Section 3: Support with Sources: Supporting a Position with Sources

Lesson 1.1: Supporting a Position

1. Purpose & Audience:

  • Purpose: Know if you're writing to inform or persuade (you're persuading).

  • Audience: Think about what your readers need to be convinced (e.g., showing flexible work schedules help productivity).

2. Gathering Evidence:

  • Only pick info that supports your argument.

  • Make sure it’s from credible, reliable sources.

3. Evaluate Sources:

  • Check if the source is credible, current (5-10 years), and relevant.

  • Make sure it fits with your argument and explain how if needed.

4. Bias:

  • Be aware of your personal biases when interpreting sources. Stay open to new ideas.

5. Filter Weak Sources:

  • Avoid irrelevant or biased sources, especially those that don’t really support your argument.

Lesson 2.1: Defining Synthesis

What Does It Mean to Synthesize Sources?

  • Synthesize = Combining ideas from different sources to support your main point, not just summarizing them.

  • It’s about connecting ideas and choosing info that directly supports your topic.

Synthesis Strategy:

  1. Strategy 1: Use a grid. Write each author’s key points in separate boxes. Compare them to find connections.

  2. Strategy 2: Identify common themes. For example, if you’re proposing a flexible workweek, group sources under themes like work-life balance and productivity.

Finding Connections:

  • Look for shared ideas across sources. Do they agree on key points? Identify common terms or themes to strengthen your proposal.

  • Use stronger sources over weaker ones. Don’t waste space citing weak sources when a reputable source covers the same idea.

In short, synthesize by connecting ideas across sources and only including the most relevant and strong evidence.

Lesson 2.2: Writing a Statement of Purpose

Statement of Purpose for a Proposal

A Statement of Purpose is a concise, clear statement early in your proposal that explains what you want the reader to think, feel, do, or believe. It sets the stage for your proposal, outlining the problem and your proposed solution. It helps readers understand the direction of the proposal and what to expect.

Examples of Statement of Purpose:

  1. Simple Solution:
    "To solve the problem of ________, I propose that [briefly describe the solution]."

  2. Implementation Steps:
    "To solve the problem of ________, this proposal recommends that we [solution] by doing X, Y, and Z."

  3. Justifications:
    "To solve the problem of ________, this proposal recommends [solution] because [Reason #1] and [Reason #2]."

Key Points:

  • The statement of purpose comes at the end of the introduction.

  • It should be concise and reflect the direction of your proposal.

  • As you develop your proposal, adjust your statement to match your research and evolving ideas.

For example:
"The best solution to our organization's turnover problem is to implement a flexible workweek because it will improve work-life balance and productivity."

Lesson 3: Introduction


Lesson Introduction: Participating in the Critical Dialogue

In research and writing, it's not just about gathering and synthesizing evidence to support a position—it's also about contributing to the ongoing conversation around your topic. As a unique individual with your own experiences, perspective, and voice, you add something new to the discussion. You will take sources and put them together in a new way that brings fresh insights or reexamines existing ideas.

Example: Think of the difference between a biology lab report and a scholarly article. In the lab, the scientist may conduct an experiment on cancer cells to see how a particular substance affects them. But the scientist doesn’t just work in isolation—they've read other research on the same subject and may have altered the experiment based on that previous research. The combination of new experimentation and synthesis of past research is how knowledge grows.

Important Point:

  • As you write, you enter a larger "dialogue" of scholars, researchers, and writers. You’re not just presenting your research but also building on what others have contributed. As a new contributor to this dialogue, you may even disagree with prior research—this is fine, as long as you do so respectfully and thoughtfully.

Learning Objective:
Your goal is to describe how you synthesize a central message from multiple sources and contribute that message to the ongoing discussion in your field.

Lesson 3.1: Integrative Writing Strategies


Overview: Integrative Writing Strategies for Proposals

Formatting Your Proposal:

A clear structure is essential to make your points easy to follow. Your proposal should be divided into six sections:

  1. Significance of the Problem

  2. Statement of Purpose

  3. Course of Action

  4. Challenges and Rebuttal

  5. Conclusion

  6. References

These sections help organize your proposal and guide the reader through your argument.

