Writers research their topic to choose information and evidence that will help them develop their topic.
What three things should writers ask themselves when selecting information to use in their essays?
- Is this information reliable?
- How relevant is it to my topic?
- Does it add value or support to my argument?
What does it mean to paraphrase? Paraphrasing means rephrasing or restating someone else's ideas or information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning.
What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as your own without proper attribution or citation.
When writers use the MLA style, they create citations in two places: in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
In-text citations should include the author's last name followed by the page number where the information was found.
Practice: Using the paragraph below from an explanatory essay, identify the thesis statement, examples, and technical vocabulary the author uses.
Chefs often use a method called mise-en-place, which is a French term that means "everything in its place." This helps chefs organize their ingredients because it focuses them on preparing what they need for a recipe. For example, a recipe for potato leek soup requires butter, onions, and potatoes. The chef can complete their mise-en-place by getting out all the ingredients, cutting the onions as directed, and cutting the potatoes as directed. When all this preparation is done, then the chef can focus on seasoning the food as they cook.
Thesis Statement: Chefs often use a method called mise-en-place, which is a French term that means "everything in its place."
Examples: A recipe for potato leek soup requires butter, onions, and potatoes. The chef can complete their mise-en-place by getting out all the ingredients, cutting the onions as directed, and cutting the potatoes as directed.
Technical Vocabulary: Mise-en-place, organize, ingredients, recipe, preparation, seasoning.