Research Paper Part II: From the Assignment to the Topical Outline

When students receive an essay assignment—on a test, on an examination, or for a class term paper—they should look carefully at the wording of the question or the assignment. In the language of the assignment, students will find key words that can help them to prepare a topical outline.

Let’s take the assignment for the Comp I and II research papers, and look for these key words.
 

The assignment for the first option reads as follows:

Write a research paper on a trip you would like to take.  Describe your destination. Why you would like to go there?  How would you get there? What would you do there? Where would you stay? Your paper should describe a wide range of issues including geography, history, politics, recreation, and transportation, among others.  Discuss what other people have written about the place.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Note: Reports on Disneyland, Disneyworld, amusement parks and cruise ships will not be accepted.  Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here is the assignment with key words in bold:

Write a research paper on a trip you would like to take.  Describe your destination. Why you would like to go there?  How would you get there? What would you do there? Where would you stay? Your paper should describe a wide range of issues including geography, history, politics, recreation, and transportation, among others.  Discuss what other people have written about the place.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Note: Reports on Disneyland, Disneyworld, amusement parks and cruise ships will not be accepted.  Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here are the key words listed with words (in parenthesis) that should come to mind as you think about the list:

Describe (name) your destination. (Thesis.)

Why? (Reasons what you want to visit your destination—could be used for main points in your introduction.)

How? (How will you get there, how will you get around?)

What? (What will you do there?)

Where? (Where will you go when you get there?  Where will you stay?)

Geography (Geography of your destination.  Does this fit into why you chose your destination?)

History (History of your destination. Does this fit into why you chose your destination?)

Politics (What do travelers need to know who are going to this destination? Laws, visas, vaccines, crime rates, etc.)

Recreation (What will you do when you are there?  Museums, beaches, sightseeing, shopping,  restaurants and dining, etc.

Transportation (How will you get there, and how will you get around when you are there?: trains, airplanes, car rentals…)

Next, take the key words and make a topical outline that you should fellow as you write your paper:

I Introduction

A Create Interest: Talk about travel in general? Your past travel?

B Thesis: your destination.

C Main Points:  reasons you want to go there? List three or four reasons only.

II Geography

III History

IV Politics, what travelers need to know.

V How will you get there and how will you get around?

VI Lodging: where will you stay?

VII Activity One

VII Activity Two

VIII Activity Three

IX Activity Four

X Activity Five

XI Conclusion
A Thesis: your destination.

B Main Points:  reasons you want to go there? List three or four reasons only.

C What’s Next:  when can you take this trip?

D Closure

The assignment for the second option reads as follows:

Write a research paper on a current event or issue.  Describe the significance of the event or issue, place it in its historical context, and examine the causes and effects surrounding it.  What have different people said about the significance of the event or issue?  Describe and explain your perspective, opinion, and understanding of the event or issue.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here is the assignment with key words in bold:

Write a research paper on a current event or issue.  Describe the significance of the event or issue, place it in its historical context, and examine the causes and effects surrounding it.  What have different people said about the significance of the event or issue?  Describe and explain your perspective, opinion, and understanding of the event or issue.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here are the key words listed with words (in parenthesis) that should come to mind as you think about the list:

Current event or issue (Thesis, subject of your paper.)

Significance (Main points)

Historical context (History of your subject.)

Causes (What led to the issue/event/subject/controversy, etc.)

Effects (How has the issue/event effected people, and so on.)

What have different people said (Significant figures like politicians, journalists, academic researchers, and so on.  Here you have space for research, but of course your research belongs in all your paragraphs. The significant thing here are the conclusions or perspectives of various people.)

Your perspective (What do you think of the issue event?  You should say this at the end of most of your body paragraphs, but here is your over-all assessment of the issue/event/your subject.)

Next, take the key words and make a topical outline that you should fellow as you write your paper. Keep in mind, the following outline is very “generic.”  Your outline should be carefully modified to fit your subject:

I Introduction

A Create Interest: Background information. Talk about the issue in very general terms.

B Thesis: The subject of your paper.

C Main Points: why is your subject significant?  List three or four reasons only.

II History, part I

III History, part II

IV Causes.

V Effects.

VI What are people concluding about the issue?

VII What is your perspective/assessment/what have you learned or uncovered?

VIII Conclusion
A Thesis: The subject of your paper.

B Main Points:  Main Points: why is your subject significant?  List three or four reasons only.

C What’s Next:  Final observations or recommendations?

D Closure