Exploring purpose and topic

topic

In a college assignment, you could be asked to write arguments about general topics related to courses, but you probably won’t be told what your claims should be. That’s your responsibility, based on your knowledge, experiences, and leanings. So choose subjects you genuinely care about — not issues the media or someone else defines as controversial. You’ll do a more credible job defending your questionable choice not to wear a helmet when motorcycling than explaining, one more time, why the environment should concern us all. And if environmental matters do roil you, stake your claim on a well-defined ecological problem — perhaps from within your community — that you might actually influence by the power of your rhetoric. (get an idea)

If you really are stumped, the Yahoo! Directory’s list of “Issues and Causes” — with topics from abortion to zoos — offers problems enough to keep pundits from MSNBC and Fox News buzzing to the end of the century. To find it, search “Society and Culture” or “Issues and Causes” on the site’s main Web directory. (“Society and Culture” itself offers a menu of intriguing topic areas.) Once you have an issue or even a specific claim, your real work begins.

Learn much more about your subject.Your first task is to do basic library and online research to get a better handle on your topic — especially when you think you already have all the answers. Chances are, you don’t.

State a preliminary claim, if only for yourself. Some arguments fail because writers never focus their thinking. They wander around vague topics, throwing out ideas or making contradictory assertions and leaving it to readers to assemble the random parts. To avoid this blunder, begin with a claim —a complete sentence that states a position you hope to defend. Such a statement will keep you on track as you explore a topic. Even a simple sentence helps:

The college rankings published annually by U.S. News & World Report do more harm than good.

People who oppose gay marriage don’t know what they are talking about.

Qualify your claim to make it reasonable. As you learn more about a subject, revise your topic idea to reflect the complications you encounter. (think critically) Your thesis will probably grow longer or take several sentences to explain, but the topic itself will actually narrow because of the specific issues you’ve identified. You’ll also have less work to do, thanks to qualifying expressions such as some, most, a few, often, under certain conditions, occasionally, when necessary, and so on. Other qualifying expressions are highlighted below.

The statistically unreliable college ratings published by U.S. News & World Report usually do more harm than good to students because some claim that they lead admissions officers to award scholarships on the basis of merit rather than need.

Many conservative critics who oppose gay marriage unwittingly undermine their own core principles, especially monogamy and honesty.

Examine your core assumptions. Claims may be supported by reasons and evidence, but they are based on assumptions. Assumptions are the principles and values upon which we base our beliefs and actions. Sometimes these assumptions are controversial and stand right out. At other times, they’re so close to us, they seem invisible — they are part of the air we breathe. Expect to spend a paragraph defending any assumptions your readers might find questionable or controversial. (develop ideas)

CLAIM

The statistically unreliable college ratings published by U.S. News & World Report usually do more harm than good to students because some claim that they lead admissions officers to award scholarships on the basis of merit rather than need.

ASSUMPTION

Alleviating need in our society is more important than rewarding merit.[Probably controversial]

CLAIM

Westerners should be more willing to defend their cultural values and intellectual achievements if they hope to defend freedom against its enemies.

ASSUMPTION

Freedom needs to be defended at all costs. [Possibly controversial for some audiences]

CLAIM

Many conservative critics who oppose gay marriage unwittingly undermine their own core principles, especially monogamy and honesty.

ASSUMPTION

People should be consistent about their principles.[Probably not controversial]