Mini-Research papers
The first paragraph (the introduction) will include the following
Part of paper
Description
Example
Must be one of the 10 theses you created in the
ideas papers.
In "Hills Like White Elephants," the main
characters remain detached to their situation
through avoidance and distraction.
Any good thesis has two
major components:
1. "Hills Like White Elephants"
2. detachment
Thesis statement
1. subject
2. value, ideal, or
concept.
Briefly summarize the story.
Summary
Any good summary focuses mostly on the parts
that you will connect to your ideal, value, or
concept.
Theory
Must give a meaningful understanding of
abstract terms so the reader follows your ideas,
not their own.
"Hills Like White Elephants" is the story of
two people sitting in a railroad station
discussing their immediate surroundings and
avoiding the discussion of abortion
Here, I would write a meaningful
understanding of the abstract words in my
thesis
DO NOT GO TO THE DICTIONARY
Think on your own how or what those words
MEAN.
This example is bad.
Do NOT give definitions
The word "detachment" means disinterested,
the word "avoidance" is defined as an act of
shunning, and the word "distraction" means
to turn away from original focus.
The next paragraphs are the analysis, and here you can see why having 4 abstract answers are
better than 2.
Analysis (paragraph 1)
Analysis (paragraph 2)
What is needed
Example
Abstract answer from thesis
Begin the paragraph by
connecting/discussing the abstract answer
to the thesis ideal, value, or concept
then give a more meaningful
understanding of the abstract answer
Avoidance
How avoidance relates to detachment
while giving exact lines as
examples from the text (story)
The aim here is to help your readers
understand the concept of "avoidance" (in
this particular case) by showing them
examples of avoidance within "Hills Like
White Elephants"
What is needed
Example
Abstract answer from thesis
Begin the paragraph by
connecting/discussing the abstract answer
to the thesis ideal, value, or concept
then give a more meaningful
understanding of the abstract answer
Distraction
while giving exact lines as
examples from the text (story)
How distraction relates to detachment
The aim here is to help your readers
understand the concept of "distraction" (in
this particular case) by showing them
examples of distraction within "Hills Like
White Elephants"
Last Paragraph
Since you have done a total of FIVE
thesis statements on one story in your
ideas paper, you have four unused
thesis statements.
State other possible theses
Conclusion
As a conclusion, discuss those other
thesis statements as possible research
for others to pursue or as a further
interest of your own.
Example:
I also have an interest in pursuing
(insert other thesis statement) , etc.
Do NOT summarize your paper
Do NOT give warm fuzzy wrap ups.
In research papers, "summaries" are
actually the introduction paragraphs;
introductions introduce the whole
paper, and the rest of the paper is for
the specifics.
Research writing is not the scientific
process where you give your results
and findings in a conclusion.
Research writing is about producing
knowledge (the analysis part) and
inspiring others to carry on your
research (the conclusion).
On the next page, after the conclusion.
Works cited
items listed in a Works Cited are ONLY those sources you
have actually cited in the paper.
A works cited is NOT a reference sheet.