ENGL002: Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement | Saylor Academy

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Read this chapter and complete the exercises. Then create a final version of your thesis statement for your research paper.

Click on Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement to open the resource.

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Course Syllabus

Announcements

Unit 1: Research and the Writing Process

1.1.1: Academic Research Writing

What is Academic Research Writing?

1.1.2: Why Write a Research Paper?

The Purpose of Research Writing

1.1.3: How to Manage a Research Project

Managing Your Research Project

1.2.1: The Research Process: An Overview

The Seven Steps of the Research Process

1.2.2: What Is Your Research Community?

Analyze Your Discourse Communities

Research Writing in the Academic Disciplines

1.2.3: Identifying and Understanding Your Audience

Audience

Audience Awareness

1.2.4: Understanding Your Audience and Purpose

Research Writing and Argument

1.2.5: Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content

Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Content

1.3.1: Discovering and Choosing a Topic

Activity: Identify Your Research Topic

1.3.2: Develop a Working Thesis and a Research Proposal

Steps in Developing a Research Proposal

Activity: Develop a Working Thesis

1.3.3: Mapping Your Topic

Webbing

1.4: Outlining

Outlining

Unit 1 Assessment

Unit 1 Assessment

Unit 2: Researching: How, What, When, Where, and Why

2.1.1: Note Taking Tools

Evernote

2.1.2: Using a Reverse Outline

Reverse Outline

2.2.1: How to Begin Your Research

Strategies for Gathering Reliable Information

2.2.2: Investigating Scholarly vs. Non-Scholarly Sources

Finding and Evaluating Research Sources

Evaluating Sources

Anatomy of a Scholarly Article

What is a Scholarly Article?

Using Google Scholar

2.3: Reviewing and Evaluating Your Sources

Unit 2 Assessment

Unit 2 Assessment

Unit 3: Reviewing and Analyzing Your Sources

3.1.1: Reading Critically as a Research Strategy

Research and Critical Reading

3.1.2: Analyze Your Research

Critical Thinking and Research Applications

3.1.3: Search Assessment

WebQuest Assessment

3.2: Developing an Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliographies

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography

Research Activity: Annotated Bibliography

3.3: Research Assessment

Research Activity: Reviewing and Evaluating Your Sources

Unit 3 Assessment

Unit 3 Assessment

Unit 4: Putting Your Source Material to Work

4.1.1: What Is an Argumentative Essay?

Argument

Persuasion

Persuasive Essays

4.1.2: Dividing Your Argument

Transitions

4.2.1: Refine Your Thesis

Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement

4.2.2: Develop Arguments around Your Thesis

Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph

Writing Body Paragraphs

4.2.3: Strengthen Your Claims

Blending Source Material with Your Own Work

4.2.4: Toulmin's Schema

Toulmin's Schema