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Information Paper

Write a 500 word paper based on one of the topics:

Possessions Jobs People In Authority

Limit the topic. I do not want to see the words possession, job, or authority in your paper, much less in your thesis: the Hummer, a hospital nurse, my ex-husband.
For a thesis sentence, think of a conclusion about your limited topic. A thesis is a conclusion that comes at the beginning.
Jimmy never should have bought a Hummer.
Nursing in a hospital is demanding.
My ex-husband controlled my life.
Check your thesis sentence. You must be able to answer yes to each question:
Do you have an edge over the reader? That is, do you know more than other students about your limited topic? Can you offer specific information instead of reasons, explanations, generalities, and hypothetical predictions?
Is the topic limited enough so that three paragraphs of development plus a short introduction and conclusion will cover it adequately?
Make a list of all the facts, examples, and evidence that will support your conclusion. Do you have enough information without reading or researching books, magazines, or online sources? I advise you not to use secondary sources, but if you do use them, be sure to credit each specific instance of the information and language that you borrow. See MLA in the text for explanations and models.
Subdivide your information into logical groups (paragraphs) and think of a conclusion for each group. Those conclusions will be your topic sentences. You should put them at the beginning of each paragraph. That’s right. Good writers know that conclusions make the best openings.
Write your paper of at least 500 words:
Put your conclusion (thesis sentence) as the last sentence of the opening introductory paragraph.
Give at least five facts, details, or examples to support each topic sentence conclusion which must begin each paragraph of development.
(Do not lie. All facts must be real and true.)
(Do not offer imaginary or hypothetical speculations, such as “A drunk driver could run a red light and cause a serious accident or kill another person.” Instead, tell something that really happened.)
(Do not introduce each detail with empty fillers, such as “Another example of the way that my uncle mistreats his dogs is …” Instead use no transitions or use short transitions, such as also, furthermore, and another time he …)
End with a brief closing paragraph that re-states your thesis and wraps up the paper.
Proofread CAREFULLY.
Read what you wrote, not what you think you wrote.
Use Edit>Find to locate words that give you trouble.
Re-write a clumsy sentence by starting with something later in the sentence.
Compress wordy expressions:

 

NOT a. Sue studied a very long amount of time. b. one hundred and forty one dollars c. 4 riders paid 8$ each for gas. d. the lady that served our dinner e. My boyfriend is polite, his name is Al.

CUT OR CHANGE TO a. Sue studied over ten hours. b. $147 c. Four riders paid eight dollars each for gas. d. our waitresse. Al, my boyfriend, is polite.

Last updated 1/22/2009

This document is protected by copyright. It may be used and reproduced only for non-profit educational use.