5 page research paper

OrganizingStructure-OutlineforLiteraryresearchpaper.docx

Part 1- Essay opening

Attention-getter

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Background information identifying author, work, and genre.

Example transition: Such a scene or theme is found in James Baldwin’s short story, “Sonny’s Blues”.

Write a clear thesis statement in 1-2 sentences. Introduce your claim.

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Outline Part 2- Providing a social, political, and/or cultural context---6-7 sentences only. No biography of the author!

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You may use Gates’s chapter introductions from the text and glossary information from studyspace: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/africanamericanlit2e/

Outline Part 3- Analysis of first thesis point with examples

Write a topic sentence.

Add 3-4 supporting sentences:

Add literary quotes and examples from the text you are analyzing and provide your analysis.

Add quotes from expert sources with in-text citations. Provide analysis.

Repeat this process throughout the paper.

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Outline Part 4- Analysis of second thesis point with examples

Topic sentence

3-4 supporting sentences:

Insert Literary quotes and your analysis

Insert Quotes from sources with in-text citations

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Outline Part 5- Analysis of third thesis point with examples

Topic sentence

Literary quotes and your analysis

Quotes from sources with in-text citations

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Outline Part 6- Analysis of fourth thesis point (if applicable) with examples

Topic sentence

Literary quotes and your analysis

Quotes from sources with in-text citations

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Outline Part 7- Conclusion

Raise rhetorical questions

Re-engage the reader with a quotation

What does the research show?

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Part 8- Works Cited

Do not use these headings: References, Bibliography, or Sources.

This is the last page of the essay with sources in ABC order according to MLA documentation style.