MLA-1b: Organizing your ideas
MLA-1bOrganize ideas with a rough outline.
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It’s helpful to start off with a working thesis that answers your research question. A thesis should also stand up to the “So what?” test.
Drafting a working thesis: C1-c
The body of your paper will consist of evidence in support of your thesis. It will be useful to sketch an informal plan that helps you begin to organize your ideas. Sophie Harba, for example, used this simple plan to outline the structure of her argument.
- Debates about the government’s role in regulating food have a long history in the United States.
- Some experts argue that we should focus on the dangers arising from unhealthy eating habits and on preventing chronic diseases linked to diet.
- But food regulations are not a popular solution because most Americans object to any loss of personal choice.
- Laws designed to prevent chronic disease have enormous health benefits and don’t ask Americans to give up their freedom; they ask Americans to see health as a matter of public good.
After you have written a rough draft, a more formal outline can be a useful way to shape the complexities of your argument. See C1-d for an example.