GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
OF THE PAPER
Introduction
1.Thesis statement
The number of body
paragraphs is dependent
on your collected
information and analysis.
Body
Conclusion
Each paragraph should
have a power 2 (main idea)
and a number of power 3’s
(supporting details and
explanation).
1.Restatement
Purpose of an Introduction
• Catch the reader’s
attention
• Introduce the subject
• Lead up to the body
• Sometimes give
background info
Establish the thesis
Please note: Most introductions in a research paper are one or two
paragraphs long.
IMPORTANT TIPS ON INTRODUCTIONS
Your introduction sets the tone for the paper. It tells the reader your attitude or how
you feel about the subject.
Carefully consider which introduction to use and how you develop it in order to
establish your thesis.
Never include such phrases as “in this research paper I will try to prove…” or “My
thesis is…”
TYPES OF INTRODUCTIONS
Inverted pyramid or funnel (broad to narrow)
Short anecdote
Quotation/Proverb
Comparison/Contrast
Relevance
INVERTED PYRAMID OR FUNNEL
Begin your introduction with general, broad statements, adding more and more specific
information, then work down to the thesis, which is the last statement of the introduction.
EXAMPLE OF BROAD TO NARROW
Tourette Syndrome, a disorder affecting some 20,000 people in the U.S., was first
diagnosed in 1885. It still remains, however, a mystery to most of the general population and
is often misdiagnosed by those in the medical field. It is a debilitating illness causing
involuntary movements and sounds that are often repulsive to those who do not understand
what is happening. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, TS also has
no known cure, affecting boys four times more than girls (3). It is bad enough to have the
disorder, which is obvious, but to face the repercussions from others is worse. Some with the
disorder have been disowned by family members, fired from their jobs, or expelled from their
schools because of lack of understanding and support.
As the 21st century dawns, it would seem that a disorder affecting so many people
would be accepted more, but the truth is that little is known about the disease except by those
who are affected. Such little study has been made of TS by the medical field and by
associated groups that few are aware of what it is and how to deal with it. They often treat the
individual for symptoms of other diseases, which only aggravates the problem. Because of the
frequent misdiagnosis of TS by physicians or psychologists and the lack of information by the
general public, the person with TS too often has severe problems that also affect those associated
with him or her.
SHORT ANECDOTE
These are accounts of interesting incidents or events
Tells a little “showing not telling” story that relates to and leads up to the thesis
EXAMPLE OF ANECDOTE
The husky man pushes open the door of the bedroom
and grins as he pulls out a .38 revolver. An elderly man
wearing thin pajamas looks at him and whimpers. In a
feeble effort at escape, the old man slides out of his bed
and moves to the door of the room. The husky man, still
grinning, blocks his way. With a face of a small,
frightened animal, the old man looks up and whispers,
“Oh God, please don’t hurt me.” The grinning man then
fires four times. The television movie cuts now to a soap
commercial, but the little boy who has been watching the
set has begun to cry. Such scenes of direct violence on
television must surely be harmful to children for a number
of psychological reasons.
QUOTATION/PROVERB
Quote an authority on your subject, explain why the quote relates and then lead up
to your thesis
A proverb doesn’t require referencing the author as it is a truism or familiar to
most audiences.
EXAMPLE OF PROVERB
The adage “water is life” is usually cited when someone is expounding on the benefits of
water and its relation to physical health. The Lehniger text, Principles of
Biochemistry, tells us the human body is comprised of 70% water and survival is
thus dependent on it. But recent discoveries by noted Japanese scientist Dr. Masaru
Emoto have provided surprising evidence that water may play a critical role in mental
health as well. In his book, The Hidden Messages in Water, startling photographs
depict the impact of negative and positive words on the crystalline structure of water
at the molecular level. The implications of this for human kind may be significant;
words then, may possibly affect someone at the cellular level. If this is shown to be
so, the importance of positive inner dialogue looms large. Heretofore, positive selftalk has been steadily gaining awareness in the public arena and its role in fostering
optimistic and intrinsic motivation is recognized and discussed in most self help
books on the subject. More than ever, it seems, techniques to enhance positive
inner dialog are being developed and taught to individuals struggling with
motivation. The time seems right, too, to encourage the acquisition of positive selftalk during the formative years of childhood, up to and including old age.
COMPARISON/CONTRAST
Shows how two or more similar or dissimilar ideas will
be presented in the paper.
