Always follow the guidelines set out by your professor.
The Basic Construction of a Research paper
Paragraph 1 - An Introduction
- Grab the reader's attention.
- Why should they read the paper?
- Use a quote, statistic, or provocative statement to develop interest.
- What is the context for your paper?
- What will you write about in this paper?
- End the paragraph with your thesis statement.
- The thesis tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
Paragraphs 2+ - Body Paragraphs
- Each paragraph should be focused on a specific topic within your thesis statement
- Each paragraph should have the following components:
- Topic Sentence
- Usually, the first sentence of a body paragraph introduces the topic that will be discussed.
- Supporting Sentences
- 2-3 sentences that help to develop the paragraph topic and support it with evidence, logic, persuasive opinion, or expert testimonial.
- The goal is to ensure that your reader understands the point that you were making in your topic sentence.
- Concluding
- Each paragraph will have a concluding or transition sentence that ends the statements made in the current paragraph and moves the paper forward.
- This should summarize your evaluations and main point.
- or Transition Sentence
- A sentence that connects the previous paragraph with the current paragraph.
- These sentences help make a paper flow together.
Last Paragraph - Conclusion
- Helps the reader understand why your analysis and information should matter to them and sums up your paper.
- Restate your stance on the topic/thesis.
- Synthesize, don't summarize.
- Show the reader how the points made support your thesis from your first paragraph.
- Close the essay with a powerful final statement.
- Do not introduce anything new in the conclusion.
