Dr. Seuss’ propaganda cartoons during World War II reduced Japanese Americans to stereotypes, played on the fears of the American public during a time of war, and focused on the broad, generalized issues of the situation rather than the individual circumstances of the people involved.
Developing an Outline
Once you establish a thesis, use it to help you develop an outline of the paper
An outline will:
Help you organize your ideas
Keep you focused
Save time
For every main point, you’ll need several supporting details
Outline Example
Thesis
Main Point
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Main Point
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Main Point
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Supporting Point
Detail
Detail
Conclusion
Writing the Rough Draft
Now that you have a thesis and outline, you may begin writing your rough draft.
As you write this rough draft, keep the following strategies in mind:
Organize information in your body paragraphs
Hook the reader in the introduction
Keep your paper coherent with transition words and sentences
Wrap up your paper with a strong closing
Utilize academic writing conventions
Follow the writing process
Introductions
The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to:
Hook the reader
Contextualize your argument or topic
Provide necessary background information about the topic
Strategies to Hook the Reader
Ask a question
Tell a story
Use a quote
Provide interesting statistics
Share an anecdote
Make a provocative statement
Give Context in the Introduction
What does the reader need to know to understand this paper?
Historical background
Issues relating to the topic
Important authors and texts you will be referring to
Cultural issues
Why this topic is important or relevant
Start Your Body Paragraphs with Clear Topic Sentences
A topic sentence:
Comes at the beginning of a paragraph
Presents the most important point you want to make in that paragraph
Is specific (or not so broad it would require a full essay to explore)
Use Compelling Supporting Points to Support Your Topic Sentence
Supporting points are examples or pieces of evidence that support the claim you have made in your topic sentence.
They can be:
Facts
Examples
Anecdotes (Stories)
Expert Testimony
Quotes
Observations
Statistics
Make Sure to Elaborate with Concrete Details
Once you have listed your supporting points, you can now elaborate on them by adding details or explaining what you mean further.
Example
Topic Sentence: Dr. Seuss emphasized the danger posed by Japanese Americans during World War II.
Main Point: His pictures show a parade of smiling Japanese marching down the West Coast collecting explosives.
Detail: Each box of TNT these cartoon characters carry plays on the often-irrational fears Americans felt toward Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
An Alternative: Using the PIE Formula
Another useful strategy to organize information is to use the PIE formula
PIE
P = Point = The main point you want to make
I = Illustration = A quote or paraphrase from the text
E = Explanation = Your explanation about what the quote or paraphrase means
Use Transitions to Create Coherence
Use transition words or sentences to bridge ideas so the reader does not get confused
First
Second
In addition
Nevertheless
In contrast
Furthermore
Therefore
Etc.
Strategies for a Conclusion
Re-state your thesis statement in a different way.
Make a strong closing comment.
Leave the reader with a closing thought.
Academic Conventions: Things to Avoid
Avoid using personal pronouns like “I”, “We”, and “You”.
Avoid not use contractions like “isn’t”, “they’re”, “wasn’t”, etc.
Avoid slang
Avoid a personal tone
Avoid vague ideas
Avoid plagiarism
Academic Conventions: Things to Do
Do address both sides of an argument
Do cite your sources
Do use a formal tone
Do take a stand
Do use concrete details
Do give yourself time to develop your paper
Remember, Writing is a Process
Every writing assignment is practice for the next one