Begin with the End in Mind:

Start by showing that there is a problem that needs solving. Without establishing this, your readers won’t understand why they should care about your solution. Here's how you can establish the problem:

  • Use facts/statistics to show the problem's scale.

  • Share a brief anecdote that illustrates the issue.

  • Show that the problem is misunderstood or underestimated, requiring attention.

Once you’ve established the problem, end your introduction with your statement of purpose, which outlines your proposed solution.

Organize with the Reader in Mind:

After stating the problem and your solution, you will dive into the course of action. This is where you combine your sources and ideas to justify your proposed solution. Keep in mind:

  • Synthesis means combining multiple perspectives on the topic, not just summarizing sources.

  • Organize the course of action around steps for implementing the solution or benefits that show why the solution works.

Two Key Ways to Organize:

  1. Steps to Implement the Solution: Outline the specific actions needed to carry out the solution.

  2. Benefits of the Solution: Highlight the advantages that justify implementing the solution.

Make sure your course of action focuses on your own ideas, not just summarizing sources. This way, your proposal will read as a persuasive argument rather than a report of other people’s ideas.

Lesson 3.2: Strategies for Presenting a Holistic Perspective (1/2)


Writing a Synthesis Paragraph

To write a synthesis paragraph, follow the MEAL plan:

  1. Main idea: Introduce the main point consistent with your proposal.

  2. Evidence: Use sources to support your idea.

  3. Analysis: Explain how the evidence justifies your point, integrating multiple sources where necessary.

  4. Link: Conclude by reinforcing your main point.

Identifying Multiple Perspectives

  • Common Ground: Bring together similar ideas from different sources to strengthen your argument.

  • Multiple Perspectives: Present contrasting viewpoints on a complex issue to provide a well-rounded view.

Integrating Sources

  • Clarify Context: Introduce sources with context (e.g., "According to X...").

  • Balance Evidence: Use a mix of paraphrasing, summarizing, and direct quotes. Make sure your voice dominates.

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing:

  • Quote when exact wording is important.

  • Paraphrase by restating the idea in your own words, ensuring you change the structure and wording.

Lesson 3.3: Strategies for Presenting a Holistic Perspective (2/2)

Key Takeaways from the Overview

  1. Acknowledging Challenges in Your Proposal:

    • It's essential to address potential challenges in your proposed solution, even though it may seem counterintuitive. This shows that you've carefully thought through your plan and are prepared for obstacles.

    • Present the challenge in a straightforward manner, explaining how it could arise during the implementation of the solution.

    • Follow up with a clear solution or mitigation plan to show that you’ve considered how to overcome this challenge.

    • This strengthens your argument by demonstrating your awareness of potential issues and the steps you’ll take to resolve them.

  2. Writing a Conclusion:

    • Your conclusion should summarize the purpose of your proposal and re-emphasize why your solution is the best option. It should avoid introducing new points.

    • You may include a call to action or reinforce the importance of implementing the solution.

  3. Proposal Example: Flexible Work Schedule:

    • Problem: Traditional work hours often create stress and strain employees' personal lives. This has led to a rise in employee turnover and health issues.

    • Solution: Implement a flexible work schedule, starting with polling employees about their preferences and offering telecommuting options or less traditional work hours. This can improve work-life balance and productivity.

    • Challenges and Solutions: One challenge could be that telecommuting may blur the lines between work and personal life, adding to stress. The solution is to train employees on work-life balance, set realistic deadlines, and encourage breaks.

  4. Pause and Reflect:

    • Before drafting a proposal, take time to reflect on your research and thinking. Ask yourself if your original ideas are still relevant, what you've learned, and how your sources connect to your research question.

    • This reflection can help you refine your approach and ensure that your proposal is well-supported and thought out.

Key Steps in Writing Your Proposal:

  1. Acknowledge potential challenges and propose solutions to show you’ve thought about the implementation thoroughly.

  2. Summarize the purpose of your proposal and reiterate why your solution is the best one in the conclusion.

  3. Pause and reflect on your research to ensure your ideas are strong and well-supported before drafting the proposal.