Sample Outline :

Paper Working Title: The Value of Advanced Preparation in Writing Research Papers

Thesis Statement – Extensive preparation will help students write higher quality, more meaningful research papers. Developing components of the paper far in advance will allow for a more thoughtful discussion and a better supported argument.

1. Introduction
   1. Provide outlined points describing what you’ll include
   2. The introduction and conclusion don’t need too much detail, but all of the sections between should be more extensive

1. Literature Review: What do other authors say about your general topic?
   1. The assignment calls for a section for each of the sections of your paper
      • Include outline entries under each of these major sections
      • If you choose to write in full sentences it will make writing the draft easier! If you do, a sentence or two will suffice for each sections
2. You can also choose to include simple bullet points, but if you do I expect you to include at least another level of the outline
   • Bullets are quicker
     1. You’ll still want to include as much information as you can
     2. More info will help preparation
        1. Cite where you can to show how you’re hoping to use your sources (Pearson, 2022)
   • Here in the literature review you’ll want to talk a lot about earlier work
     1. Important work
     2. Material that describes the field that you’re discussing
     3. It shouldn’t look like this though!
        • Yours should be specific to your topic
        • Don’t just include general statements

1. Literature Review: Specific issues to your topic
   1. The literature review should move from the general to the more specific
   2. As it advances you should be moving towards information directly relating to the specific ideas that you’re discussing

1. The discussion section is where you’ll start telling me about what really matters
   1. Here you should start coming to conclusions 
      • Explain why the things you discussed in the literature review support what you’re trying to say
      • You can cite the same sources again – in fact you should, if they mattered in your literature review, they’ll matter here as well

1. Discussion:  As you start thinking about the structure of the paper you can include sections in the outline describing what you’re planning on writing about
   1. You do NOT have to stick with everything in the outline when you write your paper
      • As your research continues you might change your mind about some things
      • You also might find that some ideas of how the paper would form aren’t appealing to you any more – you’re NOT stuck with what you include in the outline

1. Discussion: The discussion should end with ideas about how to make things better and what remains unknown
   1. It’s normal to talk about shortcomings in the literature – what haven’t researchers figured out that you want to know?
      • A great place to suggest additional research
2. The assignment asks for a policy suggestion – this is the place for it?
   • What should be done differently based on your research?
   • Are there changes required? Are there no needs for policy changes?

1. Conclusion

 

References

Green, A. (2007). IELTS washback in context: Preparation for academic writing in higher education (Vol. 25). Cambridge University Press.

Pearson, W. S. (2022). Student engagement with teacher written feedback on rehearsal essays undertaken in preparation for IELTS. SAGE Open, 12(1), 1-17. https://doi.org10.1177/21582449221979842

Ravenel, M. P. (1928). The preparation and presentation of papers. American Journal of Public Health and the Nations Health, 18(2), 140-144. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.18.2.140

Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS quarterly, 26(2), xiii-xxiii. http://libproxy.temple.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/analyzing-past-prepare-future-writing-literature/docview/218128975/se-2?accountid=14270

 

Examples of things that you can include:

• What’s your current research question?
• What’s your thesis statement, if your work has allowed you to generate one yet?
   
   Literature Review: Background information on topic
• What historical observations have been made about your topic?
• What have other authors found?
• Define and describe concepts and concerns that relate to your topic

Literature Review: Current issues in the field surrounding your research question
 
 

• Describe the most up to date research describing your topic
• Are there specific studies that talk about your topic exactly? How about peripheral ideas that you can extend to your topic?

 Discussion: How does the information you reviewed speak to your research question

 Discussion: How does the information you reviewed speak to improving problems that you’ve described?

• How will things change in the future?
• What policy changes may help address the problems?
• What implications are there to society, the stakeholders in your discussion, or others?
• Why might you be wrong??!?!!
• Are there shortcomings in the research that you addressed?
• Are there different perspectives that offer different solutions than what you’ve 
   found?
• Why are you right and they’re wrong?
• What future research can help clarify these things?

DO NOT JUST COPY AND PASTE THESE INTO AN OUTLINE FORM! This is NOT a good outline!

Your outline should obviously be specific to your topic, but it can (and probably should) include some of the things listed here.