A Successful First Draft

1. A Successful First Draft Works Cited Kemper, Dave, Patrick Sebranek, and Verne Meyer. Write Source: A Book for Writing, Thinking, and Learning. Wilmington, MA: Write Source, 2007. Print. Language Network: Grammar, Writing, Communication. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2001. Print.

2. Planning Your Report • An introduction, a body, and a conclusion will be the three parts of your research report. • Introduction • Come up with an interesting way to begin your report. Be sure to include your thesis statement, or main idea. A good thesis statement: • states clearly what you are writing about. • is one that can be supported by facts.

3. Planning Your Report • Body • The body of your paper is where you support your thesis statement. The body should: • have unity, with the topic sentence in every paragraph supporting the thesis statement. • be organized and coherent, with paragraphs that are structured so that one idea flows smoothly and logically to the next idea. (Use transitions.) • Conclusion • At the end of your paper, you should restate your thesis, using different words, and sum up the ideas you used to support it.

4. Drafting • Use your notes and your outline to begin your draft. You don’t have to begin at the beginning and work straight through to the end. If you like, you can start with the section you have the strongest ideas about. • Follow your outline. Write one or more paragraphs for every major part of your outline. (If you don’t have enough material to make a paragraph, either do more research or revise your plan.) • Support your thesis. Remember that everything in your paper should support your main idea. • Put paragraphs in order. Make sure your paragraphs are in order before you begin your revision.

5. Writing Great Beginnings • The opening paragraph of an essay should grab the reader’s attention, introduce your topic, and present your thesis. To start your opening paragraph, try one of these approaches. • Start with an interesting fact. • Ask an interesting question. • Start with a quotation.

6. Writing Thesis Statements • An effective thesis statement tells the reader specifically what you plan to write about. In a longer essay or research report, your thesis statement comes at the end of the opening paragraph. • A thesis statement usually takes a stand or expresses a specific feeling about, or feature of, your topic. • Write as many versions as it takes to hit upon the statement that sets the right tone for your writing.

7. Writing Thesis Statements • Use this formula to develop your thesis statement: A specific topic + A particular stand, feeling, or feature _________________________ A thesis statement

8. Sample Thesis Statements Writing Assignment: Research report about a historical event Specific Topic: The Monroe Doctrine Thesis Statement: The Monroe Doctrine (topic) benefited England as much as it did the United States (particular stand). Writing Assignment: Persuasive Essay about a school problem Specific Topic: Litter on the school grounds Thesis Statement: The excessive litter on the school grounds (topic) reflects negatively on our school (particular feeling). Writing Assignment: Analysis of a character in a story Specific Topic: “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote Thesis Statement: “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote (topic) examines the bond between a young boy and his special guardian (particular feature).

9. Try this strategy... • If you have trouble coming up with a good opening paragraph, follow this step-by-step example: • First sentence: Grab the reader’s attention Did you know that the original King Kong was only eighteen inches tall? • Second sentence Give some background information During most of the movie, Kong was actually a posable or movable model covered with rabbit fur. • Third sentence: Introduce the specific topic of the essay Stop-motion animation was just one of the techniques used to bring Kong to life. • Fourth sentence: Give the thesis statement Many special effects pioneered in the original King Kong appear in movies today.

10. Developing Great Endings • The closing paragraph of a paper should summarize your thesis and leave the reader with something to think about. When writing your closing paragraph, use two or more of the following ideas: • Review your main points • Emphasize the special importance of one main point • Answer any questions the reader may still have • Draw a conclusion and put the information in perspective • Provide a final significant thought for the reader

11. Try this strategy... • If you have trouble coming up with an effective closing paragraph, follow this step-by-step example: • First sentence – Reflect on the topic Movie special effects have come a long way since 1933. • Second sentence – Add another point Computer-generated imagery (CGI) used today would astound early film makers. • Third sentence – Emphasize the most important point Despite the new technology, however, many basic techniques remain the same, including the use of miniatures, animation, and matte paintings. • Fourth sentence – Wrap up the topic or draw a conclusion No matter how special effects are achieved, they continue to delight movie audiences everywhere.

12. Documenting Information • There are some facts that you can expect most people to know. For example, most Americans know that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the fifth of May. However, you need to document, or give a source for, any facts that are not widely known. • The most common way to document information in a report is to put a reference in parenthesis following the information. This method is called parenthetical documentation. The reference tells you which work in the Works Cited list is your source for the information. Use parenthetical documentation to give the source of each quotation or paraphrase in your report.

13. Documenting Information One Author • Usually, you will cite the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses. However, if you mention the author’s name in the sentence, cite only the page number.

14. Documenting Information No Author Given • Cite the title (or a short version of the title) and the page number if there is one.

15. Documenting Information Electronic Source • Cite the author’s last name. If no author is given, list the title.