WELCOME BACK!

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” - Napoleon Hill

2/24/14

Learning Target: Identify your issue and argument, create your SIT introduction

Please take out your tan packet and your English notebook

(you don’t need to write down today’s learning target)

Agenda2/24/14 Plan for the Week Issue and Argument Sample Introductions Introduction Work Time

Homework: 1. Have a rough draft SIT intro for class

tomorrow2. Complete intro and essay outline due

by the BEG. of class Friday (printed out when you come to class!!)

Plan for the week

Today: Identify your issue and argument, check out format for introductions, work time on intros

Tuesday: Evaluate your own introduction, check out formats for outlining, outlining work time

Wednesday-Thursday: In Lab 503 for outlining work time If you’re not caught up with notes by the end of the

class period Thursday, you’ll be REQUIRED to stay after school Thursday during conference period. No exceptions!

Friday: back in the classroom! Complete essay outline due by the beginning of class

printed out Friday

Where you should be now

At this point, you should feel like you have almost all the information you need to write this paper. Need more? Keep searching!

Remember you need 8 sources min. for an excellent paper

Don’t forget to go get help from Mrs. N if you need it!

You should have a rough idea of how this information will fit together to make a whole paper

“Big Umbrella Question”

What’s the one big research question you’re trying to answer with this paper?

The paper’s focus

Remember, it’s an argumentative paper…so what’s the issue that people are arguing about?

What are the arguments that you’re learning about?

Issue and Argument

Explain the issue that you’re writing about.

Explain what you’re going to argue for your paper (what you’re thinking so far-may not be the final idea you land on).

Issues Firefighters are at higher risk that other

professions for mental and physical injuries. The effects of global warming are being

accelerated by the need to heat and cool homes.

Labor unions have been slowly losing the ability to impact negotiations.

Gang violence is increasingly becoming an issue in areas that previously were unaffected.

Women are more likely to get injured from intense competitive sports participation then men.

Native people living in the rainforests are being killed and/or displaced from their lands.

Explain the issue you’re writing about While researching about methods to save the

rainforests, I learned that while the environmental concerns (decreasing oxygen production, etc) are important to address, the real issue is that as the timber companies move in to the landscape, they are displacing (sometimes violently) the native peoples of the land. This forced relocation and stripping of native lands will result in a cultural vacuum in Central and South America, forever changing the future of native peoples in the region.

Arguments

Because of the increased risk, firefighters should receive better benefits and more access to health care.

To decrease the effect on global warming, consumers need more incentives to switch to energy efficient HVAC systems.

To rebuild unions, more young people need to be recruited and more pressure needs to be put on legislators to change repressive laws.

Different police intervention strategies are needed to curtail gang violence in less urban areas.

To reduce risk of injury, coaches should be trained to address the physical needs of female athletes.

More needs to be done to protect native peoples for moral and economic reasons.

Explain what you’re going to argue I’m going to argue that the side effects of

forced relocation of native peoples in the region will result in increased poverty and decreased mental and physical health for them. Also, I’m going to argue that while that moral issue should be enough, deforesting the landscape and removing the cultural influence of native tribes will negatively affect the economy of Central and South America by decreasing tourism and adding an extra burden on the social services provided by the state.

All together now! (go into comparable depth)

Explain the issue that you’re writing about.While researching about methods to save the rainforests, I learned that while the environmental concerns (decreasing oxygen production, etc) are important to address, the real issue is that as the timber companies move in to the landscape, they are displacing (sometimes violently) the native peoples of the land. This forced relocation and stripping of native lands will result in a cultural vacuum in Central and South America, forever changing the future of native peoples in the region. Explain what you’re going to argue for your paper (what you’re thinking so far-may not be the final idea you land on).I’m going to argue that the side effects of forced relocation of native peoples in the region will result in increased poverty and decreased mental and physical health for them. Also, I’m going to argue that while that moral issue should be enough, deforesting the landscape and removing the cultural influence of native tribes will negatively affect the economy of Central and South America by decreasing tourism and adding an extra burden on the social services provided by the state.

What makes a good thesis?

Accurately predicts the content of your paper Should be all-inclusive of what you’re

covering Narrowed and focused

Should be specific to the content, avoiding general or vague statements

Answers the main research question you’ve developed for your paper (what’s your “Big Umbrella Question?”)

Good thesis?

THESIS A: Business practices in former Soviet Union

countries.THESIS B: Business practices in the countries of the former

Soviet Union have changed drastically since the break-up.

THESIS C: Since the break-up of the former Soviet Union,

business practices in those countries have changed most in the fields of marketing and customer service, reflecting the changes in government and political philosophy.

