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STRUCTURING YOUR RESEARCH ESSAY

Parts of a research paper:1. Introduction

2. Body

3. Conclusion

4. Works Cited Page

DRAFTING YOUR ROUGH DRAFT

Begin with an interesting quote, anecdote, or detail to GRAB your readers’ attention!!!

Choosing an appropriate ‘Lead’ for your introductory paragraph is just as important as constructing the perfect sentence to end

your essay with

INTRODUCTION

In this report I will tell you about…Hi! My name is… My story is about… Once upon a time… One sunny day… I like football…Germs are bad…Women should vote…My experience with a tough challenge…My mom is the most influential person in my life…

INTRODUCTION: HOW NOT TO START AN ESSAY

You have 2 minutes to construct a possible lead for your essay!!!

Remember that the 5 types of leads are:

1. Zoom into one of the 5 senses

2. Hint at something to come

3. Ask a provocative question

4. Start in the middle of the action

5. Introduce a character or person

***Be Creative****

YOUR TURN TO PRACTICE!!!

After you have started your introduction with a FABULOUS lead, you must present

some background information. This information is what provides context

the context for your essay.

Context: the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation,

etc. (sets up your research)

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

After you have included some background information, or

context for your research, you must then have a CLEAR THESIS

STATEMENTThe thesis statement should

present your TOPIC and MAJOR RESEARCH QUESTION

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

My topic is: Facebook has changed social networking and how people label ‘friends’

Type of lead: Introducing a Character/Person

A college dropout and a billionaire, Mark Zucherberg attempted to bring the world closer together by constructing the social

media empire that is Facebook.

EXAMPLE INTRODUCTION:

Background Information/Context:In this modern age, social media has

become a dominant fixture in the lives of many around the world. Relationships are

discovered, destroyed, forgotten, and rekindled through social media sites like

Facebook.

EXAMPLE: INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

What is my primary research question?

Do individuals who use Facebook on a regular basis, adopt a new definition

for categorizing ‘friends’?

EXAMPLE INTRODUCTION: THESIS STATEMENT

(lead) A college dropout and a billionaire, Mark Zucherberg attempted to bring the world closer together by constructing the social media empire that is Facebook. (Background) In this modern age, social media has become a dominant fixture in the lives of many around the world. Relationships are discovered, destroyed, forgotten, and rekindled through social media sites like Facebook. (Thesis Statement) By labeling all individuals as ‘friends’ people lose touch with reality and develop problems creating relationships outside the realm of social networks.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION:

Thesis Statement Sample Structure:

(Blank) is (Blank) because (blank) and (blank)

Example:

Individuals lose touch with reality and develop problems creating relationships (because) the realm of social networks allows individuals to label anyone as a ‘friend’.

By labeling all individuals as ‘friends’ people lose touch with reality and develop problems creating relationships outside the realm of social networks.

THESIS STATEMENT ‘LIFE BOAT’

Introduction:

Lead:

Context/Background:

Thesis Statement:

Body:

Topic Sentence: Topic Sentence: Topic Sentence:

Example: Example: Example:

Evidence: Evidence: Evidence:

Transition: Transition: Transition:

Conclusion:

Restate your thesis/present your conclusion about the research question:

Summarize KEY points made in the body of the essay

End with some sort of INSIGHT about the research

Works Cited:

BODY

With a partner:

1. Read over your partner’s introduction2. Write down 1-2 positive comment3. Write down 1-2 possible area of

improvement4. Underline where you believe their thesis

statement to be5. Underline/determine the type of lead

used in the introduction paragraph

THINK/PAIR/SHARE

Structuring The Body of Your Essay

Planning Out Your Essay:

1. Determine the type of structure that fits the BEST with the end goal

for your paper

Planning Your Essay:

2. Plan out the specific examples (areas your research will support) you will use in your essay. Graphic organizers that focus on

planning out body paragraphs

Planning Out Your Essay:

3. Start by constructing your topic sentences (which will introduce the focus/subject of each of your paragraphs)

Planning Out Your Essay

4. Plan out the example that will be used within each of the paragraphs

Planning Out Your Essay:5. Figure out the type of resource needed to support your example and/or provide evidence for your example

In other words, will you be looking for statistical data, quotes from experts, or academic studies from verifiable sources.

