WRITING YOUR CBA RESEARCH PAPER
You can’t just sit down and start writing. You must first have a plan. Ask yourself the
following question: what is it exactly that the fine folks at the Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction are asking me to do? According to the directions, you must write a
paper in which you:
 state a position on the main causes of a conflict
 provide background on the conflict by describing:
o who was involved
o what it was
o when it was
o where it was
 explain two or more factors that helped cause the conflict
 explain your position by
o analyzing how the conflict might not have occurred if not for the main
factor
o OR evaluating why one factor was more important than the others
 make references to at least 3 sources
If I had to write this paper, the first thing (uh oh, NO-NO) I would do is figure out
which 2-3 causal factors I want to discuss. We have already identified a few main
causes:
 the Makah feel their culture must be revitalized/preserved
 people fear the environment will be negatively impacted by whaling
 the Makah feel their health has suffered from not eating whale
 people feel whales are worthy of rights and protection
 the Makah feel their youth need to learn discipline and pride
 people fear that allowing the Makah to whale will lead to more whaling
 the Makah feel they have the right to hunt whales
 people feel the Makah do not have the right to hunt whales
 others???
After choosing my 2-3 causal factors, my next step would be to find information and
details in my notes to support each of my chosen factors. While doing so, I would also
make sure I keep track of each detail’s source. Finally, after considering all of this
information I have gathered, I would choose the one causal factor that I felt was the
main one.
My next step would be to organize all of this information into an outline. What will that
outline look like? Maybe you should have a look at the other side of this paper!
CBA OUTLINE FORMAT
*(the difference between a 3 and a 4…what would you like on your burger?)
I. Introduction
A. Attention step
B. Position
II. Background (at least 3)
A. What was the conflict?
1. Detail
2. Source
B. Who was involved?
1. Detail
2. Source
C. When did it take place?
1. Detail
2. Source
D. Where did it take place?
1. Detail
2. Source
III. Causes of Conflict (at least 2)
A. One factor that helped cause the conflict
1. Specific Example
2. Source
B. Second factor that helped cause the conflict
1. Specific Example
2. Source
C. Third factor that helped cause the conflict
1. Specific Example
2. Source
IV. Reason(s) for Position (at least 1)
* How might the conflict have been avoided if not for one of the main causal factors?
or
*Why was one factor more important than others?
A. Reason for position
1. Evidence
2. Source
B. Reason for position
1. Evidence
2. Source
V. Conclusion
A. Restate position