Planning, Outlining, Drafting e.g. Formally Starting the Process

But…. You’ve Already Started By ► Figuring out readers/audience ► Having 1-3 questions that define a gap in knowledge ► Providing supporting evidence for claims that answer questions ► Having considered questions and alternatives that other readers might suggest ► Knowing the warrants you must state

Where to formally start? ► Just write until it becomes clear? ► Outline? Outline again? ► Write as you go and paste all the pieces together ► Depends on your comfort level

Outlining ► Topic Outlines (early version)  List of subjects to cover ► Reason Outlines (later version)  The main points to make in each section and their relationship to each other

Topic Outline ► Introduction: Computers in Classroom ► Uses of Computers  Labs  Classroom Instruction ► Studies of computers in classroom  Computers are good studies  Computers are bad studies ► Conclusions

Reasoned Outlines ► Introduction: Value of classroom computers uncertain ► Different uses have different effects  All uses increase flexibility  Networked computers allow student interaction  Classroom instruction does not enhance learning ► Studies show that the effect on writing quality is limited  Writers more wordy  Writers need hard copy ► Conclusion: Too soon to tell  Too few studies  Too little history

Typical/Expected Outline ► Introduction ► Background ► Methods & Materials (Data & Methodology) ► Results ► Discussion ► Conclusion

Organize the Body of Your Paper – Sketch Parts ► Necessary background, definitions and conditions that reader must know (comprehensive but not too long) ► Find the best order for reasons and evidence  Rule of thumb – narrative starts from old and moves to new  Rule of thumb – begin with simple ideas and then move to complex ideas  Rule of thumb – uncontested to contested

Organize (cont.) ► Acknowledge others’ questions and objects and your responses to them ► Decide on warrants and state them before claims

Example from group ► What do readers need to know before you present your study?  Definitions  Conditions  Warrants  Data description

What are the main pieces of your argument? ► Claims & evidence

Example from Class: Detailed Reasoned Outline