1. Basic Steps For Writing Research Papers
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2. Research papers are like puzzles that you have to put together, and the only puzzle pieces that you cannot change are the quotes/sources that you use.
Introduction Paragraph
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph

3. Step 1: Take your research questions and begin finding quotes/sources that answer them.
Remember, once you find a quote/source you want to use, copy down the text that you may use and do a proper citation for it right away. Keep all that information in an to yourself, so you can always access it.
Introduction Paragraph
Body Paragraph 1
Quote/Citation 1
Body Paragraph 2
Quote/Citation 2
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph

4. Step 2: Once you have your quotes/sources, build a thesis statement that ties them all together and will organize your entire essay.
Introduction Paragraph
Thesis
Body Paragraph 1
Quote/Citation 1
Body Paragraph 2
Quote/Citation 2
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph

5. Step 3: Once you have your thesis, begin writing all of the other parts of your paragraphs.
Introduction Paragraph
Hook
Brief Background
Thesis
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence 1
Quote/Citation 1
Analysis of Quote/Citation 1
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence 2
Quote/Citation 2
Analysis of Quote/Citation 2
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate your thesis
Summarize your argument
End with a broad connection.

6. Introduction Paragraph
Hook
Brief Background
Thesis
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence 1
Quote/Citation 1
Analysis of Quote/Citation 1
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence 2
Quote/Citation 2
Analysis of Quote/Citation 2
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate your thesis
Summarize your argument
End with a broad connection.

7. You can do this! However, realize that it is going to be a lot more work if you do not follow this process and/or wait for the last minute. REMEMBER: LAZY PEOPLE WORK TWICE AS HARD!

8. Basic Essay-Writing Considerations
Body Paragraphs are just like the short-answer questions you wrote for STAAR.
Answer the question = Topic Sentence
Bring in the quote = Quote/Citation
Connect with commentary = Your analysis of the quote/citation
An overall essay is like the short-answer questions you wrote for STAAR
Answer the question = Your Introduction Paragraph and Thesis
Bring in the quote = Supporting your thesis through body paraphs
Connect with commentary = Your conclusion paragraph
GOOD WRITING IS GOOD WRITING
Whatever is has been called in the past and regardless of how complicated school has tried to make it for you.

9. Basic Essay-Writing Considerations Cont’d
An essay is an argument, and you communicate using this basic and intuitive form all of the time. Don’t let the fact that it is now called an “essay” get in your way.
Introduction Paragraph
Hook: Mom, you look so pretty today.
Brief Background: I’ve been thinking a lot about how you want me to act more mature.
Thesis: You should raise my curfew to midnight so that I really can become more mature.
Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence 1: Raising my curfew to midnight would give me a chance to practice safe driving at night.
Quote/Citiation 1: We all know that it is harder to drive at night and that we have to look out for crazy drivers the later it gets.
Analysis of Quote/Citation 2: If I could get more practice now, you won’t have to worry about me driving at night when I go off to college.
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence 2: Also, I would get the chance to be the responsible one among my friends.
Quote/Citation 2: You always say, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”
Analysis of Quote/Citation 2: This would give me a chance to be home before anything too crazy happens, plus I’d b able to give any friends a safe ride home who might need one.
Body Paragraphn
You can keep adding body paragraphs, as long as they continue to support your thesis.
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate your thesis: See mom, that’s why you should raise my curfew to midnight – to make me more mature.
Summarize your argument: Not only would it make me a better night-drive, it will also help me to be the responsible one when I’m with my friends.
End with a broad connection: I know you only want what’s best for me, and this is definitely what’s best for me. Thanks, mom! I love you!