Organizing Information
You've recorded information from your sources. The next step is to organize that information into an outline of your research paper. A research paper has the same components as any other essay: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. And these parts are developed in the same way as in any other essay. The only different is that you don't have to come up with all the supporting material - you have your research to help you.
To begin, read through your notes, decide on the organizational structure, and then select and group your notes according to common points. Each "group" of notes will represent a body point in your outline.
To begin, read through your notes, decide on the organizational structure, and then select and group your notes according to common points. Each "group" of notes will represent a body point in your outline.
Creating Your Outline
When creating your outline you are creating a blueprint of your paper. The more detail you include in your outline, the easier your paper will be to write. While you do not need to create a formal outline, following this structure will make your draft more effective.
I Introduction
A. Engage your audience - attention getting opening [consider using something from your research]
B. Establish your topic - brief background
C. Thesis statement - establish the focus (topic) and purpose of your essay
II. Body
A. Topic sentence of 1st body paragraph - topic sentence should connect to your thesis statement
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3 or more Supporting sentence
Concluding sentence / transition to next body point
[This structure - topic sentence, supporting sentence, concluding sentence - repeats for each body paragraph]
B. Topic Sentence of 2nd body paragraph
C. Topic Sentence of 3rd body paragraph
III. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis
B. Summarize main points
C. Closing that connects to opening and/or title
I Introduction
A. Engage your audience - attention getting opening [consider using something from your research]
B. Establish your topic - brief background
C. Thesis statement - establish the focus (topic) and purpose of your essay
II. Body
A. Topic sentence of 1st body paragraph - topic sentence should connect to your thesis statement
1. Supporting sentence
2. Supporting sentence
3 or more Supporting sentence
Concluding sentence / transition to next body point
[This structure - topic sentence, supporting sentence, concluding sentence - repeats for each body paragraph]
B. Topic Sentence of 2nd body paragraph
C. Topic Sentence of 3rd body paragraph
III. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis
B. Summarize main points
C. Closing that connects to opening and/or title
Building Your Body Paragraphs
To build your body paragraphs, start with your outline and the notes from your sources.
Begin your paragraph with an original topic sentence - not an idea from a note - that establishes the single focus of the paragraph related to the thesis
Avoid stringing together direct quotations and paraphrases from your notes by including your own sentences that introduce, explain or clarify the information. Remember that the purpose of your research is to support what you have to say. Make your point then support it with your research. And cite the source of all the research that
you use.
End the paragraph with an original concluding sentence that provides a summary and/or transition. If the last item in a body paragraph is a citation, you do not have an original concluding sentence.
Begin your paragraph with an original topic sentence - not an idea from a note - that establishes the single focus of the paragraph related to the thesis
Avoid stringing together direct quotations and paraphrases from your notes by including your own sentences that introduce, explain or clarify the information. Remember that the purpose of your research is to support what you have to say. Make your point then support it with your research. And cite the source of all the research that
you use.
End the paragraph with an original concluding sentence that provides a summary and/or transition. If the last item in a body paragraph is a citation, you do not have an original concluding sentence.