Present the subject to your readers.

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Once you have made a preliminary choice of a subject and have some idea about its possible causes, consider how you can present the subject in a way that will interest your readers in understanding its causes. To do this, consider what you think about the subject and what your readers are likely to think. Use the questions and sentence strategies that follow to help you put your ideas in writing.

Ways In

WHAT DO I THINK?

WHAT DO MY READERS THINK?
Why do I find this subject intriguing? What will readers know about the subject?
  • I think is important because .
  • is changing the way we [think/do] .
  • has widespread effects, such as .
  • I know what the obvious causes of are, but I’m curious about the underlying [cultural/psychological/ideological] causes because .
Which possible cause will surprise readers or help them think about the subject in a constructive new way?
  • I think will enable readers to understand .
  • Thinking about will challenge readers to .
How do your subject and its causes compare with or contrast to other, more familiar subjects?
  • [name subject] is like in that they are both caused by .
  • Whereas is , [name subject] is .
  • My readers will probably be familiar with because .
  • is likely to be new to my readers, so I will need to show that it is widespread and serious by providing [statistics/research studies/examples/anecdotes showing how it affects people].
  • My readers are likely to be curious about because [it affects them personally/it raises important moral, psychological, or other questions].
How might readers’ age, gender, work, or cultural background affect their thinking?
  • Readers who [are/have] trait may assume that is caused by individuals who should have .
  • Readers who [are/have] trait are likely to think the causes are part of a larger system that involves .
  • Readers who have experienced may think of in terms of .
What causes are readers likely to know about?
  • My readers will have heard of from [name source].
  • Readers’ experience of will lead them to assume caused .