1. S T A R T I N G L I N E O F I N Q U I R Y P A P E R S
T U E S D A Y , 1 0 / 2
Conversations?

2. Using your chart
 “cluster” your sources
 Give each “cluster” a name (this is called a subject
heading)
 Example:
 Effects of skills-based testing: Jones, Smith, Victor
 Negative side-effects: Gomez, Brandt, Heath

3. Looking at your “clusters”
 Each “cluster” will be a section in your paper
 Choose a “cluster.” Write a one-sentence
generalization about that cluster. This sentence
generally introduces what you will discuss in that
section.
 Example:
The establishment of the SAT
The reasons for the establishment of the SAT have been
widely discussed.

4. Direct Citations
 Deborah Brandt asserts, “Literacy sponsors are
positive or negative influences on a person’s literacy”
(338).

5. Indirect Citations
 Some sources suggest that literacy sponsors can have
positive or negative influences on a person’s literacy
(Brandt; DeVoss; Wardle).

6. Drafting
 Get more specific, using indirect citations to make
connections between sources.
 Example: Many scholars discuss the establishment of the SAT
as being based on the need for standardization in the college
acceptance process (MacArthur; Lewis).

7. Drafting
 Summarize the main argument of one of your
sources. Feel free to borrow from your annotated bib
and precis.
 Example: More specifically, Lewis asserts that special that the
SAT was established because schools needed a way to
measure all students on a standard scale (19). He explains…”
 Expand with a direct quote or two (use your precis)
 Share.

8. Drafting
 Now summarize another source, showing the
connection between them. (Create a
“conversation.”)
 Example: Lewis defines speech recognition
software, or voice-input, as software that recognizes
the voice of the user and records the words as text
(19). According to MacArthur, dictation and speech
recognition can be very beneficial to students with
difficulty in basic writing skills but the limitations of
speech recognition software are much greater than
dictating to a human.
 Share.

9. Drafting
 Repeat the process for each of your sources you
listed under your subject heading.
 Incorporate quotes where necessary or relevant.
 Remember to show the connections.

10. Drafting
 Now pull all the threads together: identify the
areas of agreement and disagreement, and use
them to support your argument.
 Example: Both MacArthur and Lewis indicate that word
prediction software was created for individuals with
physical disabilities, but MacArthur claims that the
benefits of word prediction technology is promising for
students with severe disabilities in spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.

11. Drafting
 Repeat for each of your subject headings.

12. Work on each of your sections
 Borrow from your annotated bib
 Bring what you have to class Thursday