Comparison
Shows the similarities of
ideas, people, or objects
Contrast
Shows the differences
without the similarities
EXAMPLE OF COMPARISON/CONTRAST
Syndrome is a word used describe an illness or disorder that is known because its symptoms are
considered characteristic of a particular disease. There are many syndromes identified in the
medical field, but two that affect the general public, perhaps more than others, are Tourette
Syndrome, or TS, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS. Both of these syndromes are debilitating,
and both are mysterious. That is where most of the similarities lie. However, the differences are
manifold. For example, TS is known to be genetic, whereas according to the web page, “CFS” from
Yahoo! Health, CFS has no known cause. Some believe it to be caused by a virus, or from a
compromised immune system. TS has no cure; while some with CFS do return to normal within 5
years, others become dramatically worse (Schweitzer 1). The symptoms of TS are highly visible with
vocal and motor ticks, while, according to Yahoo! Health, the symptoms of CFS are much like those
common viral infections such as muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. In addition, treatment for TS
consists of medication to calm the person. Currently, no treatment has proven effective with CFS,
which has resulted in only treating the symptoms (“CFS” Yahoo! Health).
TS and CFS do share many similarities and differences, as shown, but one of the most
interesting points about the 2 disorders is that with TS there seems to be feelings of guilt or
resentment or embarrassment. With CFS there is none of this, only sympathy and encouragement.
Possibly the difference is the misunderstanding and misdiagnosis of TS by physicians and
psychologists coupled with the lack of knowledge of TS by the general public that causes problems
for the person with TS as well as those around him or her.
RELEVANCE
Why your audience should be concerned or care about your subject.
EXAMPLE OF RELEVANCE
Ask any grade school child what it means to be smart,
and they will probably tell you, it means getting good
grades in school. In fact, if you ask anyone what it means
to be intelligent, they will, more than likely, mention a
high IQ rating or academic success.
But should we accept this narrow definition of the
highest sort of human capability? Or does our experience
give us reasons to question it? Consider the numbers of
people encountered in your own life, who, while not
considered academically brilliant, perform brilliantly in
some other field, say music or art. Are they not
intelligent? Perhaps we should expand our definition of
intelligence to include proficiency in areas other than
academics.
QUESTIONING
Ask two or three questions about your subject, then give some general information
that leads up to your thesis.
EXAMPLE OF A QUESTIONING
Are history books wrong? Do English textbooks
around the world contain false information? Are all
readers of Shakespeare unwitting dupes of a four hundred
year old conspiracy? There is a group of scholars who
believe so. They are adherents of a two hundred year old
school of doubt, that Shakespeare did not write the works
attributed to him. Numerous publications have appeared
arguing both sides of the controversy. There has even been
a “Frontline” video documentary, aired on public
television, that addresses this issue. But, after analyzing
both sides of the argument, the most compelling view lies
with the acceptance of Shakespeare as the true author.
TIPS ON DEVELOPING BODY
PARAGRAPHS
• Body of the paper should follow the outline.
• Each main point (power 2’s from your Power Outline) should become
the topic sentence of each body paragraph.
• The remaining sentences should be organized to support the topic
sentence. These are your supporting details (power 3’s) and further
explanation.
• Use transitions to enable your reader to follow your thinking easily
(refer to the link concerning transitions found on SP website).
• Vary your sentence structure – different beginnings and lengths.
• Use formal language (no slang; 3rd person preferred)
• Body paragraphs are generally 8 – 10 sentences to provide a solid
support for the main point.
TIPS FOR INCORPORATING NOTE
CARD MATERIAL
Be sure to document all information, quotes, and
ideas that are not your own.
Do not document information that is regarded as
common knowledge.
It is better to paraphrase and cite information than
over-quote material. Use quotes sparingly.
Be sure quoted material is placed in a relevant and
appropriate section of your paper.
EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTED
INFORMATION
Using a quotation to finish a sentence you have begun:
Dr. Laura Meyers, a specialist in language, theorizes that “the computer
is giving [the children] control over their own meaning as they practiced
with word processing” (224).
Quoting only a few words/phrases within your sentence:
The computer names, “in a low-pitched electronic voice,” the object pictured on
the key the child has pressed (Meyers 45).
Paraphrasing or summarizing information from a source:
The computer gives the name of an object pictured on the screen in low
computerized voice (Meyers 45).
TIPS ON CONCLUSIONS
Should give the paper a nice closure
Should not be abrupt
Should restate the thesis statement (without using exactly the same words)
Should make a point!
Possibly summarize main points (though this is considered elementary)
OR
Instead of summarizing, try one of the following:
•
•
•
•
Call for action
Give a warning of a present or impending disaster
Forecast the future
Discuss larger issues from the piece
Consider using one of the following methods to do this:
•
•
•
“Show” an anecdote (tell a story)
Tell the personal narrative of someone connected to this issue
Ask a rhetorical question or questions
(a question that may not have a right or wrong answer)
These are considered more sophisticated approaches to concluding
your paper.
WRITING YOUR TITLE
Write a title that relates to the topic and thesis
statement without giving away your arguments.
DO NOT use all caps for the title (only where appropriate)
DO NOT use quotation marks or underline it, unless some
portion of the title is part of a published work
DO NOT call your paper “My Research Paper.” Your title should
simply provide a clue to the paper.
Research is like sailing off the edge
of the map into unknown territory.
Enjoy the journey!