Turning Point Paper Form
Where to Begin
Many of you may want not know how to begin this paper. This is a common problem. Try
telling the story that led you to choose this topic. A natural place for this may be in the intro.
Tell the story which explains the organic discovery of your topic. What made you decide to
explore the topic? What moment in your life put the question in your mind? Did seeing students
texting secretly in every class lead you to wonder about your generations’ obsession? Did
watching your little sister dance to Nicki Minaj make you question her influence? This should
be a powerful experience—a personal connection which will compel the reader to continue
reading. This story should give your personal connection and reason for your position. Consider
Michael Moore’s opening story from “Bowling for Columbine” and Emily Prager’s from the
Barbie article (“Our Barbies, Ourselves”). Both of them tell the story that led them to further
questioning.
 Moore walking into a bank and getting a gun opened his film and led to his question: why
are we so violent?
 Prager reading an obituary about the man who helped design Barbie led to her question:
does Barbie have a negative impact on our society?
The paper will consist of the following sections, in this order. If it helps, you may set up the
paper as four parts, labeling each part (Part 1, Part 2, etc.)
1. Introduction and Thesis
Think about a brief introduction here where you discuss the topic briefly and state your thesis.
This part of the paper should be brief, no longer than a page, or a few short paragraphs.
 To start, you may, as suggested above, explain the genesis of this topic to you, or what
inspired you to pursue this topic. Or you might want to discuss the topic in general
terms, focusing on the trend/issue and its relevance in society.
 Your thesis should be its own paragraph.
2. Identify the Turning Point
Explain which events made way for or “set the stage” for your issue or trend.
 To start, slow down and create a narrative- help the reader to see the moment. In
other words, create a hypothetical story and put us in the moment using the narrative
technique that you learned in your memoir- show don’t tell, setting description, dialogue,
inner monologue, character development. Think of this as a brief vignette.
 What was life like before your particular event, invention, issue, or trend? Consider
which inventions, what attitudes, what cultural trends needed to be in place in order for
the turning point to be able to happen.
 Relate enough specific evidence here to establish your trend/issue. This may include
specific history, achievements, accomplishments, awards, etc. Use the bulk of your
research here.
 Identify the turning point—the one particular moment that could be seen as the moment
that decisively changed, in some way, the course of history. (Without this particular
moment we wouldn’t be where we are today. . .). Here, you are directly affirming your
thesis, so use enough evidence to make your point clear and use good evidence (logos
and pathos) as support.
3. Exploring the Impact
Explain the impact of your issue or trend.
 What has occurred as a result? It will have impacted many areas of life: economic;
behavioral, artistic, technological, etc.
 Consider several of the categories listed below and brainstorm for all the possible areas
that have been impacted by the turning point you have selected.
 This is where you should incorporate your primary evidence. Remember that you
may write this in first person, and weave it throughout this section, or relate it all in one
chunk during this section.
4. The Conclusion—looking to the future
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What needs to be done? How can we alter the path that we’re on?
You may have a specific call to action, or you may simply want your readers to begin to
think for themselves about a possible solution. This is where your persuasive voice can
take charge!
To keep in mind…
 There is no minimum of maximum number of pages each section should be. (There are
three main sections to the paper, with the first part being a brief introduction to the
paper). It would make sense, though, for the second and third parts of the paper to be the
most thorough.

Writing in first-person is OK here, especially when you relate the results of your primary
research.

You will establish your ethos as a credible source by doing two things: immersing
yourself in the topic (your primary research), and making sure that the technical aspects
of your paper (mechanics, as well as properly using sources and cutting sources) are
sound.