The Thought Process Supporting our Academic Writing Assignments

Summary

In this instructional video, Dr. Brent Kelly explains the process of crafting a thesis statement for academic writing. He emphasizes the importance of researching a topic thoroughly before narrowing it down to a specific focus. Using the example of raising chickens, he demonstrates how research leads to a thesis statement that reflects the writer's understanding. The video outlines the structured approach needed to create a clear thesis and introduces the next step of writing an introduction. Dr. Kelly highlights the value of following a methodical approach in academic writing while encouraging students to show their thought process in assignments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Research is essential when writing about a subject, as it helps you gain a deep understanding of the topic before you start writing.
• 😀 You need to choose a subject to write about and narrow it down to a manageable and interesting idea.
• 😀 A thesis statement is the central idea or argument you will explore in your paper, and it is formed after conducting preliminary research on the subject.
• 😀 The process of researching and formulating a thesis statement is structured and mechanical, which may initially feel restrictive but is key to academic writing.
• 😀 Preliminary research, such as reading articles and books, helps you gather enough information to make an informed and accurate statement in your thesis.
• 😀 In academic writing, you cannot begin writing your paper without first having a clear thesis statement based on solid research.
• 😀 The goal of a thesis statement is to convey an idea that is both true and interesting to the reader, and to ensure that it is supported by research.
• 😀 Writing a thesis statement involves identifying a subject, researching it, and formulating an argument or perspective that can be expanded upon in the paper.
• 😀 The process of writing academic papers involves structured stages: choosing a subject, conducting research, writing a thesis, and then creating an introduction and body for the paper.
• 😀 Over time, as you become more skilled in writing, you may have more flexibility in expressing your ideas, but the basic process remains important for clear and effective writing.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the first assignment described in the transcript?

The purpose of the first assignment is to help students develop a thesis statement by researching a subject, formulating an idea, and narrowing down that subject into a specific topic that can be written about.

How does the speaker suggest students should approach a subject for research?

The speaker suggests that students should start with a general subject, study it by gathering information through various sources (like the web, journals, or books), and then narrow it down to find an interesting and manageable aspect to write about.

What was the speaker’s personal example about studying chickens meant to illustrate?

The speaker used the example of raising chickens to illustrate the process of conducting preliminary research. The speaker studied various resources to form a thesis statement and gain enough knowledge to write about a subject.

What is the definition of a thesis statement according to the transcript?

A thesis statement is a sentence that outlines what the writer will focus on in their paper, formulated after doing preliminary research on a subject.

How does the speaker define preliminary research?

Preliminary research is the process of gathering enough information about a subject so that the writer can formulate a clear and informed thesis statement. It includes reading articles, books, and other relevant resources.

What does the speaker mean when they say ‘narrowing down a subject’?

‘Narrowing down a subject’ refers to focusing on a specific aspect or idea within a broader topic that can be thoroughly researched and written about, rather than attempting to address a broad or vague subject.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of research in developing a thesis statement?

The speaker emphasizes research because without understanding the subject thoroughly, it would be impossible to create a strong, informed thesis statement. Research helps to formulate an idea that is both true and interesting.

How does the speaker describe the process of writing an introduction?

The speaker describes writing an introduction as providing the context for the thesis statement. The introduction should give background information, followed by the thesis statement, to prepare the reader for the argument or topic of the paper.

What example does the speaker give of a potential thesis statement?

The speaker’s thesis statement example is: ‘Raising chickens is hard because of feed costs, because of maintenance, and because of predators.’ This is the result of their research into raising chickens.

What does the speaker mean by ‘working through the process’?

‘Working through the process’ means following a structured approach to writing academic papers: selecting a subject, conducting research, forming a thesis statement, and then writing the introduction and the body based on the research.