Week 3A3 - Creating a Writing Plan 3

Activity 3: Organizing Your Paper

Now that you have a thesis statement, the next step is to plan for the organization of your research paper. Decide on whether you will write an outline or create a visual organizer for your research paper. Use the hints below to construct your outline or visual organizer.

Look over the data you collected and decide how to group the ideas you found.
What are your main points or observations? How do these ideas support a thesis statement? Once you know that, you can cluster or group your research findings under several main topics that support your thesis.

If you choose an outline, you will include three major sections: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Generally, a research paper outline for LAT1 looks something like the following and includes full sentences followed by citations for any researched material.

Introduction

The introduction should give the purpose, scope, and background for your research.

Name your topic and explain and define any important aspects or terms needed to understand the focus of this paper.
Introduce what is significant or problematic about this topic.
State your thesis and describe the pattern of information which will follow

Body

(There are several different patterns to consider here).

You can begin with the most important evidence or data first, followed by secondary data, including data which presents an alternative or counterpoint to the thesis statement.After presenting the data, the writer analyzes the findings by identifying strengths and weaknesses before drawing conclusions.
You can gradually build up to the most important findings, negating minor issues as the evidence builds.
If you would like to persuade as well as inform, you can present the most important data last, with the second most important first, and the least important in the middle. Analysis also follows the data in a persuasive paper.
The pattern you choose will depend on the effect you want to achieve.

Conclusion: To end your paper, summarize the data which supports your thesis. Then extend your thesis by explaining its implications and likely consequences in the future.

If you choose to create a visual organizer, you might create a clustering map or a mind map:

You will need to draw a central point for your central claim or thesis.
You will cluster introduction ideas around that central claim. This might include historical data, statistical data, background information, or leading edge interests that a reader would be intrigued to read.
Next, you will create several clusters for the body of your paper which presents the data and contributing ideas.
Your clustering for the body sections of the paper should include all the information you have gathered. (Even though this visual organizer may be intuitive to you as the writer, make it clear to those who look at it as readers).
Finally, you will need to cluster the final conclusions of your paper with a restated thesis to summarize your research paper.

Remember that a mind map, clustering tool, or other visual organizer is not less organized than an outline but is a more graphic rendition of your paper.

Note: Microsoft Word 2007 has a SmartArt tool that might be used to help create your visual organizer.

When you are ready to send a visual organizer, you will have to take a screen shot of it or a photo of it and insert it into a word-processing document. You will then attach it to this week's course of study task as an *.rtf document and send it as an attachment.

Citation: sguy. (2007, February 26). Week 3A3 - Creating a Writing Plan 3. Retrieved March 14, 2010, from Western Governors University Web site: http://ocw.wgu.edu/liberal-arts/research-writing-and-oral-presentation-after-11-1-2/week-3a3-creating-a-writing-plan-3.