Research Paper Worksheet
1. What about this research interests you?
2. From your interests, choose a topic. Write it below.
3. Can you narrow this topic?
4. Can you narrow it further?
5. Create a research question from this narrowed topic?
6. Create a statement from the research question. This is your working thesis.
7. Revise the working thesis. The thesis could change further as your paper develops and likely will. Begin revising by completing this statement: In this paper, I will…(You can change this later). Explain what you will do in the paper. Then explain how you will do it (what research are you using and how?) Next, explain the significance of it. (Why relevant, necessary, etc?) In other words: what are you doing? How are you going to accomplish it? And, why is it significant?
The Introduction
Introduces the reader to the research you will be using and your thesis. Explain what has been done before and what you are doing now.
The Body
What research supports the thesis? Address any counter arguments or gaps that you notice. You do not need to solve issues raised. You can just raise them if there is no clear answer. Avoid dichotomy or polarized arguments (good/bad, positive/negative, etc)
Your proof: Sandwich method
Statement (introduction to quote, paraphrase, or summary)
Proof (quote, summary, paraphrase)
Significance (so what? Why relevant to the thesis?)
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Worksheet for Research Papers
1. What about this research piques your interest?
2. Pick a topic based on your interests. Fill in the blanks below.
3. Are you able to narrow this topic down?
4. Is it possible to narrow it down even more?
5. From this narrowed topic, create a research question?
6. Take the research question and turn it into a statement. This is the first draft of your thesis.
7. Go over the working thesis again. The thesis may, and most likely will, change as your paper progresses. Begin revising by filling in the blanks: In this paper, I’m going to… (This can be changed later.) Describe what you plan to do in the paper. Then explain how you will do it (what research are you using and how?) Next, explain the significance of it. (Why relevant, necessary, etc?) In other words: what are you doing
