RESEARCH PAPER

Language Arts 8th Grade

Developing an Outline

Just like on a stop light, Green means GO! Tell

me information about the topic in general terms

Yellow means slow down! Get more specific with the information and don’t say as much

Red means stop! Come to the point

Topic = Steroids in Baseball

History

Affects on Players

Affects on Game

Banning Steroids

– Introduction in 1980’s– Use in 90’s and 2000’s– Bigger, stronger,

faster– Healing aspect– Increase in attendance– Tarnished legacies– Congressional

Hearings– Suspension policies

Topic = History of steroids in Baseball

Introduction in 80’s

Ramped use in 90’s and 2000’s

– Oakland Athletics– 1988 AL MVP race– Under the table

dealings– Home run

numbers– 1996 NL MVP– McGwire and Sosa– Barry Bonds

Example

Steroids have had a long history with baseball. First introduced in the 1980s steroids had a immediate affect on players. The 1988 Oakland Athletics highlighted this change with two players, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, known to the public as the “Bash Brothers.” These two mammoth men could hit home runs with ease. Canseco would go on to win the 1988 AL MVP with help from the juice. All of this was done under the table of course because steroids were illegal in the US. The 1990s would bring about more steroid scandal with one of the Oakland players, McGwire, in the middle again. McGwire, now a St. Louis Cardinal, along with Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs would each break the current single-season home run record in 1998. This was just two years after the NL MVP was won by a man who would later admit to being on steroids during this time frame. But perhaps the best case of steroid use would be Barry Bonds, who now holds all major home run records but is being sought after by a Federal Grand Jury.

Thesis Statements

Thesis Statement

“A 1 sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow.”

Indiana University

Basically, the thesis statement acts as the theme of your paper.

Example: Paper is on steroids in baseball“It is clear to see that steroids have harmed

baseball more than they have helped.”

What does a good thesis do?1.) Takes some sort of stand2.) Justifies the discussion3.) Expresses one main idea4.) It is SPECIFIC

Indiana University

Invitation (Grabber)

Rhetorical Question – Why are steroids bad for baseball?

Dialogue – “I have never used steroids…period.” Mystery Statements – There are many things that make

a good baseball player, but not all of them are legal. Shocking Statement – It has been theorized that at one

time more than 80% of baseball players were on steroids. Onomatopoeia – Crack! The sound of a home run used to

be a call for celebration, now it only raises questions. Personal Opinion – Steroid are the worst thing to happen

to baseball in the last 20 years. Strong Persuasive Statement – Baseball players that

use steroids should be kicked out of baseball.

Other Topic Sentences

Occasion/Position Occasion – why are you writing about this Position – what you will prove or explain Key words – After, Although, As, Before,

Even though, If, Since, Unless, Until, When, Whenever, While“Since steroids were introduced to baseball in the 1980’s, the game has undergone a noticeable change.”

Other Topic Sentences

Where or When Plus What’s Happening? Where or When – give a certain period of

time What’s Happening – the affect you will

explain Types – What could happen? should

happen? will happen? might happen? could have happened?When steroids were introduced to baseball, the game changed forever.

Other Topic Sentences

And, But, Or, and So Use to split up two Independent Clauses 1st Clause – reason for writing 2nd Clause – you stance

“Baseball needed to gain fans back after the strike of 1994, but steroids did much more than raise attendance numbers.”

Other Topic Sentences

Power Statement Throw out something filled with emotion

to get the reader on your side Really accentuate your position

“To say that steroids have negatively affected baseball would be as much of an understatement as calling the Constitution just a piece of paper.”

Transitionsmoving from 1 topic to the next

Additional Facts again, also, and, another, besides, but also,

equally important, finally, first, further, furthermore, in addition, initially, in the first place, last, lastly, likewise, moreover, next, plus, secondly, to begin with, then too, thirdly, too

The information you are about to give relates to what you have just been talking about

Transitionsmoving from 1 topic to the next

Series Initially, first, first of all, to begin, second,

secondly, third, thirdly, next, after that, afterwards, to conclude, in conclusion, finally

Best when used with a process or chronological Comparison

As, as with, as though, also, by comparison, in the like manner, in the same way, likewise, or, similarly

When your material relates to the same sub-topic

Transitionsmoving from 1 topic to the next

Contrast or Change Although, anyhow, anyway, at the same

time, but, by contrast, despite, either, even though, for all that, however, if, in any event, in contrast, in spite of, instead, nevertheless, neither, nonetheless, nor, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, or, otherwise, still, unless, yet

Moving from sub-topic to sub-topic or showing a difference in opinion or facts

Examples

Steroids in the 80s

Steroids in the 90s

I want to go from

To…

Examples

Additional Facts In addition

Comparison As with

Contrast or Change However

In addition, the affects of steroids would be felt in the 1990s.

As with the 1980s, the 1990s would feel the affects of steroids.

Steroids were a secret in the 1980’s, however that would not be the case with the 1990s

Conclusion

Summarize Summarize the information from your paper

Convince Convince the reader of your position

Challenge Challenge the reader to think

Encourage Encourage the reader to take action

Example

Lets say this is my intro paragraph: There are many things that make a good

baseball player, but not all of them are legal. Since they were introduced to Major League Baseball, steroids have provided much controversy. While the affects on the players have been noticeable, the affects on the game is harder to see. However, it is clear to see that steroids have harmed baseball more than they have helped. Even though they were exposed in the 1990s, steroids were first introduced in the 1980s.

Example (Summarize)

Then my conclusion could look like this… Baseball has a long storied history.

Unfortunately, so do steroids. Ever since the 1980s every season has been marked by steroids. Many fans no longer believe in the sanctity of the game. They question once hollowed records such as; single season home run record and career home run record. The 1990s exposed the use of steroid, but even today’s efforts cannot completely removed them from the game.

Example (Challenge)

Then my conclusion should look like this… Forget the fact that steroids were not

banned by baseball during the 80 and 90; they were still illegal in the United States. They may have drawn fans in, but the fact that the game is forever tarnished is unforgiveable. What does it do to the young generation of players to now know their heroes were cheaters? What does is say when we do nothing to punish those who broke the law because they are baseball players?