Organizing Your Infomation
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 and group them according to common points. If you included a subject heading with your notes, this step will be much easier. Each "group" of notes will represent a body point in your outline.
To begin, read through your notes and group them according to common points. If you included a subject heading with your notes, this step will be much easier. 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.
Sample Outline
I Introduction
A. Engage your audience - attention getting opening [consider using something from your research]
B. Establish your topic - brief background
C. Thesis statement - answer your research question
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
A. Engage your audience - attention getting opening [consider using something from your research]
B. Establish your topic - brief background
C. Thesis statement - answer your research question
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