Study Notes on Essay Structure and Research

Outline Creation

• Provide a tentative outline of the essay, including main and sub points.
• Use mind mapping to think through topics and subtopics.

Timeline Development

• Propose a general schedule for research and writing, creating a work back schedule from due date.

Types of Essay Papers

• Analytical Essay: Breaks down an issue/idea into parts, evaluates, and presents to the audience.
• Argumentative Essay: Makes a claim, justifies it with evidence to convince the audience (e.g., opinions, policy proposals).
• Expository Essay: Explains a topic clearly to the audience.

Thesis Statement Basics

• Should be specific, cover only what will be discussed, and supported by evidence.
• Appears at the end of the first paragraph.
• Example for Analytical: College admission process challenges.
• Example for Argumentative: High school graduates should take a year off for community service to enhance maturity.
• Example for Expository: Typical college student life habits.

Research Considerations

• Reflect on personal biases about the topic and ensure they do not affect research methods.
• Recognize that taking a position is necessary in research paper writing.

Central Research Questions

• Write down three to five topics in film or media for research.
• Topics can be drawn from previous mind maps and adjusted based on current interests.