Bell RingerBell Ringer Take out your thesis statement Take out your thesis statement

and check for the following:and check for the following:

1.1.Does it include a Does it include a COMPARISONCOMPARISON and and the names of BOTH schools, the names of BOTH schools, written and spelled completely written and spelled completely out?out?

1.1.Does it include a Does it include a SPECIFIC SPECIFIC reason why one school is better?reason why one school is better?

Bell Ringer (cont’d)Bell Ringer (cont’d)What do I mean by What do I mean by SPECIFICSPECIFIC and and

COMPARISONCOMPARISON??

SPECIFICSPECIFIC thesis statements tell thesis statements tell EXACTLY why you chose this EXACTLY why you chose this school and NOT the other. school and NOT the other. Saying, “their program works for Saying, “their program works for me” is NOT specific! me” is NOT specific!

(Really, you are providing TWO (Really, you are providing TWO things-that’s the things-that’s the COMPARISONCOMPARISON))

Bell Ringer (cont’d)Bell Ringer (cont’d)What do I mean by What do I mean by SPECIFICSPECIFIC and and

COMPARISONCOMPARISON??A A COMPARISONCOMPARISON in your thesis statement in your thesis statement must tell why one school is better for must tell why one school is better for you than the other. (You must include you than the other. (You must include both school names and you must include both school names and you must include something that is IMPORTANT/UNIQUE TO something that is IMPORTANT/UNIQUE TO YOU!) What are your needs that this YOU!) What are your needs that this school meets and why doesn’t the other school meets and why doesn’t the other school meet this need? Saying, “NIU school meet this need? Saying, “NIU has good scholarships and Northwestern has good scholarships and Northwestern costs too much” is NOT telling me costs too much” is NOT telling me anything about your needs!anything about your needs!

Where is the “specific”?Where is the “specific”?Where is the “comparison”?Where is the “comparison”?

““When choosing what college to When choosing what college to attend, UIC is a better fit for me attend, UIC is a better fit for me than SIU because while SIU may than SIU because while SIU may provide me with experience being provide me with experience being away from home, UIC is more away from home, UIC is more affordable. Cost is a crucial factor affordable. Cost is a crucial factor for me when considering colleges for me when considering colleges because having to worry about because having to worry about academics and finances would cause academics and finances would cause stress that may make achievement in stress that may make achievement in college more challenging.”college more challenging.”

Where is the “specific”?Where is the “specific”?Where is the “comparison”?Where is the “comparison”?

““Between SIU and NIU, NIU is a Between SIU and NIU, NIU is a better fit for me because of better fit for me because of their academic programs, their their academic programs, their scholarships, and their scholarships, and their location. I would like to attend location. I would like to attend NIU because I want to become a NIU because I want to become a doctor and they have classes doctor and they have classes that I can take that will help that I can take that will help me reach my goal.”me reach my goal.”

Building the outline for your Building the outline for your college research papercollege research paper

Thesis:Thesis:

I. IntroI. Intro

II.Category 1II.Category 1

A. School 1A. School 1

B. School 2B. School 2

III. Category 2III. Category 2

A. School 1A. School 1

B. School 2B. School 2

Thesis:Thesis:

I. IntroI. Intro

II.School 1II.School 1

A. Category A. Category 11

B. Category B. Category 22

C. Category C. Category 33

III. School 2III. School 2

Check outline of person next to you:Check outline of person next to you:1. Does it match the thesis statement?1. Does it match the thesis statement?

(For example, thesis talks about main (For example, thesis talks about main topics being career life, scholarships, topics being career life, scholarships, and programs. Are these the main topics and programs. Are these the main topics in the outline?)in the outline?)

2. Is the outline structure CONSISTENT? 2. Is the outline structure CONSISTENT? This is one of the main points of an This is one of the main points of an outline!outline!

(For example, are all of the sections (For example, are all of the sections labeled correctly?labeled correctly?

3. Does it include relevant and 3. Does it include relevant and sufficient details and sufficient details and references/comparisons to each school?references/comparisons to each school?