Good thesis?

THESIS A: The whole language approach has been

effective in raising the reading skills of elementary school children and in helping the children understand the relevance of reading to all fields of study in school.

THESIS B: The whole language approach has substantially

helped elementary school children to read. THESIS C: More public schools should implement the whole

language approach since it has substantially helped elementary school children to read.

Examples of SRP thesis statements As people’s lives become busier and they

become more stressed, yoga has become an increasingly popular activity to participate in as an exercise of the body and the mind.

Over the years, technological improvements in forestry practices have provided hope that forests will continue to be used for profit and pleasure.

High performance parts have been introduced into the automotive industry both to help reduce car emissions and to enhance the vehicle’s performance.

Thesis brainstorming time

Write out ideas for your thesis statement. Think about it…what’s the answer to your “big umbrella question”?

SRP Introductions

SIT: Situation Issue Thesis

Situation

This is where you give the reader general information about what is happening regarding your topic or has already happened. You could also call this the “scene” or “setting” because you are setting up the reader to see where and when your topic matters. Think about what your reader would need to know if order to understand your topic.

Example

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquarium, also known as the AZA, gives their stamp of approval to only the best run, prestigious zoos. Zoos which wish to be accredited by the organization must fill out excessive paperwork and undergo a nerve-racking inspection of the zoo, then continue to pass inspections after they are accredited. This stamp of approval gives the zoos the ability to participate in the species survival plan, receive grants, and be exempted from certain government requirements.

Issue

This is where you reveal that the situation contains a specific problem or controversy that deserves attention. What’s the complication here?

Example

Only 10% of the more than 2,000 zoos in America are accredited by the AZA; the 90% of zoos which are not accredited by the AZA have been given the name of roadside zoos and are able to run with little rules or regulations. Roadside zoos have higher rates of animal abuse compared to AZA accredited zoos, but have been still allowed to stay in business even after the unnecessary deaths of animals.

Thesis

Here you reveal your position on the issue, and invite the reader to begin to consider your evidence and reasoning for your position.

Example

With the environmental crisis becoming more critical, animals would benefit from being housed in AZA accredited zoos because the strict rules and regulations which the zoos must follow will allow the animals to live healthier and happier lives.

All together now!

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquarium, also known as the AZA, gives their stamp of approval to only the best run, prestigious zoos. Zoos which wish to be accredited by the organization must fill out excessive paperwork and undergo a nerve-racking inspection of the zoo, then continue to pass inspections after they are accredited. This stamp of approval gives the zoos the ability to participate in the species survival plan, receive grants, and be exempted from certain government requirements. Only 10% of the more than 2,000 zoos in America are accredited by the AZA; the 90% of zoos which are not accredited by the AZA have been given the name of roadside zoos and are able to run with little rules or regulations. Roadside zoos have higher rates of animal abuse compared to AZA accredited zoos, but have been still allowed to stay in business even after the unnecessary deaths of animals. With the environmental crisis becoming more critical, animals would benefit from being housed in AZA accredited zoos because the strict rules and regulations which the zoos must follow will allow the animals to live healthier and happier lives.

Another example

In 1953, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Company sold a stretch of land known as Love Canal to the city of Niagra Falls for just one dollar. The catch? Buried beneath the land were 55 metal oil drums containing over 21,000 tons of toxic waste. A school and neighborhood was built on this land, and after 25 years, people started noticing severe health problems. It was not until 2004 that the site was declared safe again (“The Love” 30). Clearly, there was a need for more oversight. The government had to take responsibility and enforce strict regulations so something like this could never happen again. Luckily, for the most part it has. While several major corporations have taken steps to control their own impact on the environment, it is ultimately the laws and regulations passed by the government which have had the greatest effect; this being said, there are still some key issues to be worked out on both sides.

Another example

Over the past 20 years, children’s television has changed dramatically. Previously, the offerings for children focused mainly on happy puppets, alphabet instruction, and moral lessons. Now, kids are much more likely to see aliens shooting each other, bug-eyed girls dressing provocatively, and kids being “sneaky.” At the same time children’s television programming has changed, teachers and parents have seen an increase in diagnoses of ADD and ADHD, as well as an uptick in school violence. Many people are concerned that there is a relationship between the new, flashier, and more aggressive children’s television and these behavior problems. However, the research currently available does not suggest there is a connection between children’s viewing of violent television and their behavior.

Your turn-

Write up your introduction paragraph including a situation, issue, and thesis. Highlight, or change colors of pen, or

otherwise indicate the three different sections of your introduction

Have this draft ready to be checked for tomorrow’s class!