Research Papers

 

Basic Outlines

A basic outline looks like this:

Title: Subtitle

Introduction/Thesis: The last sentence of the introduction should be your thesis statement.

    1. First piece of evidence that your thesis statement is true.
    2. Second piece of evidence that your thesis statement is true.
    3. Third piece of evidence that your thesis statement is true.

Conclusion: Restate your thesis and suggest a solution to the problem.


Now let's consider some variations:

Three Reasons

Let's imagine, for example, that you have chosen the following thesis:

Your middle paragraphs could consist of three reasons why computer games are harmful.

Computer Games: Not As Harmless As You Think

Introduction/Thesis: Computer games are bad for children.

      1. Reason #1 why computer games are harmful.
      2. Reason #2 why computer games are harmful.
      3. Reason#3 why computer games are harmful.

    Conclusion: Young children should not be allowed to play computer games.

 

Three Experts

In this variation, each of your body paragraphs cites an expert who thinks that computer games are harmful.

Computer Games: Not As Harmless As You Think

Introduction/Thesis: Computer games are bad for children.

      1. Cite an expert who believes that computer games are harmful.
      2. Cite another expert who believes that computer games are bad.
      3. Cite a third expert who believes that computer games are bad.

    Conclusion: Young children should not be allowed to play computer games.

 

Three Problems

Sometimes, finding three reasons (or three experts) is harder than you expect. In such cases, you might want to switch to a "three problems" outline.

In this type of essay, each of your body paragraphs is devoted to a different problem. This kind of essay is often easier to write, because instead of finding three reasons (or three experts), you only have to find one (and then repeat the process two more times).

Here is an example:

3 Things That Can Harm Your Children

Introduction/Thesis: Computer games, vaping, and skateboarding—all of these things can cause great harm to kids.

      1. Give a reason (or cite an expert) that supports the claim that computer games are harmful.
      2. Give a reason (or cite an expert) that supports the claim that vaping is harmful.
      3. Give a reason (or cite an expert) that supports the claim that skateboarding is dangerous.

    Conclusion: Responsible parents should not permit their children to engage in these dangerous activities.

 

Three Anecdotes

Sometimes, it's hard to find experts who agree with your thesis. Let's say, for example, that your thesis is "Ghosts really do exist." However, you're having trouble finding a bonafide expert who agrees that ghosts are real. In this case, you might need to resort to some anecdotes (short stories) that you find on the internet.

Ghosts Really Do Exist

Introduction/Thesis: Ghosts Really Do Exist

      1. Tell a story about Joe, who saw a ghost in his garage. Joe recounted his experience on an an internet chatboard.
      2. Tell a story about Mindy, who saw the ghost of her dead father while attending his funeral. Mindy has created a website devoted to ghosts.
      3. Tell a story about Wilber, who found a ghost crying in his closet. Wilber too a picture of the ghost and posted it on Facebook. It doesn't look Photoshopped at all!

    Conclusion: There is strong evidence that ghosts really do exist.


Of course, anecdotes are not considered strong evidence. And if your evidence is weak, your conclusion is dubious, at best.

But if stories told by ordinary people are the best evidence you can find, then that's what you'll have to use (or else you're going to have to change your thesis).

Instructions for the Quiz

Answer the questions.

Quiz