Basic requirement:
INTRODUCTION - Strong opening statement or “hook” - Clearly articulated statement of purpose (“this paper examines the role of…”) - Outlines how they are planning to investigate the question - Includes any definitions of terms that are relevant to the topic of the paper (“For the purposes of this paper, I define ‘X’ according to Smith & Smith’s use of the term…”)
HISTORY - Presents a brief discussion of the history of their subject (e.g. if you are studying neoNazi groups online, specify which ones they are looking at, and where they came from) - Makes use of strong, rigorous sources wherever possible (ie: official biographies or academic papers, not blogs or Tumblr posts)
DISCUSSION - Here is where you tell me what your own investigations have turned up. What do the sources you’ve drawn on have to say about the thing you’re studying? How do you interpret what they’re saying? o Try to avoid editorializing. Assume that even people or papers you disagree with might nevertheless have something interesting or useful to say o When you make a claim or an interpretation, you can make them much stronger by providing a citation for a source that supports what you’re saying.
SUMMARY - Revisits their original research question and offers a final, informed position on it, based on the evidence they’ve gathered.