All essays and research papers consist of three parts:
- an introduction
- body paragraphs
- conclusion.
The Introduction:
- is the first paragraph of our essay
- it is begins with a general statement about your topic
- provides background information for your reader
- concludes with the thesis (last sentence of the introduction)
The Thesis
- is the last sentence of the paragraph
- one sentence only
- is a strong statement that you can prove
- is the answer to your research question
- is the controlling idea of the research and is a map to the route the research essay will follow
- is specific and expresses one major idea about the subject
The Body
- is where the evidence to prove the thesis is presented
- is where the information supports or proves the thesis statement
- this supporting information can be analysis, argument, evaluation, persuasion and comparison/contrast
- the body of the paper is well organized with each paragraph consisting of a topic sentence, supporting and concluding sentences and a transition to the next paragraph
- all support for your thesis, whether quoted or paraphrased, must be cited
Conclusion
- this is the last paragraph of the paper and summarizes how your paper proved the thesis
- restates thesis
- leave the reader with a last thought (the “hmmmm” factor)
- no new information is given in this paragraph.
Introduction | General statement about the topic Background information for your reader Thesis |
Body | First Paragraph – Main Point Supporting Details Supporting Details Concluding Sentence Transition |
You can devote 2 or 3 paragraphs to each main point if you choose | |
Second Paragraph – Main Point Supporting Details Supporting Details Concluding Sentence Transition | |
Third Paragraph – Main Point Supporting Details Supporting Details Concluding Sentence Transition | |
Conclusion | Summary of the main points used to prove the thesis Last thought (“hmmmm” factor) |
*****Remember, the Science Research Paper needs an Abstract*****
Abstract
- a self-contained, short, and powerful statement that describes a larger work.
- abstract of a scientific work often contains the scope, purpose, results, and contents of the work.
- is not a review
- Contains key words found in the larger work
- The abstract is an original document rather than an excerpted passage.
- Is located after the Title Page and before the Introduction
- is short and to the point – provides an overview of the essay