How to Write a Research Paper

Classical StructureEnglish 1302

Structure of a Classical Argument

Structure (overall)Introduction and claim (thesis)Writer’s position (evidence from research)Summary of opposing views Response to opposing viewsConclusion/call to actionIt is OK to give the opposing viewpoint FIRST

and then respond to it; after this, you would move into proving why your opinion is RIGHT

IntroductionAttention grabber—a memorable scene or

anecdoteExplanation of the issueGive enough background info to help

audience understand the problemThesis statementYour introduction can be long if need be—one

to several paragraphs

Presentation of Writer’s positionMain body of essayPresents and supports each reason in turnThis is where you present your researchEach reason should be tied to a value or

belief held by the audience

Summary of Opposing ViewsSummary of views differing from your ownMake sure the summary is fair and complete

Respond to Opposing ViewsRefute—prove to be false or erroneous; to

prove to be in errorShow weaknesses in the opposing argumentConcede—to acknowledge something to be

true, just, or properYou can say that the opposition’s argument

contains some valid points

ConclusionBring essay to a closeSum up the argumentExplain the significance of your stance on the

issue—why is this important? What have you learned from this research? What are the implications if action is not taken?

Call to action

Organizing Your Paper

How to Write a Thesis StatementWhat is the answer to your research

question?Ex. Should killer whales be kept in captivity?Why? What are the top reasons for the

answer to your question?Deprives the whales of their role in natureCauses emotional problems that make them

unpredictable and violentIt’s cruel

Sample Thesis StatementThe practice of keeping killer whales in

captivity should be stopped because it deprives them of their role as top predator, it causes severe emotional problems that lead to violence, and it is simply a cruel practice.

Skeleton OutlineTake a moment to make a quick outline for

your paper.Thesis statement, then the three main points

from your research will be your main topics in your paper

In our practice thesis statement, our main points will be

Deprives the whales of their place in the ecosystem

Emotional problems that lead to unpredictability and violence

It’s a cruel practice

Arranging your NotecardsIn easybib, write your thesis statement in the

space provided.Then, drag and drop your notes in the order

you will use them in your paperIf you are using actual notecards, then

arrange them in the order you wish to use them and make a stack

Writing Your PaperBegin writing your paperWrite an introduction and make your thesis

statement the last sentence of your introduction

Topic SentencesYou need to have a strong topic sentence to

introduce your main pointsRefer to your thesis statement/outlineEx. One of the main reasons that the practice

of keeping killer whales in captivity should be discontinued is that it deprives the whales of their place as top predator in the ecosystem.

Proving Your PointsUse your notecards to prove the main points

in your thesis

Citations within Your Paper

How to CiteAlways use author’s last name and page number (if

using a book)Ex. The climber recalls problems he encountered when

attempting to climb Devil’s Thumb, including “a ribbon of frozen meltwater had ended three-hundred feet up and was followed by a crumbly armor of frost feathers” (Krakauer 143).

Anything you paraphrase must also be cited. If you are not sure if you need to cite it, then cite it.

You have to cite anytime you have a new topic or a different idea, even if it is by the same author. If this occurs, then just cite the page number, not the author’s name.

Citing From Data BasesIf there are no page numbers, then just use

the author’s last name.(Krakauer)If there is no author, then use the first work

in the title.Ex: if your title is “Effects of Mercury in

Fish,” then you would use (“Effects”) as your citation

Block QuotesIf you have a direct quote in your paper that is

longer than 4 typed lines, you must block quote it.You hit enter to begin the quote on a brand new

line, and then you indent on that line 10 spaces. Hit the tab key two times to achieve this. Then you type to the end of the line, then hit tab two more times for each new line.

At the end of the quote you put a period, then you cite the author’s last name and page number in ( ) with no period at the end. Ex. “This is the end of my blocked quote by an amazing author.” (Krakauer 82)

ReminderEach notecard should be one citation in your

paper.

Ways to Introduce Information

Introducing Standard ViewsUse these to introduce broad ideas about

your topicConventional wisdom has it that

______________.Americans today tend to believe that

___________.Many people assume that

_____________________.It is often said that ____________________.

Introducing an Ongoing DebateIn discussions of ____________ (topic), one

controversial issue has been ____________. On the one hand, _______________ argues ____________. On the other hand, ___________ contends _____________. Others even maintain ____________________. However, the most reasonable way to look at this is ___________________.

Another ongoing debate templateWhen it comes to the topic of ______________,

most people readily agree that ______________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, in on the question of _____________________. Whereas some are convinced that ______________________, others maintain that______________________.

Capturing an author’s opinion X acknowledges that _____________________.X agrees that __________________.X argues that __________________.X denies that __________________.

Introducing QuotationsX states , “____________.”X agrees when she writes, “_______________.”

Disagreeing, with ReasonsX’s argument is weak due to the fact that he

overlooks _____________________.X contradicts herself with

____________________.By focusing on __________________, X overlooks

the deeper problem of ______________.

Making concessions while still standing your ground

Proponents of X are right to argue that _____________. But they exaggerate when they claim that __________.

While it is true that __________________, it does not necessarily follow that _________________.