Research Papers

Prewriting

Sizing Up Your Topic

• A good research report should address what’s important about the topic.

• Start by making a list of the most important things you found in your research.

• Put similar details together and evaluate the sources to make sure they fit in with your overall point.

5-Paragraph Essay FormSay what you’re going to say, say it, then say that you said

it.

1. Opening Paragrapha) Learn to use the funnel!

b) End with your thesis statement.

2. First Body Paragraph (first point about topic)

3. Second Body Paragraph (second point about topic)

4. Third Body Paragraph (third point about topic)

5. Conclusion Paragrapha) Reverse the funnel.

b) Start by restating your thesis.

Remember the Funnel

Writing Your Thesis Statement

• Start your first paragraph with a broad sentence about your topic that can appeal to a large audience.

• Each following sentence should come closer to focusing on your specific point.

• The last sentence or two of your first paragraph should be your thesis statement, where you tell your reader specifically what you will talk about in your paper.

Making an Outline

• You can make an outline to help you organize your paper and be sure you don’t leave out any important information.

• Start with your thesis statement at the top.

• Then, using roman numerals, list topic I, II, and III and put the main idea for each paragraph beside each.

• Under each of these, use A, B, C, D, etc. to indicate important points you don’t want to forget in your paper.

THESIS: This enormous, hundred-year-old salt mine lies beneath the city of Detroit, Michigan.

I. Salt is much more important than most people realize.A. Wars have been fought over salt, and it has been

used for money.B. It helps keep the body alive and healthy.C. It is used to preserve food, to soften water, and to

make chemicals.D. It is used to melt the ice on roads.

II. Scientists say that the Detroit mine digs into a bed of salt that is several hundred million years old.A. ….B. ….

REMEMBER:In an outline, if you have a I, you must have II.

If you have an A, you must also have a B.

Homework

• Write your opening paragraph, complete with thesis statement.

• Create an outline to give me the direction of where you are going on the paper.

• Due on Friday, January 25th, 2013 at the beginning of class.

• Worth 100 points. Do not earn a zero!