english 111

In this worksheet you will create a substantial outline for your upcoming research paper. This worksheet will help you plan out and form the structure of your paper.

First, you will form the skeleton of the introduction paragraph of your paper by typing the answers to the below questions in red on this worksheet, in complete sentences.

TOPIC: What is the broad topic for your research paper (for example, vaccinations)? Why did you choose it?

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is your research question (for example, “Should parents vaccinate their children and why or why not”)? What question about your topic will your paper answer?

STAKES: Why do your topic and research question matter to your readers? Why do your topic and research question matter to society?

THESIS STATEMENT: You will draft a thesis statement here, but it may change as you conduct your research and draft your paper. To build your thesis statement, follow this guideline:

Answer your research question and then include at least three supporting points within your thesis statement. The supporting points will be different headings or paragraphs within the body of your paper. Here is an example using the vaccination topic:

Parents should vaccinate their children because, although some data indicates vaccinations cause autism, there is no hard evidence to support it. More children are dying each year from preventable diseases, and the cost for vaccinations is minimal or even free.

In the above thesis statement example your reader can see what your position is on the topic (parents should vaccinate), and which direction your paper will go (autism, deaths, and cost).

Now write your thesis statement:

Second, you will form the skeleton of your support paragraphs by typing the answers to the below questions in red on this worksheet, in complete sentences. You may change the order of these paragraphs, delete some, and add others as you conduct your research and draft your paper. This is just your initial plan. Your areas of focus below should match what you wrote in your thesis statement above.

SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 1:

What is one area of focus for your paper?

Why is this area of focus important to your reader/society?

How does this area of focus support your thesis statement?

What questions do you have about this area of focus that you need research to answer?

SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 2:

What is one area of focus for your paper?

Why is this area of focus important to your reader/society?

How does this area of focus support your thesis statement?

What questions do you have about this area of focus that you need research to answer?

SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 3:

What is one area of focus for your paper?

Why is this area of focus important to your reader/society?

How does this area of focus support your thesis statement?

What questions do you have about this area of focus that you need research to answer?