Research Paper Guide
 Take out your brainstorming web for this step in the
process, you will need it to help you with the body
paragraphs.
 1. Introduction: Tell me what you will
write about
 Include your final THESIS statement
 2. Beginning Body Paragraphs
 Describe the Societal Problem
 Problem Statement (problem & geographic
location)
 Definition of the problem (Exercise 1)
 How does the problem negatively affect
society
 What should be done to help the problem
Continued
 3. More Body Paragraphs
 Incorporate / Integrate Facts, Statistics and Case
studies to support topic sentences claims
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Factual Information- Case Study / impact
Experts in the field
 Identify & what are they reporting about the problem
Statistics that problems existed, now exists, and still needs
improving (Supporting Evidence)
Explain / Interpret statistics, they cannot stand alone!
 Explain the Factors that Contribute to the Problem

Use statistics to prove this
The Public Policy Statement & Information
 4. Policy Statement & Ideas
paragraph)
(this should be broken in to more than one
 What Bill do you want passed?
 Explain the path of this policy would take from idea through
becoming legislation
 Explain whether the policy is proactive or reactive.
 Provide the benefits of this policy to society (at least 3).
 Financial Costs (minimum of 3)
 Discuss the Feasibility & Effectiveness of the policy
 Should this policy be continued, altered, or repealed?
 Provide specific evidence to support your opinion.
5. Conclusion
 Restate your thesis
 Restate the major points of the paper
 Length Depends on how much room is left
Parenthetical Citations
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Used after the factual information
(Author(s) Last Name, year).
(“article title,” year).
(Book title, year).
 Page # or Paragraph # when a direct quote is
used
When a work has 3+ authors
1st cite lists all authors
2nd + cites list surname of 1st author followed by et
al.
References Page
 Reference page must be alphabetized
 All citations must be perfect
 Paper will not be accepted without a
reference page & Parenthetical
citations.
 additional page not counted in the total
Sample Citation
 Author’s Last Name(s), Author’s Initials.
 (Year). Article Title. Title. Publishing City:
Publishing Co.
 Online Citations
 Author’s Last Name(s), Initials. (Date[year,
month
day]). Article title. Title.
Retrieved Month
day, year, from
internet address.
 Database Citations
 Author’s Last Name(s), Author’s Initials.
(year).
Article Title. Title,
volume #(issue #), pages.
Retrieved Month day, year, from Database.
Requirements
 Paper Must be 4-6 pages in length
plus a reference page.
 Typed
 Double-spaced
 12 point, Times New Roman font
 1 inch margins all around
 Include the formatting described for
an APA style paper on the attached
example handout.