Starting Points: Explaining a Concept

Printed Page 150

A Focused Explanation

How do I come up with a concept to write about?

  • Consider Possible Topics (pp. 134, 140, 146)
  • Choose a concept to write about (p. 150)
  • Test Your Choice (p. 151)

How can I decide on a focus for my concept?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A focused explanation (pp. 119–20)
  • Conduct initial research on the concept (p. 151)
  • Focus your explanation of the concept (pp. 152–53)
  • Test Your Choice (p. 153)
  • Conduct further research on your focused concept (p. 153)

How can I make my concept interesting to my readers?

  • A Focused Explanation: Using Examples (pp. 137–39)
  • A Focused Explanation: Presenting Established Information and Your Own Ideas (p. 144)
  • Focus your explanation of the concept (pp. 152–53)
  • Test Your Choice (p. 153)
  • Draft your working thesis (pp. 153–54)
  • Write the opening sentences (p. 159)
  • A Troubleshooting Guide: A Focused Explanation (pp. 161–62)
Table : Starting Points: Explaining a Concept
Printed Page 151
A Clear, Logical Organization

A Clear, Logical Organization

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A clear, logical organization (p. 120)
  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Creating Closure (p. 145)
  • Organize your concept explanation effectively for your readers (p. 154)
  • A Troubleshooting Guide: A Clear, Logical Organization (p. 162)

What kinds of cues should I provide?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: A clear, logical organization (p. 120)
  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Cueing the Reader (pp. 132–33)
  • A Clear, Logical Organization: Using Repetition to Create Cohesion (p. 138)
  • Draft your working thesis (pp. 153–54)
  • Design your writing project (p. 155)
Appropriate Explanatory Strategies

What’s the best way to explain my concept? What writing strategies should I use?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: Appropriate explanatory strategies (pp. 120–21)
  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using Visuals (p. 133)
  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using Cause-Effect (p. 139)
  • Appropriate Explanatory Strategies: Using Comparison Contrast (p. 145)
  • Consider the explanatory strategies you should use (pp. 155–56)
  • Use summaries, paraphrases, and quotations from sources to support your points (p. 156)
  • Use visuals or multimedia illustrations to enhance your explanation (pp. 156–57)
  • A Troubleshooting Guide: Appropriate Explanatory Strategies (p. 163)
Smooth Integration of Sources

How should I integrate sources so that they support my argument?

  • Assess the genre’s basic features: Smooth integration of sources (pp. 121–22)
  • Use appositives to integrate sources (p. 157)
  • Use descriptive verbs in signal phrases to introduce information from sources (p. 158)
  • A Troubleshooting Guide: Smooth Integration of Sources (p. 164)