Let’s say my research question is “How can we stop human trafficiking?”

And my chunks are

• A definition of human trafficking
• Where is human trafficking happening?
• What have other people done to stop it?
• Things we can still do to help stop it

Well, then my first paragraph is my first chunk: A definition of human trafficking.

I’ll pull up all my notes that are labeled with chunk 1.

Then, I’ll try to write these notes into an explanation of my chunk.  This explanation will be a body paragraph.  My body paragraph might look like this:

When writers talk about human trafficking, they’re really discussing a “cluster of human rights issues” including forced labor, migrant labor, prostitution and sexual slavery (Smith, 12). Victims of trafficking are “coerced or tricked or sometimes even drugged into going to work in demeaning or unsafe conditions for little or no pay” (Ryingstad).  Often, the people who have manipulated the victims earn profit that the victim should have earned (Smith, 12).  Currently, UNICEF estimates that there are 1.7 million trafficking victiums worldwide each year, predominantly in Asia and Africa (Ryingstad).  However, according to the UNESCO Trafficking Statistics project, “numbers take on a life of their own, gaining acceptance through repetition” and many statistics like these are “accepted an unverified” because the issue is so “emotive” (UNESCO Trafficking Statistics Project).  Aside from emotional reasons for unsubstantiated statistics, three other elements make it difficult to track trafficking.  First, various conflicting definitions of trafficking being used by a wide variety of human rights groups means that few groups know what they’re actually counting (Smith, 12).  Second, shifts in trafficking trends related to wars and natural disasters and ever-changing underground world of traffickers themselves make it difficult to find a reliable way of maintaining trafficking statistics (UNESCO Trafficking Statistics Project).

Yours may not sound so fancy.  And that’s okay.  :)  The important thing is to get all your information in there!

• I asked you to develop “chunks” –or topics that you think your notes cover, and number them.  I suggested you need at least 3 and should probably have no more than 5.  You can see an example of a research question and chunks here.
• Then I asked you to use the numbers to label your notes.  Each note can belong to only one chunk–so choose carefully!  When When you’re done labeling your notes with chunks, they’ll look like this.
• Then I asked you to select all of your notes, starting with the chunk column.  In other words, select this information first, and then move the cursor over to select the rest of the notes like this.
• With all of that information selected, press the  button.
• Once they’re sorted, your notes will look like this.  All the notes that have to do with chunk #1 will be in one place, same for all the notes that have to do with chunk #2, 3, etc.

Why is this useful?  Well, your chunks will become your body paragraphs.  Now you have all the information you need for each body paragraph sorted into one place.  This helps to protect your academic integrity by making sure you’re not looking at just one source for any particular paragraph, and it prevents you from looking at your sources at all while you’re writing your speech.

I will come around and confirm that your chunks are solid topics today.

And YOU get to begin writing–taking those facts and notes and turning them into an explanation of the topic for that paragraph.  There is a sample body paragraph on page 36 of your packet.

Two warnings:

1. Do NOT simply list facts and notes – actually write out an explanation of each topic, using the information from your notes.
2. Do NOT put a fact or note alone in a sentence!