Writing a Research Paper – Part 4: Introduction, Conclusion, and Body Paragraphs

1. Writing a Research Paper – Part 4: Introduction, Conclusion, and Body Paragraphs Mr. White’s History Class

2. Objectives • What do we want to know how to do? • Write an introduction • Write a conclusion • Write body paragraphs

3. Paragraphs – What are they? • To understand how to write a paragraph, we must first understand what a paragraph’s purpose is. • A paragraph is a collection of related sentences that deals with a single topic (Purdue OWL). • A paragraph is not determined by length.

4. What makes a paragraph? • A paragraph has the following qualities: • Unity – stick to one topic • Coherence – the paragraph is understandable to the reader • A topic sentence – this tells the reader what the paragraph will talk about • Adequate development (what determines if a paragraph is “long” enough): • The topic should be discussed fully and adequately • Two or three sentences is probably not enough – it probably doesn’t develop the idea fully and adaquately • Taken from Purdue Online Writing Lab

5. Section 1: Introductions What the purpose of an introduction is, how to write it.

6. Introductions - Purpose • The purpose of an introduction is to give to the reader: • Your main thesis question, topic, area of comparison, etc. • Your thesis statement – a statement describing what you’ve found through your research • A general overview of how you will take the reader to your eventual conclusion • Briefly explain what kinds of smaller questions you will ask • Briefly explain what types of information you will provide to support your opinion • It does not need to be limited to a paragraph – it can be several paragraphs, or even a whole chapter (in the case of a book)

7. How to write an introduction • Start with a “hook” – an interesting statement or question that grabs the reader’s interest (it doesn’t have to be too fancy) and is related to your topic • Introduce your thesis question and thesis statement by stating them directly • Explain to the reader how you will use your research to support your thesis statement

8. Section 2: Conclusions What the purpose of a conclusion is, how to write it.

9. Conclusion - Purpose • The purpose of a conclusion is: • To restate your thesis • To recap and retrace for the reader how you went about proving it, and the evidence you presented • To bring a logical conclusion to your paper • As with an introduction, a conclusion is not limited to a paragraph – it can be several paragraphs or even a chapter

10. How to Write a Conclusion • Restate your original question and thesis to the reader. • Briefly retrace and summarize the major arguments and evidence you presented to prove your main point • Explain how those points support your main idea.

11. Section 3: Body Paragraphs What the purpose of a body paragraph is, how to write one.

12. Body Paragraph - Purpose • The purpose of a body paragraph is to introduce pieces of information, explain them, and use them to support your main idea. • A body paragraph will use a piece of information that you’ve gathered, explain it further, give your own interpretation, and tie it into the main idea • Body paragraphs should have a logic to their organization • Chronological – sequence of events • Topical – different topics • Compare and contrast

13. How to Write a Body Paragraph • It’s best to know beforehand how you want to organize your paper – chronologically, topically, compare and contrast, etc. • Use your notecards to organize your evidence and support based on your paper organization • Once you’ve organized your notecards, use one or more pieces of evidence in each to create your body paragraphs • In the body paragraphs: • Present the evidence • Evaluate the evidence (how useful/valuable it is) • Explain how the evidence supports your main point • Logically conclude the paragraph – make sure you complete the idea

14. In-text Citations • When you use evidence from other sources for your paper, you must use in-text citations. • There are three basic types of in-text citations • Paraphrasing – taking information and rephrasing it • Short quotation – shorter than 40 words • Long quotation – longer than 40 words • For an in-text citation, you must have three things: • The name of the author (if available) • The year of publication (if available) • The page number (if available)

15. Citing • When paraphrasing, place the in-text citation at the end of the evidence you’re citing, in parentheses, in the following format: • (White, 2004, p.4) • It is suggested that you also include the page number, but it is not required • Exceptions • If there is no author available, put the title from your references list - (The Mongol Military, 2004) • If there is no publication date, simply list all other information - (The Mongol Military, p.4) • If there is no pagination, it is not necessary to include it – (White, 2004)

16. Assignment • Make sure: • Your introduction, conclusion, and body paragraph all meet the conditions above • Your introduction and conclusion are closely related, and outline where your paper will go

17. Sources • “Paragraphs and Paragraphing.” Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 30 Nov. 2010.