Q: Once you have developed your ideas for your seminar paper and read your sources, you should be ready to write your thesis statement. Effective thesis statements express your argument in a clear, direct manner. Remember that a thesis should not be more than one sentence in length.  Make sure that your thesis presents an original point of view. Since seminar papers are advanced writing projects, be certain that your thesis presents a perspective that is advanced and original.  For example, if you conducted your research on the uses of relics in medieval England, your thesis might be, “Medieval English religious relics were often used in ways that are more pagan than Christian.” Writing an outline before you begin drafting your seminar paper will help you organize your information more effectively. You can make your outline as detailed or as scant as you want. Just keep in mind that the more detail you include in your outline, the more material you will have ready to put into your paper. Organize your outline by essay part and then break those parts into subsections. For example, part 1 might be your introduction, which could then be broken into three sub-parts: a)opening sentence, b)context/background information c)thesis statement. Your first sentence should be interesting enough that your readers will want to know more. Your introduction should also be engaging. Begin discussing your topic right away and help your readers understand your position in the first paragraph of your paper. Think about what you will discuss in the rest of your paper in order to help you determine what you should include in your introduction. Use your introduction to create a framework for your paper, explaining where your research fits into current thought on your topic and why your ideas matter.  For example, in a paper about medieval relics, you might open with a surprising example of how relics were used or a vivid description of an unusual relic. Keep in mind that your introduction should identify the main idea of your seminar paper and act as a preview to the rest of your paper. Providing adequate background information or context will help to guide your readers through your essay. Think about what your readers will need to know in order to understand the rest of your paper and provide this information in your first paragraph. Do your readers need to know about the history of your subject? Do they need to know what other scholars have written on the subject? The information your readers will need to know will depend on your subject and the argument you plan to make.  For example, in a paper about relics in medieval England, you might want to offer your readers examples of the types of relics and how they were used. What purpose did they serve? Where were they kept? Who was allowed to have relics? Why did people value relics? Keep in mind that your background information should be used to help your readers understand your point of view. Rather than trying to talk about multiple aspects of your topic in a single paragraph, make sure that each body paragraph focuses on a single claim or piece of evidence. Your discussion of each of these separate items should help to prove your thesis. For each body paragraph, you should do the following: Remember to use topic sentences to structure your paragraphs. Provide a claim at the beginning of each paragraph. Then, support your claim with at least one example from one of your sources. Remember to discuss each piece of evidence in detail so that your readers will understand the point that you are trying to make. Since seminar papers are often upwards of 10 pages, many writers use headings and/or subheadings to help organize their paper. These headings/subheadings help readers follow your argument by showing them what each section is about before they start reading. For example, in a paper on medieval relics, you might include a heading titled “Uses of Relics” and subheadings titled “Religious Uses”, “Domestic Uses”, “Medical Uses”, etc. Concluding a seminar paper can be difficult, especially if you have presented a long, complex argument. There are several ways that you can conclude that will be helpful and interesting to your readers. Before you write your conclusion, spend some time reflecting on what you have written and try to determine the most logical way to end your paper.  Some possibilities for concluding your paper include:   Synthesize what you have discussed. Put everything together for your readers and explain what other lessons might be gained from your argument. How might this discussion change the way others view your subject?  Explain why your topic matters. Help your readers to see why this topic deserve their attention. How does this topic affect your readers? What are the broader implications of this topic? Why does your topic matter?  Return to your opening discussion. If you offered an anecdote or a quote early in your paper, it might be helpful to revisit that opening discussion and explore how the information you have gathered implicates that discussion. Follow your instructor's directions for making your bibliography. Make sure that you use the correct style and that you have cited all of your sources. Before you finish with your essay, you will need to make sure that you have cited all of your sources. Not citing sources using in-text citations or a works cited page may be considered plagiarism and lead to failure of the paper or even the course.  Ask your professor what documentation style he or she prefers that you use if you are not sure. Visit your school’s writing center for additional help with your works cited page and in-text citations.
A: Write a thesis. Develop a rough outline based on your research notes. Hook your readers from the beginning. Provide relevant background information to guide your readers. Present your claims and research in an organized fashion. Consider using headings and/or subheadings to organize your paper. Conclude your paper. Create your bibliography.

Q: If you work with a group, you can brainstorm together to come up with energy-saving ideas. Plus, the more voices you have supporting you, the more likely you are to be heard by the people in charge of making energy-saving decisions at your school. Try organizing a group that is open to all students who want to work together to help the school save energy.   If you are a student, walk or ride your bicycle to school whenever possible.  You could then go a step further by inviting other students to join a group in school. You could also ask your teacher if they would spread the word and maybe even let you use the classroom for meetings. If you are a teacher, you could recruit students and help them by giving them ideas for how to save energy at school. One other great way to get students organized is to start an official school club. Check the student handbook or talk to an administrator at the school about how to get started. Either as an individual or as a team, create and post signs around your school. Try posting signs that remind people of specific things they can do to save energy and also some signs that raise awareness about saving energy in a more general way.   If you are a student, you could create some signs on your own or with a few friends who are also interested in helping your school save energy. Make sure to get permission to hang the signs first. If you are a teacher, you could have your students create signs for a class project or homework assignment, and then go around posting the signs together. For example, you might hang up signs next to light switches around the school with reminders, like “Remember to turn off the lights when you leave!” Recycling is a great way to save energy because it reduces the need to produce new materials. If your school does not already have a recycling station, then ask your school principal if you can set one up. Your school’s garbage company may offer recycling services. Check with them first to see if they can provide receptacles, and then ask them to place these in designated areas throughout the school. There’s only so much you can do as an individual student or teacher, or even as an organized group. If you want your school to make major changes, such as purchasing energy-saving appliances for the classrooms, waterless urinals for the boys' bathrooms, and dual-flush toilets inside all student bathroom stalls; you’ll need to get the administration involved.  If you’re a student, circulate a petition among your fellow students or organize a meeting between the administrators and your student energy-saving club. It can also help to get teachers involved. Support your case by doing some research and writing up a formal report. Include statistics to demonstrate how much money and energy the school would save by making the changes you’re suggesting.
A:
Organize a student energy patrol. Post signs about conserving energy. Set up a recycling station at your school. Approach your school’s administration about making big changes.