Topic Template Handout

Task

My Idea

Questions to Ask Myself

My possible topic

(What experiences have I had with language?)

Too broad--list types

(How might I break this down into types of dialects? What dialects do I know?)

Still too broad-- Make selection.

(Which of these interests me most? Which one do I have the most personal connection with?)

Define/list types

(What are the different kinds of New England accents that I can think of?)

Still too broad/ Make selection

(Which one do I have the most personal connection to? Which one might be the most interesting?)

Define/List components

(What makes up Vermontese?)

What do these indicate?

(Make historical/social connections--source, cause/effect.)

OR: How do I feel about this? What is my connection?

(Make personal connections.)

Other connections I can bring in?

(Make comparison/contrasts.)

Where do I see a contradiction?

(How does this contradict some other idea I have?)

Possible thesis/themes:

OR

OR