How does the severity and type of childhood trauma, such as physical abuse, emotional neglect, or sexual assault, correlate with specific adult mental health outcomes, such as depression, PTSD, or personality disorders?

Your introduction should include:

• offers context to the research question: 

• What is the area of inquiry? Why does this research question matter? (Important!)

• statement of Individual Written Assignment (IWA) Research Question

• establishes clear thesis (your answer to the research question), including list of claims you will use to support your argument (stated precisely and concisely in the order of discussion)

Your first body paragraph should include:

Claim 1: What will this paragraph focus on?

Evidence (Academic Conversation): 

• Focusing on the claim, what are the experts in the field saying? 

• Use multiple sources / and a variety of perspectives to support your claim; establish the “academic conversation” (different sources agreeing/disagreeing/building upon each other, etc.) regarding the claim made. 

• Remember: the first time you introduce a source, use attributive phrasing, with enough information that your evaluation of the credibility (e.g. any limitations or implications of that particular source).

Analysis: 

• Show your understanding of the evidence you’ve provided

• Based on evidence you’ve provided, explain why the claim supports the thesis.

Your second body paragraph should include:

Claim 2: What will this paragraph focus on?

Evidence (Academic Conversation): 

• Focusing on the claim, what are the experts in the field saying? 

• Use multiple sources / and a variety of perspectives to support your claim; establish the “academic conversation” (different sources agreeing/disagreeing/building upon each other, etc.) regarding the claim made. 

• Remember: the first time you introduce a source, use attributive phrasing, with enough information that your evaluation of the credibility (e.g. any limitations or implications of that particular source).

Analysis: 

• Show your understanding of the evidence you’ve provided

• Based on evidence you’ve provided, explain why the claim supports the thesis.

Counter-argument(s)

Note: counter-arguments can be included within your other body paragraphs, or in a separate paragraph. 

• What are some arguments that could be said against your argument?  State these arguments in point form on the right, and–based on your research–refute them (CEA), establishing why these arguments do not stand. You may use additional information from the sources.

Towards a Conclusion

• Remind your reader about your key claims and how these claims support your thesis.

• Offer a final evaluation; have you fully responded to and addressed the research question? Re-establish why this matters (“so what?); what are the real world implications of your findings?