Elements of a thesis:

While the style and content of a research paper vary greatly, they should all have some version of the following elements. I provide some suggestions on how to structure your paper and some questions for you to think about. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but should provide a rough guide for your rough drafting.

• Opening/introduction:
  
• Introduction/set the stage:
• This is often done with a short anecdote, but you can also pose a problem in other ways, e.g., with a more theoretical discussion.
• Issues/importance of topic:
  • What are the historical events,social or cultural phenomena, tendencies or issues the papers will present?
  • What are the main conceptual or scholarly issues that the topic raises?
  • Why do they matter? In other words, why should I care about these issues
    
• A brief statement of your argument:
  
  • Explain what you hope to show.
    
  • What will showing that do for the issues/problems you have already outlined?
    
  • This statement should come within the first 2-3 pages, usually by the second paragraph.
    
  • How you will demonstrate your thesis.
    
• Your methodology:
  
  • Explain what sort of sources you used and why you chose those.
    
  • If you use an explicit theory or model to guide your analysis, here is where you should describe it (but not at great length).
    
• Body
  
  • Present evidence that you have found that makes your argument.
    
  • Link this evidence to each step of your argument.
    
  • You can write it as a narrative story if you like, but you must explain how that story illustrates your argument.
    
  • Make the argument clear step by step:
• Provide transitions from point to point, issue to issue
  
• Some people use subheadings, but this is not necessary if you don’t want to.
  
• Conclusion
  
  • It is not just a restatement of the argument:
    
    • Though it does help to summarize the argument.
      
  • Some questions to consider for your conclusion:
    
    • How does your analysis advance understanding of this issue?
      
    • What are larger implications of your findings?
      
    • Can you tie up the issues raised in the open?

¹A Note on Notes:
• I am not a stickler for form on your reference notes, particularly for the rough draft. The notes in a research paper have three purposes that your references should fulfill. First, they provide a way to make sure the information you provide connects to a source accurately. Second, they provide a way to understand your methodology and a basis to judge how you have interpreted the evidence. Finally, they establish your authority as an honest, careful researcher whose analysis can be trusted.