Module 9 - Activity 2

Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Activity 5

Activity 2: Determine a Pattern of Organization

To plan for the organization of your research paper, look over the data you collected and decide how to group the ideas you found.  What are the main points or observations, and how do these observations support your thesis statement? Cluster or group your research findings under these main observations.  After you have completed this task, you should be ready to create an outline.

If you choose an outline, you will include three major sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.  Within those three sections, however, you will have some decisions to make regarding the placement of information, especially in the body.  Generally, a research paper outline for LCTA looks something like the following:  

• Introduction –The introduction should give the purpose, scope and background for your research. Name your topic, explaining and defining 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.  1) In informational reports, the most important evidence or data may be mentioned 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.    2) In other types of informational papers, the evidence gradually builds up to the most important findings, negating minor issues as the evidence builds.  3) In informational papers that persuade in addition to inform, the most important data is given last, with the second most important first, and the least important in the middle. Analysis also follows the data in a persuasive paper.  Which pattern you choose will depend on the effect you want to achieve. 
• Conclusion – To end your paper, summarize the data which supports the thesis.  Then extend your thesis by explaining its implications and likely consequences in the future.