Choosing a topic. What interests you? What do you wish you knew more about? The possible topics for informational reports are limitless, but the topics that you're most likely to write well on are those that engage you. They may be academic in nature or reflect your personal interests or both. Show
If your topic is assigned, be sure to understand what you're required to do. Some assignments are specific: "Explain the physics of roller coasters." If, however, your assignment is broad—"Explain some aspect of the U.S. government"—try focusing on a more limited aspect of that topic, preferably one that interests you: federalism, majority rule, political parties, states' rights. Even if an assignment seems to offer little flexibility, you will need to decide how to research the topic and how to develop your report to appeal to your audience. And sometimes even narrow topics can be shaped to fit your own interests. Generating ideas and text. Start by exploring whatever you know or want to know about your topic, perhaps by FREEWRITING, LOOPING, or CLUSTERING, all activities that will help you come up with ideas. Then you'll need to narrow your focus. Narrow your topic. You may know which aspect of the topic you want to focus on, but often you'll need to do some research first—and that research may change your thinking and your focus. Start with sources that can give you a general sense of the subject, such as an encyclopedia article, a Wikipedia entry, or an interview with an expert. Your goal at this point is to find topics to report on and then to focus on one that you will be able to cover. Come up with a tentative thesis. Once you narrow your topic, write out a statement saying what you plan to report on or explain. A good THESIS is potentially interesting (to you and your readers) and limits your topic enough to be manageable. For a report on the benefits of exercise, for instance, your thesis might be "While weight lifting can build strength and endurance, regular cardiovascular exercise offers greater overall health benefits." Do any necessary research. Focus your efforts by OUTLINING what you expect to discuss. Identify any aspects you'll need to research. Think about what kinds of information will be most informative for your audience, and be sure to consult multiple sources and perspectives. Revisit and finalize your thesis in light of your research findings. Ways of organizing a report Reports on topics that are unfamiliar to readers Reports on an event Reports that compare and contrast Sample Student Report "The Future of Food Production" by Sam Forman SEE W-1 for help analyzing your writing context. See W-2 for guidelines on drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading your report.  Welcome to the Purdue OWLThis page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis StatementsSummary: This resource provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements. Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader. 2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence. 3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper. 4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper. Thesis Statement ExamplesExample of an analytical thesis statement: An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds. The paper that follows should:
Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement: The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers. The paper that follows should:
Example of an argumentative thesis statement: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness. The paper that follows should:
Which of the following guidelines should you follow when drafting a tentative thesis?Which of the following guidelines should you follow when drafting a tentative thesis? Formulate your thesis as a possible answer to your research question.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between the medium you choose and the organization and writing strategies you use?Which of the following statements BEST describes the relationship between the medium you choose and the organization and writing strategies you use? The medium you choose will likely affect your organizational and writing strategies.
Which of the following is the most important reason to present a balanced and fair assessment?Which of the following is the MOST IMPORTANT reason to present a balanced and fair assessment of your subject in an evaluation? A balanced and fair assessment is needed because readers know that something is seldom all good or all bad.
Which of the following is defined as capturing the main ideas of a source in your own words?In a summary, you use your own words. B. In a summary, you capture the main ideas of the source.
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When generating ideas and text for your report what is the most important reason to draft a tentative thesis?
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