1. Exploring Problems, Making Claims
Chapter 2
Exploring Problems, Making Claims

2. Wallowing in Complexity
The starting point of academic writing is a “good, interesting question.”
This question, or thesis, should lead you to new and unfamiliar ways of thinking.
Use open ended questions, questions that don’t have a right or wrong answer but focus on unknowns or uncertainties.
Phrase your question, or thesis, so it can be answered in more than one way
Support your answer with a well supported argument

3. Skills Needed to Wallow
Ability to pose problematic questions
Ability to analyze a problem in different ways
Ability to find, gather, and interpret facts, data, and info relevant to the problem
Ability to imagine alternative solutions to the problem
Ability to analyze competing approaches/answers, to construct arguments
Ability to write an effective argument justifying your choice while still acknowledging counterarguments

4. Exploratory Writing to Help You Wallow
Writing helps you generate and discover ideas, it stimulates your mind to produce new thoughts
There are five strategies of exploratory writing and talking:
Freewriting
Focused freewriting
Idea mapping
Dialectic conversation
Playing the believing and doubting game

5. Freewriting Sometimes called nonstop writing
Choose a topic to write about, or focus on a question asked
Write rapidly for minutes
Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
The object is to think of as many ideas as possible
When finished, read through your writing and pick out ideas that seem to be worth pursuing

6. Focused Freewriting
You’ve finished freewriting, you’ve got your idea or answer, now expand on it
Develop this line of thought, focusing on a specific problem or question
The purpose is to deepen and extend your thinking on this issue

7. Idea Mapping A visual method of freewriting
Technique: draw a circle in the center of a page, in the circle write down your broad topic or question
Record ideas on branches and sub-branches that extend from the center circle
Continue to record ideas and branching until your ideas run out
An idea map is less developed than freewriting, but usually contain more ideas

8. Dialectic Conversation
Discussing your topic or problem with others
Find people with differing views in order to have a stimulating conversation
Examine those differences and try to resolve them
Listen with an open mind
Scrutinize your own ideas and opinions
Places to converse: classroom, online blogs and discussion boards, study groups

9. Believing & Doubting Game
This game helps you appreciate the power of alternative arguments and points of view by urging you to formulate and explore alternative positions
To play: imagine a possible answer to a problematic question and then systematically try to first believe that answer and then doubt it
Forces you to see two different points of view
When you believe you: agree, support, apply the idea
When you doubt you: question, challenge, rebut, offer counterreasons/counterexamples
Let’s play the game! See page 32, #2.

10. Thesis Statements
A strong thesis statement surprises readers with something new or challenging
Should contain an element of uncertainty or risk, should challenge ideas
There are two ways to surprise your readers:
Try changing their view of the subject
Give your thesis tension

11. Changing Your Reader’s View of Your Subject
First, imagine how your reader might view the subject before they read your essay
Now, you can articulate how you aim to change that view
Try using the before and after exercise on page 33
You can change your reader’s view by:
Enlarging your reader’s view
Clarify your reader’s view
Restructure your reader’s view

12. Changing Views cont. Enlarging your reader’s view
Primarily informational
Provides new ideas and data on the subject
Clarifying your reader’s view
Explain, analyze, and interpret the subject in different ways
Clear up uncertainties
Restructure your reader’s view
Persuade readers to believe you through use of facts and data

13. Thesis Tension
The sensation of being pulled away from familiar ideas toward new, unfamiliar ones
“Surprising reversal”
Contrast your surprising answer to a question with your audience’s common answer
See example on page 34
Begin your thesis with “although” and then summarize your reader’s view, followed by your counterclaim. See examples on page
Do activity on page 36, #1-2

14. Closed-Form Prose & A Thesis
Closed-formed prose usually begins with a problem
The thesis statement follows and is usually tentative and contestable
What comes before the thesis statement is the writer’s explanation of the problem
“old/new contract” helps readers connect new information to previously stated old information
Thesis statement summarizes the new information that makes your argument surprising, new, or challenging

15. Typical Introduction Present a question Summarize information
Thesis statement
See example on page 38

16. Features of an Effective Introduction
Topic area and context
State your topic early on
Use a startling scene or statistic
A direct or implied question
Readers need to know how the topic gives rise to a problem, question or issue as soon as possible.
Indicate tension, controversy, and/or problem
Use a “tension thesis” if you can, contrast initial reaction with new reaction
How is your topic worth examining?
Imagine your audience and provide information they will be interested in
Bring something new to your audience
See strategies on page 39