Research Paper Position Statement (Thesis) Note Cards Shaping Sheet

Position Statement (Thesis) After gathering sources and previewing some of the information, you should have a better idea about the focus of your topic. Now it is time to develop your main idea (what you want to accomplish in your paper) into a sentence(s) referred to as the position statement (thesis). State your main idea, which must include facts and an opinion, in one to two sentences. After gathering sources and previewing some of the information, you should have a better idea about the focus of your topic. Now it is time to develop your main idea (what you want to accomplish in your paper) into a sentence(s) referred to as the position statement (thesis). State your main idea, which must include facts and an opinion, in one to two sentences.

The position statement (thesis) has three important tasks: 1. A position statement (thesis) states the 1. A position statement (thesis) states the main point of the paper. main point of the paper. 2. It suggests the path your paper will follow 2. It suggests the path your paper will follow by indicating what your 3 main points will be. by indicating what your 3 main points will be. 3. A position statement (thesis) should be 3. A position statement (thesis) should be considered significant, so that if someone says, “So what?” you can answer the question. considered significant, so that if someone says, “So what?” you can answer the question.

REMINDERS No run-on sentences No run-on sentences No “In this paper, it will be shown…” or “The purpose of this paper is…” No “In this paper, it will be shown…” or “The purpose of this paper is…”

Examples of a Quality Position Statement (Thesis) : -Photography is the career field I would really like to pursue after I graduate from high school. As I researched photography, I found an abundance of information about what I need to know, what would be helpful to me, and how likely it will be for me to get a job in the field. -Photography is the career field I would really like to go into when I graduate from school. I researched the subject and found a lot about what I need to know, what would be helpful to me, and how likely it will be for me to get a job in the field.

Example of a Bad Position Statement (Thesis) : -I really like photography. I would like to be a photographer after I graduate from high school. -I really like photography. I would like to be a photographer after I graduate from high school. -In this paper I will tell you about photography. -In this paper I will tell you about photography.

What does the position statement (thesis) do for you and your research paper? What does the position statement (thesis) do for you and your research paper? -The position statement (thesis) will help you to keep your topic and purpose in mind as you read and take notes. Also, it will help to focus and organize your paper. -The position statement (thesis) will help you to keep your topic and purpose in mind as you read and take notes. Also, it will help to focus and organize your paper. Where does the position statement (thesis) belong in the paper? Where does the position statement (thesis) belong in the paper? -The position statement (thesis) belongs in the first paragraph AFTER your attention-grabber. -The position statement (thesis) belongs in the first paragraph AFTER your attention-grabber.

Note Cards You will write information found in your sources about your 3 main ideas (job description, education/training, and salary/job outlook) You will write information found in your sources about your 3 main ideas (job description, education/training, and salary/job outlook) You will write a minimum of 6 note cards with information about job description (2 cards), education/training (2 note cards), and salary/job outlook (2 note cards). You will write a minimum of 6 note cards with information about job description (2 cards), education/training (2 note cards), and salary/job outlook (2 note cards).

Note Cards The information on a note card should be about one main idea (example: job description) and come from only one source (example: Career Cruising). The information on a note card should be about one main idea (example: job description) and come from only one source (example: Career Cruising).

Shaping Sheet What does the shaping sheet do for you and your research paper? What does the shaping sheet do for you and your research paper? -It provides the structure for your paper. paper. -The shaping sheet allows you to see relationships among main ideas and supporting facts.

Shaping Sheet A shaping sheet is an outline of the main points about your topic and the ideas that support them. While you take notes from sources (note-cards), you will begin to develop your main points and supporting details. As you decide how to classify and organize your information, you will take the first step in completing the shaping sheet. A shaping sheet is an outline of the main points about your topic and the ideas that support them. While you take notes from sources (note-cards), you will begin to develop your main points and supporting details. As you decide how to classify and organize your information, you will take the first step in completing the shaping sheet.

Shaping Sheet After you finish making note cards, you will complete the shaping sheet. Make sure you develop the shaping sheet with specific examples and details from your research. After you finish making note cards, you will complete the shaping sheet. Make sure you develop the shaping sheet with specific examples and details from your research. In the shaping sheet, you need to include parenthetical citations. Anytime you use information from your note-cards or your sources you need to cite the source (use parenthetical documentation). See parenthetical documentation handout. In the shaping sheet, you need to include parenthetical citations. Anytime you use information from your note-cards or your sources you need to cite the source (use parenthetical documentation). See parenthetical documentation handout.

Shaping Sheet I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: thought provoking A. Attention Getter: thought provoking question, a short story that evokes question, a short story that evokes emotion, or a quote. Write the emotion, or a quote. Write the attention-getter out. attention-getter out. B. Position Statement (Thesis): Write B. Position Statement (Thesis): Write your thesis out. your thesis out.

II. Body A. First Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence- A. First Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence- use a transitional word) use a transitional word) 1. Concrete Detail #1 1. Concrete Detail #1 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2

3. Concrete Detail #3 3. Concrete Detail #3 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 B. Second Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence-use a B. Second Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence-use a transitional word) transitional word) 1. Concrete Detail #1 1. Concrete Detail #1 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2

3. Concrete Detail #3 3. Concrete Detail #3 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 C. Third Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence-C. Third Main Idea/Reason (Topic Sentence- use a transitional word) use a transitional word) 1. Concrete Detail #1 1. Concrete Detail #1 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 2. Concrete Detail #2 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2

3. Concrete Detail #3 a. Commentary #1 a. Commentary #1 b. Commentary #2 b. Commentary #2 III. Conclusion – Restate/Summarize/Sense of Completion (Topic Sentence-use a Completion (Topic Sentence-use a transitional word) transitional word) 1. Do you still want to pursue this career? 1. Do you still want to pursue this career? 2. Why? (Reason 1) 2. Why? (Reason 1) 3. Why? (Reason 2) 3. Why? (Reason 2)