220_Writing_Ass

Math 220 Writing Assignment 3
due Friday 02/26/2016 at the beginning of class. (Submit your file to Turnitin (via Ecampus) as well.)

The goal of this assignment is to prepare an Outline that contains most or all the ideas that will appear in the final term
paper. The outline should briefly describe what you plan to include in the text. This should help you to save time and make the writing of term paper process easier. The outline will help you focus on points you need to mention in on your paper. Plus, it breaks up research and writing tasks into smaller parts you can tackle in or out of order.

Follow the following steps:

Step 1: Once you have chosen a topic you had to begin getting resources lined up. Create a list of sources you can use based on the information you will need (websites, articles and reference books).

Step 2: Read the Description of Term paper. Click here.

Step 3: Identify the research problem. The research problem is the focal point from which the rest of the outline flows. Try to sum up the point of your paper in one sentence or phrase. It also can be key to deciding what the title of your paper should be.

Step 4: Identify the main categories (key points). What main points will you analyze? The introduction describes all of your main points; the rest of your paper can be spent developing those points.
Step 5: Create the first category (key point). What is the first point you want to cover? If the paper centers around a complicated term, a definition can be a good place to start. For a paper about a particular theory, giving the general background on the theory can be a good place to begin.
Step 6: Create subcategories (supporting ideas) . Create points under it that provide support for the key point . Have at least two for each category.
Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to create other categories and their subcategories. The number of categories that you use depends on the amount of information that you are trying to cover (have at least three, but no more than five).

Then create a document (your outline) that will help you to sort and organize your data. It must be typed (double space with margins 1 inch wide.) Your outline should be no more than two pages in length. Follow the following layout:
- Title should be at the top. It should include Student's Name, Course and Section number, topic number (as it appears in the List of Possible Topics), and Topic Name (Title).
- Introduction State the focus of your paper in one or two sentences. These should be complete, declarative sentences. (see Step 3 above)
- Body List categories (key points) that you will be describing in the paper and for each key point outline the topic sentence idea and supporting ideas (see steps 5-7 above). Organize your data as follows:
1. Key point 1

1.1 supporting idea 1

1.2 supporting idea 2 ...

2. Key point 2
2.1 supporting idea 1
2.2 supporting idea 2...

3. Key point 3

3.1 supporting idea 1
3.2 supporting idea 2...
...
- Summary Create a key summary sentence that declares a wrap-up of concepts to begin this paragraph
  Follow the summary sentence with clear sentences that summarize each of the main
  ideas that have been discussed in the body of the paper
  - summary of key point 1
  - summary of key point 2
  - summary of key point 3
  ...
- Conclusion Final thoughts (at least two clear sentences).
- References (see Step 1 above) should be in alphabetical order by last name and enumerated as [1], [2], [3], etc. Note, examples from Reference section in back of the textbook, and remember to cite all of your references in the body of your text.

Other Things to Consider When Writing an Outline

Although the format of an outline is rigid, it shouldn't make you inflexible about how to write your paper. Often when you start investigating a research problem [i.e., reviewing the research literature], especially if you are unfamiliar with the topic, you should anticipate the likelihood your analysis could go in different directions. If your paper changes focus, or you need to add new sections, then feel free to reorganize the outline.

http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/outline
http://www.shoreline.edu/doldham/102/HTML/Sentence%20Outline.html
http://www.professays.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Researh-paper-outline-sample.pdf