Planning Out Your Essay:6. Choose appropriate transitions Transitions should help move the

reader along in a logical and coherent manner

Transitions should move your ideas forward and guide your reader through to the end of your essay

Planning Out Your Essay:

Transitions: Addition:

also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly

Planning Out Your Essay:

Consequence: accordingly, as a result, consequently,

for this reason, for this purpose, hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently,

therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore

Planning Out Your Essay:

Contrast and Comparison: contrast, by the same token, conversely,

instead, likewise, on one hand, on the other hand, on the

contrary, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still,

nevertheless, in contrast

Planning Out Your Essay:

Exception: aside from, barring, beside, except,

excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save

Planning Out Your Essay:

Illustration: for example, for instance, for one thing,

as an illustration, illustrated with, as an example, in this

case

Similarity: comparatively, coupled with,

correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with

Planning Out Your Essay:

Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the

same time, for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn,

later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while,

earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,

Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large,

in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in

the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

Building a Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence: (always contain both (1) a topic and (2) a controlling idea. Sample Topic Sentence:

Reserving the ‘label’ of friends for those individuals only met face-to-face has several advantages.

Building a Body Paragraph: Example: ‘meat’ of your paragraph

Sample: Face to face encounters ensure that there

will be a higher possibility of getting to know the ‘real’ person. An individual will be able to read the genuine nature of a person who is physically present, much clearer than an individual trying to decipher the true nature of a potential ‘cyber ghost’.

Building a Body Paragraph: Type of Source: your

support/evidence for your example Sample Evidence:

(Blank) statistics show that the number of individuals who create cyber alter egos is increasing at a rate of (Blank).

Dr. (Blank)’s studies in (Blank) have shown that people are much more likely to formulate lies about themselves when shielded by something like a social media platform.

Building a Body Paragraph: Transitions: words or phrases that

transition the flow of your ideas coherently Sample Transition:

Therefore, it is crucial for people to keep a ‘safe’ distance from those who they only ‘know’ through social media network.

Sample Body Paragraph:

(Topic Sentence) Reserving the ‘label’ of friends for those individuals only met face-to-face has several advantages. (Example) For example, Face to face encounters ensure that there will be a higher possibility of getting to know the ‘real’ person. An individual will be able to read the genuine nature of a person who is physically present much clearer than an individual trying to decipher the true nature of a potential ‘cyber ghost’. (Evidence) (Blank) statistics show that the number of individuals who create cyber alter egos is increasing at a rate of (Blank). (Transition) Therefore, it is crucial for people to keep a ‘safe’ distance from those who they only ‘know’ through a social media network.

Your Turn!!!

Topic Sentence:

Example:

Evidence:

Transition:

Planning Out Your Essay: Conclusion Paragraph

Different elements of a conclusion paragraph: Restate your thesis/ present

conclusions to your research question

Summarize KEY points made in the body of your essay

End with some sort of INSIGHT about the research

Restate your thesis/ present conclusions to your research question

In conclusion, by labeling all individuals as ‘friends’ people lose touch with reality and develop problems creating relationships outside the realm of social networks. Individuals should consider reserving the social media platform for entertainment only while remaining cautious about the people they ‘meet’.

Summarize Key Points Made In the Body of Your EssayAs the research shows, it is far too easy

for deception to become the basis for the majority of relationships formed online. There are some aspects of the human experience that cannot be replicated through a virtual medium. Personal connections, like those that develop into friendships, should remain in the realm of the physical.

End With Some Sort of Insight About the Research There are some qualities of the

human experience that need to remain respected and unaltered.

In conclusion, by labeling all individuals as ‘friends’ people lose touch with reality and develop problems creating relationships outside the realm of social networks. Individuals should consider reserving the social media platform for entertainment only while remaining cautious about the people they ‘meet’. As the research shows, it is far too easy for deception to become the basis for the majority of relationships formed online. There are some aspects of the human experience that cannot be replicated through a virtual medium. Personal connections, like those that develop into friendships, should remain in the realm of the physical. There are some qualities of the human experience that need to remain respected and unaltered.