“Becoming” by Michelle Obama from Chapter 5
These guidelines and suggestions should allow you to write a prospectus for your research essay:
1. In a sentence or two, state your, and write the opening paragraph (or the first page) of your research essay.
2. Write a scratch outline. List three to five reasons you will give readers to persuade them that your stance is best. Your reasons may come from Becoming, other sources, in-class writing, or personal experience.
3. Identify three important sources that support your argument. For each one, explain its importance in two or three sentences.
4. List at least one objection or reservation you would expect from readers who do not agree with your stance on this issue.
5. Identify a source that challenges your position. In one or two sentences, explain how you will argue against it convincingly.
6. Try to support your argument. Select one of the reasons you listed in item two and write a page or so supporting it with facts, examples, statistics, anecdotes, or personal experiences.
Write quickly. Announce your stance in the first few sentences, and then go directly to your support for it. Your purpose should be, simply, to try and articulate at least some part of your essay before you write the first draft.
