UWRT 1104 Inquiry Thesis

Approximately 8 pages. MLA format

Why am I writing this? The purpose of the essay is to share and interpret the results of your
researchexplain what they mean, and support and defend your explanation. That is, you will
now make your contribution to the ongoing conversation in the field relative to your question.
What kind of sources should I useand how many? You do not have to incorporate all
your sources into your paper, nor do you have to write new chart entries if you incorporate
new sources. I would expect at least five sources in the essay.
Who am I writing to? Academic writing is a conversation. You can choose your audience
(include this in your reflection). However, on one level your audience includes your classmates,
instructor, and the UWP community.
What should it look like? The They say: The conversation about your subject. Describe
the existing conversation regarding your inquiry question. You might not use a literal they say.
What are the major topics and key points or views in the conversation? What do your sources
have to say? Use appositives to incorporate rhetorically appropriate information about the
voices you include. Your essay should avoid merely stringing together other writers ideas, one
source after another.

Use an organization that works best for your essay: Ex. 1) they says you disagree
with/they says you agree with. 2) They Say/I Say alternating.

The I Say. Add your thoughts to the conversation through your critical commentary on
your sources: What connections can you draw among sources? What agreements and
disagreements do you find? Do you agree/disagree/ok, but? What evidence do writers
provide in support of their views? Distinguish your views from others' views with
clear voice-signaling phrases.

If you conducted primary research (interviews, polls): Explain what your primary
research adds to the existing conversation. Describe your research method: What primary
data did you collect, and how? Describe your findings: What did you learn from your
primary research? Acknowledge the limitations of your primary research.

Conclusions: Explain your findings. Suggest possible implications, the so what.

Given your findings, what should we think or believe or do differently? What new
questions have emerged for you as a result of your research? What more would you like
to learn, if you could go on studying your subject in more depth?

Tie it all together (see Chp 8 TSIS).

Include a complete list of the sources you cite in your essay on a separate page
labeled Works Cited, in alphabetical order by authors last name See Purdue OWL
(Online Writing Lab, especially How to cite online
sources owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/22/ If you use a site that does your
citations for you, always double check them.

Reflect at the top of each draft. At the top of first draft due Nov. 14-18 include questions
for your readers. What have you learned from your process?

How is it going to be evaluated?

An exemplary (4) essay responds to the questions above and
*demonstrates nuanced understanding of the subject matter,
*anticipates readers knowledge, attitudes, and needs,
*discusses connections among your thoughts and the other voices/sources brought into the essay,
* strives to teach the reader new things, shift the readers understanding, and/or convey new
perspectives.
* uses correct documentation (in text citations/Works Cited) and standard grammar.
Student thesis examples: "Synesthesia" writing.uncc.edu/student-writing/synesthesia-identity60-senses
"The Dark
Side" moodle2.uncc.edu/pluginfile.php/2577372/mod_resource/content/1/DOC09281609282016142322.pdf
Also, remember the Writing Resource Center writing.uncc.edu/writing-resources-center But
they are booking up fast!