1 RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE Use the following outline to organize your research

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RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE

Use the following outline to organize your research paper. Points will be deducted for weak organization and weak paragraph development.

PLEASE CONSULT THE TEXTBOOK DESCRIPTION OF A RESEARCH PAPER (page 139-172), & ALL RESEARCH PAPER & RELEVANT HANDOUTS (E.G. INTEGRATION HANDOUT, BODY PARAGRAPH HANDOUT ETC.) ON GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

Introduction

What primary text are you analyzing, and who is the writer?

Based on your research, what main themes related to the text will you be focusing on?

 What is your analysis of the stated theme/s in your chosen text? (Your thesis)

Avoid grand statements. There is no need for a fancy hook.

Avoid at all costs re-telling the story.

Avoid summarizing the writer’s life. This research paper is an analysis of a literary text, NOT a book report or biography of the writer.

Body Paragraph #1

What is one main point that supports your thesis? (Your topic sentence)

What does your secondary source have to say about this main point? Briefly describe your source’s discussion about this point (don’t forget to cite your source). In what way is the scholar’s point useful to your own analysis of the primary text? For example, do you agree and/or disagree, and why?

What is your primary source’s supporting evidence for this main point and your response to the scholar’s point? Quote your evidence from the primary source, and discuss your interpretation of details of your evidence. Therefore, make sure that the examples you quote are “juicy” and about which you can discuss fully. Use the sandwich method.

How does your discussion of this main point support your thesis? Make sure to relate all that you have said in this paragraph back to the thesis.

Note #1: Use paraphrase, summary and quotations (remember that the bottom slice of the sandwich is your explanation/interpretation), and clearly cite your sources. But make sure that in each body paragraph, you have at least one substantially complex quotation from the primary source that you analyze.

Note #2: If you need more than 1 paragraph to elaborate and support main point #1, you can use more than 1 paragraph. Just make sure to USE TRANSITIONS as sign-posts for your reader.

Body Paragraph #2, #3 Etc.

Repeat the above strategy for other main points that support your thesis.

Stay focused on making (use topic sentences at the start of each body paragraph), and developing and supporting (with interpretation of details from the text) ONE main point in EACH paragraph.

Make sure to connect EACH MAIN POINT in EACH BODY PARAGRAPH to your THESIS.

Conclusion

Review your thesis, but do not repeat what you said in the introduction word for word. Don’t forget to reference your primary source and the writer of that text.

Your conclusion should still be specific to him/her and the text/s, rather than a general comment on the topic and theme/s.

Avoid grand statements and general philosophizing. Stay focused on the primary source and your stated analysis of it.