How to Structure a Basic

Research Paper
COMPONENTS AND TECHNIQUES
 How to Structure a Basic Research Paper:
A Learning Commons Digital Workshop
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 Early On
A well-written academic paper almost always needs two key elements: a topic
and a thesis.
The topic is a subject—in other words, something or someone that the paper
is about.
The thesis is a focused statement about that topic—in other words, the
particular aspect of the subject that the paper will discuss—the angle the writer
will take in treating the topic.
 The Topic
To select a good topic for a paper, remember:
1. The topic must not be so big that it cannot be covered well in a single paper.
For example, “castles” is an enormous topic. “The defensive systems and
structures of a medieval English castle” is much more manageable.
2. The topic should be unified. If the paper’s topic is a particular actor’s early
career, there should not be a shift to a treatment of a famous musician from
the same country as the actor.
 Which of these would make good topics
for a paper?
1. Thomas Edison’s use of trial and error in developing the incandescent
lightbulb
2. The intriguing relationship between wolves and blackbirds
3. Egyptian history
4. Military technology
 Those on the left would likely work much
better than those on the right.
Thomas Edison’s use of trial and error Egyptian history
in developing the incandescent
lightbulb This topic is too broad and does not
have a clear focus.

Military technology
The intriguing relationship between
wolves and blackbirds This topic is too large to be discussed
in one paper.
 The Thesis
A thesis is written as a complete sentence. It identifies the paper’s topic and
focuses it.
Here are some examples of good thesis statements:
Golden retrievers make excellent household pets.
Learning a foreign language broadens a person’s perspective in several important ways.
The Watergate scandal changed the way the American people viewed the office of President.
The vampire in popular fiction and cinema has changed drastically over the past century.
Nurses perform one of the most difficult—yet most important—jobs in the healthcare
profession.
 Which of these would make good thesis
statements?
1. Three techniques used by special effects teams for the movies.
2. Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania.
3. The Invention of Hugo Cabret used the medium of the printed book in
several innovative ways.
4. The major works of J. R. R. Tolkien are based solidly in a Christian worldview.
 Those on the left are good, focused thesis
statements.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret used Three techniques used by special effects
the medium of the printed book in teams for the movies.
several innovative ways. This one falls short because it’s not a
complete sentence.

The major works of J. R. R. Tolkien are

Pittsburgh is a city in western Pennsylvania.
based solidly in a Christian worldview.
This one is simply a statement of fact. As
written, it offers no room for discussion or
research.
 The Parts of a Basic Research Paper
1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion
4. Works Cited or References
 The Introduction
Capture and hold the reader’s attention.
Introduce the topic, narrowing it down to the thesis statement.

You may use any of the following techniques:

a) Move from the general to the specific.
b) To invite thought, ask a question.
c) Tell an anecdote.
d) Provide background or setup information.
e) Use facts and/or statistics.
 A figure in a flowing black cape looms in the
moonlight. He stretches forth his arms. Fiery eyes
blaze in his pallid face. Sharp fangs glint. His
Sample opponent raises a crucifix, and the dark figure
recoils. Pressing his advantage, this second person
Introduction draws from his large pocket a wooden stake. The
audience recognizes all these elements of the
scene; they know they are watching a vampire
Scene-setting details / and his enemy. Since the 1897 publication of Bram
anecdote Stoker’s Dracula, vampires have occupied a place
General to specific in western literature, cinema, and popular culture.
Setup information and Yet the vampires commonly featured today are
details different in significant ways from those of the
past; blood-suckers have undergone some
Fact
changes in the past century.
Thesis statement at the end
 The Body
In the body of the paper, the thesis is developed and treated in detail. The body may be a few
paragraphs or many pages in length. No matter how long or short the body is, it is made up of
paragraphs. Each paragraph deals with just one main idea.

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2
Thesis Statement

Body Paragraph 3
 Individual Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph develops one part or aspect of the thesis.
Each develops just one main idea, using details that support and illustrate.
Each begins with its own topic sentence. Just as the thesis statement governs
the entire paper, the topic sentence of a paragraph governs that paragraph,
telling the reader what specific idea will be treated.
Remember to order the paragraphs in a logical way and connect them with
smooth transitions.
A Picture of the Paper’s Structure
Introduction, ending with the thesis statement

Body paragraphs, each paragraph on one main idea and beginning

with a topic sentence

Conclusion
 The Conclusion
The conclusion is a paragraph at the end of the paper that wraps the paper up. It provides a
sense of finality.
The challenge in writing a good conclusion is to summarize and complete the paper without
repeating much from the body—and also without introducing new material which should be a
part of the body.
Some techniques include the following:
a) summarizing
b) providing related and illustrative material
c) asking a question to invite thought
d) making a prediction
 As so many stories, films, and comics of the
past century indicate, the vampire has continually
captivated the imaginations of readers and
Sample viewers in western culture. Does this shadowy
denizen of the night represent what we fear the
Conclusion most, or what we long for? Is the vampire a
monster, a villain, a hero, a heartthrob, or a mirror
for our own dramatic and troubled spirits?
Perhaps the answer lies in some combination of
Summary all these possibilities. What seems clear is that the
vampire will continue to evolve as long as there
Question are storytellers and audiences. In a hundred years,
Prediction he or she may have a new form, but the vampire
will continue to haunt our dark dreams.
Sense of finality
 Works Cited / References
 Finally, most research papers include a list of works cited (MLA) or references (APA).
This list involves carefully following the guidelines as instructed by the course professor.
Although this list of materials and sources requires close attention to detail, it does not have to be
scary or overwhelming.
Make your task easy by keeping careful track of all your sources:
 where you found them,
 who wrote them,
 when they were written and posted on-line,
 what book pages your notes are from, etc.
There are many resources and guides to assist you, both printed and on-line.
If you have questions, please see any librarian, English tutor, or learning facilitator—all these people are
ready to help you.
 This concludes the workshop.
Thank you for taking this workshop, How to Structure a Basic Research Paper. We hope you
have found it useful.
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reading, and study skills in various ways.
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