traditional text is linear ; it progresses in a single direction.
 Web sites are multidirectional and unique.
 Text on Web sites may not follow the traditional main idea, supporting details organization of traditional paragraphs.
 Web site text requires readers to make decisions.

 Web sites allow readers the flexibility to choose the order in which to receive the information.
Web sites use icons and new symbol systems.
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 Web sites use shorter, less detailed sentences and paragraphs, but a great deal of graphics, links, etc.
Read more slowly, perhaps 25 percent more slowly!

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Reading Web sites involves paying attention to
(and being distracted by) sound, graphics, and movement, as well as words.
Text on Web sites comes in brief, independent screenfuls, sometimes called nodes.
Web sites include numerous links to other Web sites
It’s hard to highlight a computer screen

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Focus on your purpose—stay on task!
Get used to the site’s design and layout
Pay attention to how information is organized
Only use links to find the information you need
 Explore links that are related to your topic
 Use Bookmarks and Favorites or note the addresses of good sites or use delicious.com
 Print and read offline (finally, a way to highlight!)
 Use the “Back” button to find your way “home.”
Take notes as you explore a complicated Web site