21W.777 | Spring 2017 | Undergraduate

Science Writing in Contemporary Society

Assignments 8-15

Pre-writing for your Investigative Essay

What have I found so far in my research and reading that excites me most? Why?

  • How do I envision using that in the essay?

What’s the question I’m posing? What do I expect my answer will look like (i.e., a provisional thesis)?

What’s at stake with my subject—what’s in it for readers?

How am I thinking about my audience, my core readers?

How do I imagine this essay will be shaped?

What will be the 3-4 main sections of this essay?

Introduction:

  • What will I use to hook readers in my introduction?
  • What context will I provide so that readers can see that my question is part of an ongoing situation/discussion that they most likely recognize?

Will I use “I” in this essay?

  • Will it be just an occasional appearance, or will I use personal experience as part of my set-up?

Return to Assignments 8-15

Course Info

Instructor
As Taught In
Spring 2017
Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments