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Presentation used with undergraduate college students to help develop their thesis statements for interdisciplinary papers on premodern history. Originally developed in Apple's Keynote slideshow software.
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From Topic to ThesisFrom Topic to ThesisDeveloping a Research QuestionDeveloping a Research Question
Daniel Ransom and Nicole BranchDaniel Ransom and Nicole Branch
Librarians, Holy Names UniversityLibrarians, Holy Names University
Topic - Question - Topic - Question - SignificanceSignificanceThesis Statement MethodThesis Statement Method
TopicTopic - Question - - Question - SignificanceSignificanceThesis Statement MethodThesis Statement Method
Choosing your topic
You are writing a research paper, not a report.
A research paper provides analysis, not just facts.
Ask a question; solve a problem.
Choosing your topic
An interesting subject that came up in class?
Something you wondered about from your readings?
What would you like to learn more about?
Consider 3-4 different topics worth developing.
Castle ArchitectureCastle ArchitectureExample Topic ChoicesExample Topic Choices
Nudity in Renaissance artNudity in Renaissance artExample Topic ChoicesExample Topic Choices
Islamic educationIslamic educationExample Topic ChoicesExample Topic Choices
BrainstormBrainstormWrite down 3-4 topics you have consideredWrite down 3-4 topics you have considered
Focus your topic
If you can state your topic in 4-5 words, it is too broad.
Narrow your topic by adding action words:
n. conflict, description, contribution, development.
v. to conflict, to describe, to contribute, to develop.
Islamic education.Islamic education.
The contributions of The contributions of Islamic education to Islamic education to European culture.European culture.
Discussion
Describe your primary topic to your neighbor.
Integrate action words to develop your topic.
n. conflict, description, contribution, development.
v. to conflict, to describe, to contribute, to develop.
Topic - Topic - QuestionQuestion - - SignificanceSignificanceThesis Statement MethodThesis Statement Method
Question
Add either how or why to your topic.
Frame your topic through one of the following:
Context.
History.
What if?
Clues from your sources.
Common mistakes
Avoid questions with one word answers.
Avoid questions that can be answered with settled facts.
Avoid speculation without evidence.
The contributions of The contributions of Islamic education to Islamic education to European culture.European culture.
How did Islamic How did Islamic education contribute to education contribute to and influence Europe?and influence Europe?
Discussion
Transform your topic into a question.
Incorporate how or why.
Add context.
Topic - Question - Topic - Question - SignificanceSignificanceThesis Statement MethodThesis Statement Method
SignificanceSignificanceSo what?So what?
What do you want your What do you want your reader to understand?reader to understand?
Significance
Relate your topic and question to larger issues.
Relate your topic to larger global trends or events.
“in order to help my reader to understand...”
I am studying...
because I want to find out...
in order to help my reader understand...
the contributions of Islamic education to European culture
how it influenced the west
the global context of the Renaissance.
Composition
Apply significance to your question
I am studying ___________ because I want to find out ___________ in order to help my reader understand ______________.
Email to your professor & [email protected]
Apply significance to your question
I am studying ___________ because I want to find out ___________ in order to help my reader understand ______________.
Thesis statementThesis statementThis paper establishes the global context of the Renaissance by This paper establishes the global context of the Renaissance by
describing the influence of Islamic education on European culture.describing the influence of Islamic education on European culture.
Keyword Strategy This paper establishes the global context of the Renaissance by
describing the influence of Islamic education on European culture.
Keyword Strategy
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain Italy
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Google Advanced Search: limit domain to .edu ; Google Scholar
Library website: library.hnu.edu
Encyclopedia databases: Credo Reference, Gale Virtual Reference Library
Book, eBook, & article search: WorldCat Local
Article databases: Academic Search Premier, ProQuest Research Library
Search tools
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Search process
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval Trade
Byzantine Empire
Islamic scholarship
Timbuktu
Plato
AstronomyArithmetic
Florence
Muslim Muslim scholars
Humanism Western civilization
Spain
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
The search process helps you discover your narrative.
Search process
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval TradeArithmetic
BroaderBroader
NarrowerNarrower
This paper establishes the global context of the Renaissance by describing the influence of Islamic education on European culture.
Islamic educationIslamic educationRenaissanceRenaissance European cultureEuropean culture
Italian Renaissance
VeniceCrusades
Medieval TradeArithmetic
This paper establishes the global context of the Renaissance by describing the influence of Islamic education on European culture.
Discussion
Identify three key terms or expressions in your thesis statement.
Write one broad (more general) replacement for each original term.
Write one narrow (more specific) replacement for each original term.
Use these terms when starting your research.
Share these terms with your partner for feedback.
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons Image credits: Wikimedia Commons and the following flickr users:and the following flickr users:
MomLes, harvest breeding, willowherbMomLes, harvest breeding, willowherbQuestions?Questions?From Topic to ThesisFrom Topic to Thesis
[email protected] | [email protected] | library.hnu.edu
Prepared by Holy Names Prepared by Holy Names University librarians Daniel University librarians Daniel
Ransom Ransom and Nicole Branchand Nicole Branch
