College Composition IICollege Composition IISeminar 2 Seminar 2

Thesis statements, logical Thesis statements, logical fallacies, and using fallacies, and using

research to support your research to support your ideas. Library Orientationideas. Library Orientation

Choosing a Topic for Your Research Paper

• Look for significant topics that you feel that you can fully analyze within 5-7 pages.

• Avoid topics that are too broad or too limited and without sufficient research information.

• Choose something current and debatable.• Avoid topics that you have a heavy

emotional investment in—you will have a difficult time writing about the opposing views fairly and objectively.

Unit 2 Invention Lab

– 2 parts with multiple subparts

• Part I

–Requires creating 4 research ?’s

–Then 4 provisional answers to them

• Part II

–Possible thesis statement

–Challenges you’ll face to prove the thesis

Part I of Invention Lab

• Last week you selected topic ideas after thinking about problems in your community (or country or world) and looking in the Inspiration Gallery (In Doc Sharing).  

1. Now brainstorm 4 research questions for your topic?

2. Give a provisional answer to each one based on what you know now about your topic.

3. Think about things your readers might want to know.

4. Think of some of the controversies surrounding this topic.

Part II: Thesis statement & challenges

• Since you will be writing an 5-7 page persuasive research paper for this course as part of your portfolio, creating an effective thesis is important.

• For the second question, you will think about aspects of your topic that might be hard to prove and discuss ideas for overcoming them.

• >>Do you have any questions about this?

Sample thesis statements

• Sexual harassment - is unacceptable in the workplace and policies with training should be required.

• Identity theft – Identity theft is an invisible crime that brings much harm and heartache and so we must get tough with laws to deal with these criminals.

• Child Abuse - continues to be a problem in our society and we should create programs to stop the cycle of abuse.

Thesis statements

What is a thesis and what is its purpose?Now I’d like to let a few of you copy and

paste your draft theses here and let us give you feedback for improving them.

If you want to participate, please go get your thesis now… (& wait)

Everybody think of 2 additional things you want to know about this topic or questions

When ready, raise your hand like this //

Thesis workshop

Wait until I call your name I will limit our time on this Be positive & respectful towards

classmates Be ready to repost if it scrolls up where

we can’t see it. A thesis should be one sentence, NOT a

paragraph. Okay, here we go………..

Tech LabsWhy should you do these?They are in Units 2-7Your Final Project portfolio needs to

include a “mulitmodal” component: a ppt presentation, an animoto video, a brochure, blog, podcast, or one of the other multi-media forms shown in Tech Labs

So, go and explore all those possibilities!

Logical Fallacies

Critical thinking involves examining arguments and the evidence used to support them to determine whether or not they are logically sound.  Can you think of an instance where you had to use critical thinking to defend your point of view in an argument?

(wait for student responses) Anecdotal Fallacy: (Jumping to conclusions) When

one instance supports a general claim that is not true. For example – I just got dumped. All men are dogs! Or My wife cries all the time. Women are so emotional!

Continued……..Mistaking Time for Cause & Effect: One thing

happens before another and we try to place a causal relationship between them. My purse has no cash in it. My ___ must have taken all my money. Or I washed my car yesterday and now it is raining today. I must have caused the rain!

False Authority: I interviewed for an engineering position last week; therefore, I have experience in the field of engineering and can put it on my resume. OR He plays a cop on TV so he must be on the side of law and order.

Continued… Either OR Dilemma: This fallacy hides the facts by

claiming there are only two options existing. For example: Loose weight or never be attractive to the opposite sex.. OR Either obey me or be grounded.

Circular Reasoning: this fallacy has us going in circles by claiming one assumption proves the other one and in the conclusion the writer simply puts the assumption in different words and thinks that makes it true. For example: Dr. X is the better doctor because he has treated 2 generations of my family and they all liked him. Dr. X is a better doctor because more people in my family like him than any other one.

Continued• Ad Hominem: (against the person) This occurs

when the claim is rejected simply because it is based on a person. John Doe was convicted of rape 2 years ago and he has no place in our Parent Teacher organization. (What if the rape was consensual sex with an underaged girlfriend and the angry father of the girl got him arrested for it?)

•  In conclusion, fallacies are to be avoided. Use good logic and your readers will be more convinced!

Using research to support

Always surround your research quotes or paraphrases with your own intelligent thoughts. Introduce, present support, interpret or analyze it for your readers.

As an academic writer keep yourself impartial and speak formally without slang or personal opinions.

Name some different types of library research you look for--------------

Types of research support

FactsStatisticsExperts’ thoughtsScientific research study resultsCase historiesSurveysCourt recordsHistorical background information

Part II: Library search

• 1. What is your research question? Look for keywords.

• 2. What specific keywords or phrases could you use to perform a search?  Make a list.

• 3. What are the advantages of articles versus books?

• 4. Tell me what you think about searching for information on the Web versus a library?

• TIP: email articles to self, ask for APA full citation, and keep them to refer back to!

Library Searches

New face of our library!

Search page…

Email articles to self!

Reading Skills

• Briefly skim article (and abstract if provided) to get a sense of the main point.

• Think of questions that you hope the article will answer.

• Mark quotes you might use later.• If scientific study: read intro & conclusion.• Highlight or underline key points.• Take notes from it.• When you finish, answer the questions you

thought of before starting the article.• Retain it to refer back to.

In writing or speaking, why is knowing your purpose and the

audience important?

Audience and Context

• Everything is written (or spoken) to someone for some purpose. The email you send to your sister should be written differently than a proposal you send to a business client, and a speech delivered to a group of second graders would differ from the President speaking to Congress.

• Knowing the audience, purpose, and the context is vitally important to good writing and speaking. Ask yourself: – Why am I writing or saying this? – Who is my audience? – What am I trying to say?

Writing in the Digital World

• Writing is very important today because it is possible to have classmates, instructors, and business associates that you never see or talk to, but know only through the written word and e-mail.

• Since 70% of today’s business writing involves e-mail, the words you write give impressions of not just yourself, but also of your company!

What impression does this e-mail give?

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY WHAT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SITES THAT WE CHOSE? I THOUGHT THAT I DID THAT WHAT PART OF THE APA FORMAT DID I NOT FOLLOW.

Things to consider. . .

• Mistake filled writing drives people away. – Potential customers look at the writing and ask

themselves: “If the company can not hire people who can write well, can they deliver quality products and services?”

• Effective writing does not come naturally. It requires instruction, practice, and a willingness to learn!

What is Standard American English?

Standard American English

• Standard American English is the common language, spelling, grammar, and punctuation used in the United States. It is the type of speech and writing that is expected in higher education and the workplace.

• What are the benefits to learning Standard American English?

Standard American English

• When you use Standard American English, – People can understand you no matter what

part of the county they come from. – You present yourself as being an educated

person. – You show respect for your audience.– You show a desire for your audience to

relate to you.

Resources for improving writing

• Purdue OWL (on-line writing lab) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

• Interactive grammar quizzes http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm

• Writing Center review service and library

• Thanks for coming and sharing your ideas!