1. S.E.E.D. A tool to help you write solid social studies material

2. solid Social Studies writing Constructing a well built social studies paper is not as difficult as it appears. However, using a few important tools can take your work from being average to being extraordinary… Introducing: S. E. E. D.

3. S.E.E.D. State your argument: It is important to boil down your main idea into a single statement. Remember you have one idea to try to prove. Don’t get sidetracked by including more than one idea into your thesis statement. State your argument with the intention to convince the audience that will be reading your work. Example: Coffee should be included as an essential part of a balanced diet.

4. S.E.E.D. Explain your argument: Ask the question: What does my thesis mean? Restate your thesis and explain the main points of your position. Make sure that your explanation addresses you thesis statement consistently and does not stray off topic. Example: Coffee should be included as an essential part of a balanced diet. Coffee has been considered an unhealthy beverage for far too long. It’s health benefits have been overlooked leaving it with a bad reputation.

5. S.E.E.D. Evidence and Examples: Provide the facts that support your argument. Show how these facts support your position. Use logical reasoning to point out how your evidence is a convincing example of the idea you are trying to prove. Think about leading the reader in a logical – step-by-step process. Example: Coffee should be included as an essential part of a balanced diet. Coffee has been considered an unhealthy beverage for far too long. It’s health benefits have been overlooked leaving it with a bad reputation. Recent research cited in the Journal of American Medicine claims that drinking two or three cups of coffee a day can actually improve the overall health of your heart. Coffee also serves as a great way to stimulate your mental capacity according to some brain researchers.

6. S.E.E.D. At this point it is helpful to STOP and ask an important question of your writing: SO WHAT? What difference does this evidence make? Why is this idea important? Why should anyone take notice of this argument? The answer to that question will help you formulate the last step in your process…

7. S.E.E.D. Draw a Connection Tie your evidence and examples back to the main thesis that you started with and tell the reader why this argument is so important. Example: Coffee should be included as an essential part of a balanced diet. Coffee has been considered an unhealthy beverage for far too long. It’s health benefits have been overlooked leaving it with a bad reputation. Recent research cited in the Journal of American Medicine claims that drinking two or three cups of coffee a day can actually improve the overall health of your heart. Coffee also serves as a great way to stimulate your mental capacity according to some brain researchers. Research has proven that coffee is not an unhealthy beverage but that it can be a vital part of a healthy diet and can actually help improve the nutrition and function of our population. It remains to be seen if this wisdom will lead to coffee’s inclusion in Canada Food Guide.