How to Organize Your Research Paper

1. How to Organize Your Research Paper 1/21/2014

2. A couple notes: • You will need a title page – does not count toward page count. • Start numbering page “2” – first page after title page. • Label each section, but do not add in addition spaces beyond regular double-space between each line. • Follow all MLA Style guidelines. • 6 page minimum = 10 page maximum (I will stop reading after page 10). • Works Cited page does get a page number, but does not count, like the title page, to this total page requirements.

3. Introduction = 1-2 pages • For a paper of this length, introduction should be approx. 3-4 paragraphs. • Think about extending a traditional pizza slice so that each part becomes a paragraph. • If you have personal experience with the topic, here is an appropriate place for personal narration. • May also be appropriate to narrate how you came to be interested in the topic as a way of opening. • Final thesis should be last paragraph of introduction section. • Label this section “Introduction.”

4. Exposition = next 4-6 pages • Much like a traditional argument paper, there are key first steps: • Define needed and common terms relevant to your topic. • Delineate the most pertinent causes and effect of your topic. • This section should be evidence heavy = 2 citations per paragraph. • When you see the same information in more than 3 sources, you can consider it “common knowledge” and do not have to cite. • If, however, you are quoting a direct line, regardless of how commonly known that information appears to be, you need to cite. • If you have only come across an idea in one source, you must cite it, regardless of if you are paraphrasing or directly quoting.

5. Next 4-6 pages cont’d • Think about answering the 5 W’s in this section as well: • Who is affected/involved? • Where is this happening? • What does it look like? • When is it happening? • Why is it happening?

6. Modes of Writing  Narration: telling a story  Description: relating what you see, hear, taste, feel, and smell  Process Analysis: describing a sequence of steps necessary to a process  Definition: illustrating the meaning of certain words or ideas  Classification: grouping ideas, objects, or events into categories  Compare and Contrast: finding similarities and/or differences between topics  Analogy: making a comparison between two topics that initially seem unrelated  Cause and Effect: explaining why something happened, or the influence of one event upon another

7. Transition into Argument = 1 pg. • Make sure to label this section clearly so your transition from exposition to argument is clear. • Concede as much of a counter-argument as you can. • Refuteanother counter-argument if you can.

8. Confirm your Argument = 1-2 pgs. • Consider again relevant background information that confirms your argument. • Drop your oar in the river: You are part of an ongoing conversation about your topic. • Acknowledgethose who share and have contributed to your opinion. • You should also supply and cite evidence that confirms your opinion here. • Supply an anecdote or quotation that confirms your opinion. • End with call to actionif applicable.