How to Write Your Rough Draft
Research Paper
What you will need…
• Your complete outline
• Four different, credible sources (these are
from your source cards that you completed
during the ‘research process’)
• The correct manner in which you will cite your
sources in your text (for example either author
last name or title of article)
Introduction
• Attention grabber – a general sentence about
your topic that is not specific but is interesting
• Introduce your topic (subject): 2-3 sentences
• Thesis statement (taken directly from your
outline)
• Transitional closing sentence (close the topic
and mention the next topic.)
Grabber
• Should be catchy/grab the reader’s attention
• Could be a question, interesting
statement/quote, or interesting fact/statistic
• Examples:
– Imagine 4,000 people marching up to Ouchi High
School and peacefully protesting for change. This
is what black and white U.S. citizens did during the
March on Washington to stand up for equal rights.
– What would you do if you were forced to attend a
run-down, understaffed school?
Introduce Topic
• Explain what your topic is
• For example:
– Rosa Parks was an African American woman who
refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white
man. She stood up for what she believed in and
never backed down. She was an inspiration to civil
rights activists across the country and her stand
sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Example of Outline->Draft conversion
I.
Introduction
a. Grabber: Mention
bravery
b. Background/lead in:
discuss how bravery
makes a person “great”
c. Thesis: Maya Angelou
was brave because…
d. Closing: bravery/Maya
Bravery is a quality that many
people admire for a multitude of
reasons. Throughout the country’s
history bravery has been admired in all
types of people: soldiers, civil rights
activists, and heroes. When asking an
American citizen about qualities that
are important to this country, it is likely
that bravery would be at the top of the
list. Maya Angelou is a great American
because her bravery in overcoming
terrible life events make her strong and
courageous. Bravery is just one of
Angelou’s great qualities.
Body Paragraphs
• Refer to your outline
• Outline shows what needs to be covered in each body
paragraph
• First sentence of the paragraph should be a
topic/transition sentence
• Make sure to include extra information not on your
outline: specific dates, facts, statistics, etc.
• Each body paragraph needs one quote from one of
your sources (parenthetical citation)
– (Authors Last Name page number) ex. (Smith 10)
– If no author, than article name/title
Outline -> Draft Conversion: Body
Section
I.
Body
a.
b.
c.
d.
Bravery topic sentence
Definition
Example
Transitional closing
sentence:
Bravery is an admirable
quality in a person. Bravery is
defined by Webster’s
dictionary as, “brave or
courageous behavior, or
valor,” (Webster 1242). When
people think of bravery
thoughts of soldiers in battle
or heroes rescuing people
come to mind. Maya Angelou
is a brave woman because she
has faced many tragedies in
her life.
CITATION
Make sure to cite your sources using the
appropriate method within the body of your
draft or paper.
If you have an author for the source, use the last
name and page number (if there is one)
example: (Jones 4) or (Jones)
If you do not have an author for the source, use
the title of the article
example: (“Angelou Biography”)
Conclusion
• Restate thesis
• Summarize your main points
• Extend relevance of your topic
– Why is it important today?
– What change has it caused?
– Why should we remember?