How to Do the How to Do the Descriptive Outline Descriptive Outline

for the I-Searchfor the I-Search

How to Do the How to Do the Descriptive Outline Descriptive Outline

for the I-Searchfor the I-Search

Review: These are the Sections of the I-Search• Search question

– the introduction (which you’ve done)

• Search process – the story of how you found your sources (which

you’ve done)

• What I Learned – the presentation of the research

• What This Means to Me – how this assignment changed you as a

writer/researcher

Here are links to a couple of student I-Search

essays• Look over them to remind yourself

of the final form:– Way to Blow– Cat Factors

The most important thing to remember in writing

your outline is. . .

The thesis sentence of your outline. . .

. . .answers your research question

For example,in the two sample essays mentioned a couple of slides ago. . .

“Way to Blow” Research question: I want to know as much as I can about the history of glassblowing.

Thesis: What I learned was that glass blowing has an almost mystical historical record that includes many locations, artisans and uses.

“Cat Factors”Research question: I need to know what characteristics of a cat are used to classify it as a particular breed.

Thesis: Cats are classified into breeds by their coats and their bodies.

Thus, the research question and the

thesis in the What I Learned section are. . .

. . .linked.

How to Do the Descriptive Outline

Step OneWrite down the research question that you finally settled on:– It may not be the same question you

started with;– If as you’ve researched, you’ve had

to change the question to satisfy what you want to know, that’s fine.

Step TwoThinking about your research,

answer the research question you just wrote in a single sentence with two to four parts;

It should look like a previewing thesis sentence.

1st point2nd point3rd point

Step Three:Use your previewing thesisto write a topic sentence/general

outline

Step FourFor each topic sentence,write two or three generalizationsthat explain or clarify the

information given in the topic sentence.

Step FiveFor each generalization,locate a couple of sources from

your research that prove or support the generalization;

insert those URLs under the generalization

• Use a variety of sources for each point;

• Don’t develop a topic sentence by using just one or two sources, even if they’re really good sources;

• Try not to use the same source back-to-back

Notice that each generalization is supported by a couple of different websites.

Notice also that I’ve tried not to repeat my websites within the same paragraph

If you find that you’re using one source too much, then you can go back to the web and do some “spot” researching, i.e., look for just the information you need, such as “palm reading & fingernail shape.”