BEGINNING SOCIAL SCIENCE WRITING SKILLS: INTRODUCTIONS AND THESIS CONSTRUCTION Somewhat formulaic, yet somewhat liberating
Responding to the Prompt Assigned Prompt Compare and contrast the Hadza and the Uyger societies. Use two categories of social science analysis to structure your response. Read the WHOLE prompt Big mistake: answering only part of the prompt Circle or underline the VERBS. Your task COMPARE Your task CONTRAST Your task: USE TWO (2) categories of social science analysis.
Responding to the prompt Compare &Contrast discuss BOTH similarities AND differences There are multiple ways to approach the question Examples Exhibit A Compare Category 1 of both the Hadza and Uyger (similarities) Contrast Category 2 of both the Hadza and the Uyger (differences) Exhibit B Compare AND Contrast Category 1 of both the Hadza and Uyger (similarities AND differences between the two societies) Compare AND Contrast Category 2 of both the Hadza and the Uyger ((similarities AND differences between the two societies))
Responding to the Prompt: The Beauty of Graphic Organizers Qualities shared by both (comparisons) in the overlapping area The Hadza The Uyger Qualities unique (contrasts) to the Hadza in the orange circle Qualities unique (contrasts) to the Uyger in the blue circle
Constructing a Thesis A Thesis tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the essay; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the essay*. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. *for this first assignment, you are ONLY writing an introduction and a thesis, not a complete essay. Relax.
Constructing an Introduction: Establishing the setting Sample Question: Compare and contrast the Carolina colonies with the New England colonies. Use two categories of social science analysis to structure your response.* After creating a graphic organizer and collecting your research, you are ready to respond to the question. Establish the setting of the essay. Briefly introduce the reader to the subject, time period, geography, etc. This is often referred to as context. Example: The American colonial period began in the early seventeenth century. Despite the differences in colonial motivation to settle in the North America, colonists often established similar institutions across the Eastern seaboard. *This is a SAMPLE question. Your question is about the Hadza and the Uyger.
Constructing an Introduction: Creating your reasoning and parameters Provide an insightful comment that establishes your basis for analysis. Example: In determining the differences and similarities amongst the American colonies, assessing both settlers motivations to migrate and the resulting settlements is essential.
Constructing an Introduction: Creating Partitions (i.e. topics for later paragraphs) Provide partitions that establish necessary subtopics (i.e. categories of social science analysis) you plan to discuss in body paragraphs. Example: Geographic circumstances influenced diverse economic development amongst the colonies. The short growing seasons and harsh soil of New England necessitated subsistence agriculture, while the longer growing seasons and wetlands of the southern colonies facilitated cash crop production. Despite these differences, both societies developed limited representative governments that were often modeled on the British system.
Constructing an Introduction: The Thesis Finish paragraph with a clear thesis statement that establishes the purpose of the essay Example: " Thus, while the American colonies experienced economic differences due to geographic diversity, the political institutions the settlers established were often quite similar.
All Together Now Sample Question: Compare and contrast the Carolina colonies with the New England colonies. Use two categories of social science analysis to structure your response.* Example The American colonial period began in the early seventeenth century. Despite the differences in colonial motivation to settle in the North America, colonists often established similar institutions across the Eastern seaboard. Geographic circumstances influenced diverse economic development amongst the colonies. The short growing seasons and harsh soil of New England necessitated subsistence agriculture, while the longer growing seasons and wetlands of the southern colonies facilitated cash crop production. Despite these differences, both societies developed limited representative governments that were often modeled on the British system. Thus, while the American colonies experienced economic differences due to geographic diversity, the political institutions the settlers established were often quite similar. *This is a SAMPLE question. Your question is STILL about the Hadza and the Uyger.
Tips on Introductions: What to avoid The Placeholder Vague sentences that don t say much Just filling up the introduction space Weak Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people. The Dawn of Man Weak Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history. Webster s Dictionary Weak Example: Webster's dictionary defines slavery as "the state of being a slave," as "the practice of owning slaves," and as "a condition of hard work and subjection." The Restated Question
Revisions 1, Peer Reviews 2, Proofreading 3 1 A good idea 2 A good idea 3 A great idea
Avoiding the Temptation of Plagiarism Don t do it If you are caught. You will fail the assignment You will conference with Mr. Correa, your parents, me, and your counselors You will be embarrassed You will only be cheating yourself!
Now Write and type up your introduction Print a copy of your introduction and bring it to class for submission. You should also bring a copy of your graphic organizer (the Venn Diagram)