Topic and Thesis

The Three-Part Topic Proposal for Research

Save this file to your computer; type in your responses for each of the three areas below, and then upload your work by the deadline using the dropbox in Module 11.

Step 1: Explanation Write a one-paragraph explanation. (This is not an introductory paragraph for the paper.) This should be an explanation of your focused topic and what you hope to prove to your reader through your analysis.

Step 2: Working Thesis

Really think about what you wrote in the explanation and pull it together by creating a working thesis. You will likely continue to revise and edit this thesis. Remember: A THESIS should include the focused topic plus your assertion about the significance of that topic . It should be argumentative in nature, since it is an opinion that you will prove through a close analysis of the details of the text.

Step 3: Tentative Outline

Now create a tentative outline for your working thesis. In other words, how will you break up your body paragraphs to prove or support the thesis?