Dr. Ryan Allen
Assistant Professor of English & Writing
Director, Writing Center
Briar Cliff University
ryan.allen@briarcliff.edu
712-279-5211
 Helps you demonstrate correlation between thesis statement and
main points in body of essay
 Helps you reveal the flow of major topics & elaborated details
connected to thesis
 Helps you organize your essay’s main ideas
 Helps you see where research will fit in overall landscape
of essay’s development
 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/
and
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/02/
 Introduction
 Context
 Thesis + Preview
 Body
 Direct Connection to Previewed Points
 In-text Citations
 Conclusion
 Restate Thesis
 Summarize Main Points
 Lasting, Dominant Impression
 Reference List
 1-1 Correspondence with In-text Citations
 Look over the data you collected and decide how to
group the ideas you found
 What are your main points or observations, and how
do these ideas support a thesis statement?
 Once you know that, you can cluster or group your
research findings under several main topics that support
your thesis
 Break it down into smaller parts
 Introduction
 Body
 Conclusion
 The introduction should give the purpose, scope and
background for your research.
 Name your topic, explaining and defining any
important aspects or terms needed to understand the
focus of this paper.
 Introduce what is significant or problematic about this
topic.
 State your thesis and describe the pattern of
information which will follow.
QUESTIONS?
 Organization
 In informational reports, the most important evidence or data may
be mentioned first, followed by secondary data, including data
which presents an alternative or counterpoint to the thesis
statement. After presenting the data, the writer analyzes the
findings by identifying strengths and weaknesses before drawing
conclusions.
 In other types of informational papers, the evidence gradually
builds up to the most important findings, negating minor issues as
the evidence builds.
 In informational papers that persuade in addition to inform, the
most important data is presented last, with the second most
important first, and the least important in the middle. Analysis also
follows the data in a persuasive paper.
 Which pattern you choose will depend on the effect you want to
achieve.
 All points in body section must correspond with one of
the previewed main points in thesis—must support
the thesis!!
 The reason why you must include in-text citations is
that your outline is based on what you will include in
your research essay. Thus, if you’re essay is based on
research, it follows that your outline must as well.
QUESTIONS?
 To end your paper, restate your thesis and summarize
the data which supports the thesis.
 Do not introduce any new information in the
conclusion.
 Can potentially end with some type of dominant,
lasting impression, but make sure it works!
QUESTIONS?
I. Man-made pollution is the primary cause of global
warming.
A. Greenhouse gas emissions are widely identified by the
scientific community to be harmful (Allen, 2010).
1. The burning of coal and fossil fuels are the
primary releasers of hazardous greenhouse gases
(Allen, 2010).
I. Man-made pollution is the primary cause of global
warming.
A. Greenhouse gas emissions are widely identified by the
scientific community to be harmful (Allen 33).
1. The burning of coal and fossil fuels are the
primary releasers of hazardous greenhouse gases
(33).
THESIS: Research shows that Dublin is one of the most frequented vacation sites because of its rich cultural history, its
pub culture, and its natural beauty.
I. Introduction to the paper
a. Where is Dublin?
b. Why is it such a sought-after vacation spot?
c. What is it best known for?
d. Thesis
II. Dublin has a rich cultural history, which draws millions of visitors each year.
a. Dublin was originally founded by Vikings in the 8th century. (Mackay, 2000)
b. Celtics are Ireland’s indigenous people and is still a spoken language. (O’Connor, 2007; Daly, 1999)
c. Dublin has many famous historical icons.
i. Saint Patrick is an important cultural and church icon. (Patton, 1999)
ii. Molly Malone’s statue graces the heart of Dublin. (Fitzgerald, 2001)
iii. Many famous writers came from Dublin. (McKinney, 2000)
d. Today, Dublin is known for its strong futbol team, Leicester Celtic FC, and its great beer: Guinness. (McKinney, 2000;
O’Toole, n.d.)
III. In addition to a rich cultural history, Dublin is also a frequented vacation spot for its well-known pub culture.
IV. Finally, Dublin is a sought-after vacation spot because of its natural beauty.
 Start with the basic scaffolding first
 Second, start filling in the detail in each section
 Have research sources handy, so you can start plugging
in in-text citations as you go
 As you use a source in an in-text citation, put it in the
reference list so you don’t forget
 If you choose to create a visual organizer other than an outline,
you might create a clustering map or a mind map:
 You will need to draw a central point for your central claim or thesis.
 You will cluster introduction ideas around that central claim. This
might include historical data, statistical data, background
information, or leading edge interests that a reader would be
intrigued to read.
 Next, you will create several clusters for the body of your paper
which presents the data and contributing ideas.
 Your clustering for the body sections of the paper should include all
the information you have gathered. (Even though this visual
organizer may be intuitive to you as the writer, make it clear to those
who look at it as readers.)
 Finally, you will need to cluster the final conclusions of your paper
with a restated thesis to summarize your research paper.
 Remember that a mind map, clustering tool, or other visual
organizer is not less organized than an outline, but is a
more graphic rendition of your paper.
 Note: Microsoft Word 2007 has a SmartArt tool that might
be used to help create your visual organizer.
 When you are ready to send a visual organizer, you will
have to take a screen shot of it or a photo of it and insert it
into a word-processing document. You will then attach it to
this week's required task as an *.rtf document and send it
as an attachment.
 http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/ for some additional
guidance
QUESTIONS?
CONCERNS?
COMPLAINTS?
CRITICISMS?
Please contact the Writing Center.
writing.center@briarcliff.edu
712-279-5520
Heelan Hall 050