A Successful First Draft
Works Cited
Kemper, Dave, Patrick Sebranek, and Verne Meyer. Write Source: A
Book for Writing, Thinking, and Learning. Wilmington, MA: Write
Source, 2007. Print.
Language Network: Grammar, Writing, Communication. Evanston, IL:
McDougal Littell, 2001. Print.
Planning Your Report
• An introduction, a body, and a conclusion will
be the three parts of your research report.
• Introduction
– Come up with an interesting way to begin your
report. Be sure to include your thesis statement, or
main idea. A good thesis statement:
• states clearly what you are writing about.
• is one that can be supported by facts.
Planning Your Report
• Body
– The body of your paper is where you support your
thesis statement. The body should:
• have unity, with the topic sentence in every paragraph
supporting the thesis statement.
• be organized and coherent, with paragraphs that are
structured so that one idea flows smoothly and logically
to the next idea. (Use transitions.)
• Conclusion
– At the end of your paper, you should restate your
thesis, using different words, and sum up the ideas
you used to support it.
Drafting
• Use your notes and your outline to begin your draft.
You don’t have to begin at the beginning and work
straight through to the end. If you like, you can start
with the section you have the strongest ideas about.
– Follow your outline. Write one or more paragraphs for
every major part of your outline. (If you don’t have enough
material to make a paragraph, either do more research or
revise your plan.)
– Support your thesis. Remember that everything in your
paper should support your main idea.
– Put paragraphs in order. Make sure your paragraphs are in
order before you begin your revision.
Writing Great Beginnings
•
The opening paragraph of an essay should
grab the reader’s attention, introduce your
topic, and present your thesis. To start your
opening paragraph, try one of these
approaches.
1. Start with an interesting fact.
2. Ask an interesting question.
3. Start with a quotation.
Writing Thesis Statements
• An effective thesis statement tells the reader
specifically what you plan to write about. In a longer
essay or research report, your thesis statement comes
at the end of the opening paragraph.
• A thesis statement usually takes a stand or expresses a
specific feeling about, or feature of, your topic.
• Write as many versions as it takes to hit upon the
statement that sets the right tone for your writing.
Writing Thesis Statements
• Use this formula to develop your thesis
statement:
A specific topic
+ A particular stand, feeling, or feature
_________________________
A thesis statement
Sample Thesis Statements
Writing Assignment:
Specific Topic:
Thesis Statement:
Research report about a historical event
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine (topic) benefited England as
much as it did the United States (particular stand).
Writing Assignment:
Specific Topic:
Thesis Statement:
Persuasive Essay about a school problem
Litter on the school grounds
The excessive litter on the school grounds (topic)
reflects negatively on our school (particular
feeling).
Writing Assignment:
Specific Topic:
Thesis Statement:
Analysis of a character in a story
“A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote
“A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote (topic)
examines the bond between a young boy and his
special guardian (particular feature).
Try this strategy...
• If you have trouble coming up with a good opening paragraph,
follow this step-by-step example:
• First sentence: Grab the reader’s attention
Did you know that the original King Kong was only eighteen
inches tall?
• Second sentence Give some background information
During most of the movie, Kong was actually a posable or
movable model covered with rabbit fur.
• Third sentence: Introduce the specific topic of the essay
Stop-motion animation was just one of the techniques used to
bring Kong to life.
• Fourth sentence: Give the thesis statement
Many special effects pioneered in the original King Kong
appear in movies today.
Developing Great Endings
• The closing paragraph of a paper should
summarize your thesis and leave the reader
with something to think about. When writing
your closing paragraph, use two or more of the
following ideas:
–
–
–
–
–
Review your main points
Emphasize the special importance of one main point
Answer any questions the reader may still have
Draw a conclusion and put the information in perspective
Provide a final significant thought for the reader
Try this strategy...
•
If you have trouble coming up with an effective closing
paragraph, follow this step-by-step example:
•
First sentence – Reflect on the topic
Movie special effects have come a long way since 1933.
Second sentence – Add another point
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) used today would
astound early film makers.
Third sentence – Emphasize the most important point
Despite the new technology, however, many basic techniques
remain the same, including the use of miniatures,
animation, and matte paintings.
Fourth sentence – Wrap up the topic or draw a conclusion
No matter how special effects are achieved, they continue to
delight movie audiences everywhere.
•
•
•
Documenting Information
• There are some facts that you can expect most people
to know. For example, most Americans know that
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the fifth of May.
However, you need to document, or give a source for,
any facts that are not widely known.
• The most common way to document information in a
report is to put a reference in parenthesis following
the information. This method is called parenthetical
documentation. The reference tells you which work in
the Works Cited list is your source for the
information. Use parenthetical documentation to give
the source of each quotation or paraphrase in your
report.
Documenting Information
One Author
• Usually, you will cite the author’s last name
and the page number in parentheses. However,
if you mention the author’s name in the
sentence, cite only the page number.
Documenting Information
No Author Given
• Cite the title (or a short version of the title)
and the page number if there is one.
Documenting Information
Electronic Source
• Cite the author’s last name. If no author is
given, list the title.