Writing Your

Research Paper

Requirements for the Outline

1. All sections of the paper must be present

2. You must include full sentences for the

Thesis, Topic Sentences, and Rephrasing

of the Thesis in the Conclusion

3. Add enough detail as to be clear about

the content of each section

4. Double Space it all and make sure to add

a title to the outline.

Outline Format

I. Introduction Paragraph

A. Background Fact #1

B. Background Fact #2

C. Background Fact #3

D. Background Fact #4

E. Thesis Statement (Full Sentence)

1. Subtopic #1

2. Subtopic #2

3. Subtopic #3

II. Body Paragraph #1

A. Topic Sentence (Full Sentence)

B. Background Fact #1

1. Supporting Information

a. Additional Information

C. Background Fact #2

D. Background Fact #3

E. Background Fact #4

1. Supporting Information

2. Supporting Information

a. Additional Information

i. Additional Information

Repeat this For Body Paragraphs #3, 4, 5, etc…..

V. Concluding Paragraph (Roman Number

?)

A. Thesis Re-Statement (Full Sentence)

B. Restated Point #1

C. Restated Point #2

D. Restated Point #3

E. Restated Point #4, Etc……

F. Concluding Statement that wraps

up the research/information

presented

Writing the Introduction

Introduction Paragraph

Attention Getter: First sentence that gains the attention of the reader.Background Info: Basic information about the topic without giving away too much.Thesis Statement: Sentence explain what your paper will discuss.

Writing the Thesis Statement

Report Topic

Subtopic 3

Subtopic 2

Subtopic 1

Do’s and Do Not’sDo not use contractions, abbreviations, or text spellings. Do not use personal pronouns: I, we, our, you, your, my, me, ect…Do not begin sentences with but, because, or and.

Do not use words that you do not know the meaning of.Write out numbers that can be written as two words or less.

Ex: 1, 10, 100, 1,000 Non-ex: 125, 303, 4,512 Explain what you write. Do not assume the reader knows it.

Body Paragraphs

Information presented needs to match the subtopics in the Thesis Statement.

Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence and keep like information together. This will help it sound better and make more sense.

Do not make the entire paper one paragraph, separate at least at the change in subtopics, if not more often.

ConclusionMirrors the Introduction paragraph by

summing up the main ideas of the paper. Begins with specific recap of the subtopics of the Thesis statement and ends with a general statement about the topics.

Citing Sources in a Bibliography

Book by One Author

Author (Last name, first name) Title (Underlined)

Place Published Publisher Date Published

,

,

. .

.:

Book by Two Authors

1st Author (Last name, first name)

Title (Underlined)

Place Published Publisher Date Published

,

,

.

.

.:

2nd Author (First name last name),

Book by One Editor

Editor (Last name, first name) Title (Underlined)

Place Published Publisher Date Published

,

,

. .

.:

, ed

Reference Books

Author (Last name, first name) Title of Article (in quotes)

Place Published Publisher Date Published

,

,

. .

.:

““

ED .

Editor (First name last name)

Volume number

.

.

Title of Reference Book (Underlined)

Websites

Author (Last name, first name) Page Title (in quotes)

Web Site/Company Location Date Accessed

,

.

. .

.,

““

ED .Site Editor (First name last name) Date Written/Updated

.

.

< URL> (Full Web Address)

< >