Interpret
Fitting together the pieces of the puzzle.
Being able to find information and make sense of it is a necessary life skill. We do this all the time, whether it’s arguing a thesis statement for a school assignment or making an important decision in a job.
During the Interpret phase you will take the information you have gathered during Research and use it to enhance your knowledge and answer the research question identified during Pre-search. This information will become evidence to support your thesis statement, or to prove a hypothesis. If you are writing a research paper, you will develop a thesis statement and organize your notes into an outline. Regardless of your product, you need to step back to analyze and make sense of the information you have found in order to come to an original conclusion.
As you interpret and create new knowledge, you will probably start to feel more confident about your project and take greater ownership of your research. This is also a time to step back and make sure you have enough information. You may discover that you need to go back and do some more research or that some of the information recorded in your notes is not relevant to your final argument and should be set aside.
Possible research tools for this stage: EasyBib School Edition (Outline feature), Mind-mapping tools like Google Drawing.
During the Interpret phase you will take the information you have gathered during Research and use it to enhance your knowledge and answer the research question identified during Pre-search. This information will become evidence to support your thesis statement, or to prove a hypothesis. If you are writing a research paper, you will develop a thesis statement and organize your notes into an outline. Regardless of your product, you need to step back to analyze and make sense of the information you have found in order to come to an original conclusion.
As you interpret and create new knowledge, you will probably start to feel more confident about your project and take greater ownership of your research. This is also a time to step back and make sure you have enough information. You may discover that you need to go back and do some more research or that some of the information recorded in your notes is not relevant to your final argument and should be set aside.
Possible research tools for this stage: EasyBib School Edition (Outline feature), Mind-mapping tools like Google Drawing.
In this section...
- How do I write an effective thesis statement that synthesizes my research findings?
- How do I create an outline to organize my ideas and information in support of my argument?
Writing a ThesisCharacteristics of a Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement introduces the purpose of your paper or project. It answers your research question, making a claim that will be supported by evidence in the body of your paper. A strong thesis statement helps you organize your ideas and helps your reader understand where you are going. In an essay, the thesis statement is often one or two sentences at the end of the introduction.
Developing a Thesis Here is an example of how a thesis for an argument/position paper could be developed:
Attempt #1: The Red Sox are a baseball team in the American League East division.
This is a fact, not thesis. Take a position on the topic. Attempt #2: The Red Sox will win their division this year. You have a position, but support it with reasoning. Attempt #3: The Red Sox will win their division this year because they are a good team. The position is clearer, but reasoning is vague. Be specific and explain using details. Attempt #4: The Red Sox will win their division this year because they have a strong pitching rotation, productive hitters, and experienced managers. This is a stronger thesis statement. It takes a firm stand and explains your reasoning. In your body paragraphs, you will give concrete evidence to support each claim. Sample Thesis Statements By Paper Type
Comparison Paper: The Red Sox and Yankees are similar in that they both have experienced players, a large payroll, and a historic legacy. Policy Recommendation Paper: In order to win their division, the Red Sox need to keep their pitchers healthy and add more speed to their lineup. Cause and Effect Paper: The downfall of the Yankees was caused by poor draft picks, aging core players, and the signing of overpriced free agents. Source: Red Sox examples adapted from Ottoson Middle School's A Guide to Student Research Projects |
Making an OutlineRole of an Outline
Although there are many ways to present your research (add link), all forms of communication benefit from organization. Your organizational strategy will depend on your final product. It could be an outline, storyboard, mind map, or notes on scrap paper. Regardless of the format, these tools help you map out the main claims and supporting evidence for your argument and put them into some order before they are fleshed out in detail. An outline is an abbreviated list of the parts of your paper. Think of it as a road map or a recipe. Even if your teacher does not require a formal outline, writing one has many benefits:
How to Write an Outline The easiest way to begin your outline is by grouping your notes by topic. As you review your notes to determine the best organizational method, add in your own thoughts and findings to embed researched facts with your own ideas and understandings. Also consider the following:
Formatting an Outline Working Title of Paper I. Topic A. Subtopic i. Supporting detail a. More information, clarification, interpretation b. More information, clarification, interpretation ii. Supporting detail iii. Supporting detail B. Subtopic C. Subtopic II. Topic III. Topic Follow the format above for a traditional outline. For each level of your outline, you should logically have at least two headings. Outlines may be written in complete sentences or in phrases. Follow the instructions given by your teacher. Your teacher may ask you to include your research question or thesis statement at the top of your outline along with a working title. Using EasyBib Notebook to Outline Need help using EasyBib's Notebook tool? Explore here.
|