A WEBINAR

Academic Inquiry and The Explain A Concept Essay

You are writing to inform experts in the field

Your academic reader expects that your essay that explains a concept follows some basic ground rules

You have followed academic inquiry and academic research processes

You have kept an open and objective mindset You have used university credible sources

ONLY

The Discourse Community

You are freshmen college students, writing an essay that explains a concept to the university (academic) discourse community

What does this mean?

GROUNDRULES

You define your termsYou present facts as factsYou present expert opinion as opinionYou clearly document the sources of all data

in the essay using an approved style sheet (MLA, APA, etc)

You have considered carefully the biases and agendas of the scholars whose research you use and acknowledge it

YOU EXPLAIN CONCEPTS. YOU DO NOT ARGUE ANY ONE VIEWPOINT

Objectivity mattersHow to suspend preconceptions, biases, and

closely held beliefs

Find a Topic

Use the Points of View Reference Center as a starting point

Educate yourself about the topic. As high school students, you don’t know enough about the topic to have an opinion, yet

Learn about the topic. Be able to define the topic, understand the scope and the history, and have a thorough grounding in the facts of the topic

Then, Frame Research Questions that will Allow You To Explore the Facts

Let’s use the Death Penalty as a topicQuestions:What is the Death Penalty? What is the scope of the death penalty issue? How many people are affected? Why is the Death Penalty an Important Topic in America? Which States Have the Death Penalty? What is the History of the Death Penalty? What Crimes Qualify for Capital Punishment? Which States Currently Execute People for Capital Crimes?

These Questions Allow You To Explore and Explain the Topic

WhoWhatWhenWhere Why How To What Extent

You Might Also Investigate the Major Issues Surrounding the Topic

Ethical IssuesMoral IssuesLegal IssuesKey facts Key lawsKey legal cases

You Will Not Argue Any One Side of the Issue

You will use definition to explain the topic to the reader

You will use facts to explain the topic to the reader

You may, in certain cases, use expert opinion to explain the topic to the reader

YOU WILL NOT TAKE A SIDE ON THE ISSUEYou will not argue a point of view or an issue

OBJECTIVITY

Suspend your bias. Expand your knowledge of the subject

Then explain the subject to the reader

After we examine it, you should review the Points of View Reference Center article

THE DEATH PENALTY: AN OVERVIEWIt is a good model of what you should write

about the topic and how you should write about it

Pitfalls to Avoid

Writing in any mode other than EXPLANATORY MODE—because the topic is a debatable issue, sometimes students make the mistake of arguing a point or taking a stand on the issue. This is a mistake. (Your task is to explain your topic as a concept, NOT to take a stand on the issue or argue a key concept or debate point)

Pitfalls to Avoid 2

Asking the wrong questions To explain the debatable issue as a topic,

you should define the issue as a term and should ask the right questions. The 5 W’s and the H (what, who, when, where, why, how) are excellent questions to begin your consideration of the issue. You should also establish the SCOPE of the issue by asking ‘How/To What Extent/In What Ways are people most deeply affected by the issue?”

Pitfalls to Avoid 3

Assuming the reader knows as much as you about the topic

It is your task to educate your reader and to explain clearly and explicitly major terms, concepts, and opinions. Remember that you are informing your university reader about the topic, but do not assume that the reader shares your thoughts and knows as much as you know about the topic. You have spent weeks researching the topic. You are educating yourself, and are acquiring a knowledge set that your reader most likely does not possess.

Hint

Analyze Your AudienceWhat does your reader know? What does s/he

believe? What biases does the reader have that will affect their acceptance of your explanation?

Explain the ConceptUse definition, explanation of key facts and

concepts, real world examples, example cases and laws

Use SPECIFIC detailsUse specific facts, concepts, and details—Readers

need specifics, not vague generalities.