Questions to Guide Your Writing Process

HMXP 102

Dr. Fike

The following is what I call the Seven Sheets Method.  Take a piece of paper for each of the sections below.  Answer the questions.  Rewrite your answers.  Then do a formal outline.  Only then should you try to write your draft.  In other words, if you use the SSM, you will engage in invention (idea formation) at the prewriting stage. (An alternative would  be to cut and paste the seven sets of questions into your paper and then begin filling in answers.)

Introduction

• What is your FOCUSED topic?
• What is your textual connection?
• What is the problem or question that you want the paper to address?
• What is your thesis statement? In other words, what do you believe? Things to remember about the thesis:
  • It comes at the end of the introduction.
  • It has 3 parts: "Although [an objection], I will argue that [the main assertion] because [an argument]."
  • All 3 parts are about the focused topic.
  • The main clause ("I will argue that") must be a controversial idea about the  focused topic.
  • The although and because clauses should ideally be in a true opposition. It follows that the although clause should also oppose the main clause.
  • The thesis includes a textual connection.

Background One

• What quotation or quotations from the anthology piece you have selected do you need to set up in preparation for your argument?
• How might you develop, interpret, comment on that material? How is the textual connection a lens through which to view your focused topic?
• Background One does not contain any reference to that focused topic, however.

Background Two

• What is your focused topic?
• What is your story, experience, account, etc.?
• Background Two does not contain any reference to your textual connection.

Argument

• How can you combine your textual connection and your focused topic in order to support the "I will argue that" clause in the thesis?
• How can you develop the "because" clause in the thesis?
• In other words, why do you believe what you believe?

Objection

• What are the weaknesses in your arguments? In other words, what if you are wrong?
• How can you develop the "Although" clause in the thesis?
• How does the opposition relate to the textual connection?

Replies

• What concession do you need to make to the opposition (objections)?
• Nevertheless, what is wrong with the objections?
• How can you support your arguments and your main assertion ("I will argue that") in spite of the objections?
• How can you bring in the textual connection?

Conclusion

• How would you very briefly summarize your argument in order to state that you have demonstrated your thesis?
• What more can be said?  That is, how can you place your focused topic and thesis in a slightly more general but not universal context?
• What have you learned about yourself as a result of writing about your focused topic?