Interview Criteria:Interview Criteria: Your interview must be with Your interview must be with someone someone that works at the schoolthat works at the school. You will . You will be required to turn in a be required to turn in a TRANSCRIPTTRANSCRIPT of the interview. Meaning, the of the interview. Meaning, the questions and their responsesquestions and their responses. You . You must also have the must also have the name, department, name, department, and email of the person contactedand email of the person contacted..

You may interview other people but a You may interview other people but a staff member at the prospective staff member at the prospective college is required. May choose to college is required. May choose to include brochure instead.include brochure instead.

Other required sources?Other required sources?

What should I ask?What should I ask? Ask INSIGHTFUL questions! The answers Ask INSIGHTFUL questions! The answers should not be located on the web. You should not be located on the web. You do not want to waste these people’s do not want to waste these people’s time.time.

Ask about things that are SPECIFIC TO Ask about things that are SPECIFIC TO YOU. What do YOU need to be YOU. What do YOU need to be successful? Think about study habits, successful? Think about study habits, housing, peer groups, interests and housing, peer groups, interests and hobbies, finances (this may be hobbies, finances (this may be available on line, be cautious).available on line, be cautious).

You need at least 5 and they can be You need at least 5 and they can be tailored for each school.tailored for each school.

Introduction should contain:Introduction should contain: Thesis statementThesis statement-Target sentence(s) -Target sentence(s) that tell the reader what this that tell the reader what this research paper is about.research paper is about.

Brief description Brief description of:of: yourself and how you fit into these yourself and how you fit into these schoolsschools• What are your goals? What programs? What are your goals? What programs? What is important to you?What is important to you?

details that will be includeddetails that will be included• What colleges and their 3 categories What colleges and their 3 categories will you be discussing? What will you will you be discussing? What will you say about them?say about them?

Introduction 1Introduction 1NIU is my best fit because it NIU is my best fit because it

is affordable. It is important that is affordable. It is important that I can afford tuition in college I can afford tuition in college because I know that there will be because I know that there will be other things I will have to worry other things I will have to worry about. The things most important to about. The things most important to me are scholarships, major, and me are scholarships, major, and career services. NIU has a good career services. NIU has a good program that will help me do well program that will help me do well in nursing and SIU does not. I in nursing and SIU does not. I would like to become a pediatrician would like to become a pediatrician and the graduation rate at NIU is and the graduation rate at NIU is much higher.much higher.

On a separate sheet of paper On a separate sheet of paper and based off this introduction:and based off this introduction:Write the thesis statement.Write the thesis statement.

Write what is specific and compared. Write what is specific and compared.

Write what is personal/unique about Write what is personal/unique about this intro.this intro.

Write the details that will be Write the details that will be covered in the paper.covered in the paper.

Write what is confusing.Write what is confusing.

What any questions that came to What any questions that came to mind.mind.

Introduction 2Introduction 2I have chosen to attend Northern I have chosen to attend Northern

Illinois University because despite the Illinois University because despite the rigorous programs that Southern rigorous programs that Southern Illinois University offers, NIU is cost Illinois University offers, NIU is cost efficient. As a first generation efficient. As a first generation college student, financial aid is a college student, financial aid is a major concern for me being that my major concern for me being that my parents never considered college due to parents never considered college due to cost alone. In addition to financial cost alone. In addition to financial aid options, NIU offers great aid options, NIU offers great scholarships for athletes and has a scholarships for athletes and has a freshman counseling program. Wanting to freshman counseling program. Wanting to continue pursuing my passion of continue pursuing my passion of basketball, a scholarship would…basketball, a scholarship would…

On a separate sheet of paper On a separate sheet of paper and based off this introduction:and based off this introduction:Write the thesis statement.Write the thesis statement.

Write what is specific and compared. Write what is specific and compared.

Write what is personal/unique about Write what is personal/unique about this intro.this intro.

Write the details that will be Write the details that will be covered in the paper.covered in the paper.

Write what is confusing.Write what is confusing.

What any questions that came to What any questions that came to mind.mind.

Examples of using quote, Examples of using quote, paraphrase, and summaryparaphrase, and summary

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