From topic to Working Thesis/Essential Question:

Due with the first notebook check

1. Stating the topic

Example topic: School uniforms

My topic is______________________________________________

2. Narrowing the topic

If you can, narrow your topic at this time. If you can’t, that’s okay. Feel free to list more than one

variation of your topic.

Examples of narrowed topics:

School uniforms in public schools.

School uniforms in suburban public schools.

School uniforms at Sehome High School

My narrowed topic(s) is (are)__________________________________________

3. Thought starter questions:

We’ve done initial brainstorming of possible topics, now it’s time to ask more focused idea generation questions about the possible aspects or questions you can think of about your topic. If you have trouble fitting your topic logically into a give question, then tweak the question so that it works.

(Get a friend/peer/teacher/relative to help you---let your mind freely explore anything related to the topic. Be careful not to let your initial bias toward the topic get in the way of brainstorming and idea generation exercises.)

Example of thought starter questions:

Replace “X” with School uniforms at SHS

Answer each of the following questions with a clear answer, replacing X with your topic.

a) What does X mean? (Definition)

b) How can X be described? (Definition)

c) What are the component parts of X? (Simple Analysis)

d) How is X made or done? (Process Analysis)

e) How should X be made or done? (Directional Analysis)

f) What is the essential function of X? (Functional Analysis)

g) What are the causes of X? (Causal Analysis)

h) What are the consequences of X? (Causal Analysis)

i) What are the types of X? (Classification)

j) How does X compare with Y? (you come up with a Y) (Comparison)

k) What is the present status of X? (Comparison)

l) How can X be interpreted? (Interpretation)

m) What are the facts about X? (Reportage)

n) How did X happen? (Narration)

o) What kind of person is X? (Characterization)

p) What is my personal response to X? (Reflection)

q) What is my memory of X? (Reminiscence)

r) What is the value of X? (Evaluation)

s) How can X be summarized? (Summary)

t) What case can be made for or against X? (Argumentation)

4. Taking a stance/position about the narrowed topic

Now that you have explored your topic and narrowed it, it is time to take a stance or position. Are you for or against the topic/concept/practice?

Examples:

• I am for school uniforms at SHS.

• I am against school uniforms at SHS.

• I don’t know right now how I feel, but I am leaning toward…

• I have no idea.

At this point, without the benefit of research, tap into your prior knowledge and brainstorm your reasons for being for or against the topic/ concept.

Or, brainstorm all the possible reasons (Use a t-chart) for and against (Keep this chart handy as

you do your research because you can add reasons that you might not have thought about

originally.)

Brainstorm reasons for and against:

As you move through this process, be sure to KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO NEW INFORMATION,

PERSPECTIVES, AND RELATED ASPECTS OF THE TOPIC.

For:

Against:

My position on my topic is:

5. Forming a question

Now, decide on a question to guide your research.

Example: Would mandating school uniforms for all students at Sehome High School have

beneficial effects for academics and the social environment?

______________________________________________________________________?

6. Developing a tentative Thesis/Essential Question

Thesis/Essential Question should pass the 5 tests:

1. Frame question so it makes the reader ask, “How” or “Why?”

2. Avoid questions that no one will react to or that a reasonable reader will react to with a

sarcastic “No kidding!” or “Who cares?” Any question that is closed or has one or more

“right” answer should be avoided.

3. Avoid general words or phrases; avoid words that are too extreme or that lead the reader

to a specific answer.

4. Lead the reader towards your subtopics by choosing your words and phrases carefully.

5. Make sure that the development of the thesis is doable within the limits of the

assignment.

Examples:

• Are school uniforms mandated clothing? (Fails tests #2,So? No kidding!)

• Why are school uniforms a bad idea? (Fails test #3—‘bad’ idea)

• Will mandating school uniforms for students at Sehome High School

result in increased academic performance? (Passes all tests)

• Even if mandating school uniforms at SHS does not result in higher

academic performance, do other benefits make it a good idea? (Passes

all tests)

• Will school uniforms at Sehome High School kill creativity and

individuality? (Fails test #3 "will kill creativity and individuality of whom")

My tentative Thesis is:

___________________________________________________________________

Now, you are ready to research to find support for your tentative thesis. Remember, you can always modify your Working Thesis according to what you find during your research and you can even modify it during the process of drafting and revising your paper. However, your tentative Working Thesis should now guide your research.