1. Writing an Outline, Body Paragraphs and Successful Transitions Useful stuff for your Research Paper!

2. How do I organize my paragraphs? Follow your outline Strive for clarity—organize time, procedures, or priorities in an order that makes sense Keep similar subtopics together Strengthen your argument as you go— typically, strongest points should come at the very end.

3. Making an Outline An outline is a plan for the content of your paper, and the order you will put it in. Before we do ANYTHING else, let’s make a plan. You might make your outline in web form, or in a more formal bulleted list. It shows parts of your paper, like intro/body/conclusion, as well as big topics you will cover (usually about 4-5). Your outline should have a way of showing the smaller details/subtopics within each bigger topic. Your outline should also show where each of your sources will be incorporated into your paper. PLAN IT OUT. YES, THIS IS REQUIRED. “Outlines don’t work for me” is just a way of saying “I don’t take time to plan out what I write because I am lazy and/or cocky about my writing skills.”

4. Looks something like this!

5. Or this!

6. How should I write each paragraph?

7. A good paragraph is kinda like a burger… General topic sentence that reveals the purpose of the paragraph Juicy deliciousness: Specific INFORMATION that you paraphrase or quote and explain The meat: Specialized INTERPRETATION… your own commentary/description of how the information matters to your paper’s overall purpose [STANCE] General concluding sentence that reaffirms the purpose of the information given

8. How long should a paragraph be? You make this choice for each paragraph. There is no set length. In professional writing, it varies. Some paragraphs are super long, while some are quite short. However, in general, you should have at least one quote per paragraph and when in doubt don’t skimp on length… You don’t want your paragraph to look like this.

9. What are transitions? A TRANSITION is basically a reason to start a new paragraph. It describes the relationship between one paragraph and the next. o 1. Going a level deeper into the discussion of the topic introduced in the previous paragraph o 2. Applying the idea mentioned in the previous paragraph to a specific story or situation. o 3. Offering a different perspective/giving contrast to the idea in the previous paragraph o 4. Marking a complete change in time or topic. (Adding something completely new) o 5. Returning to the discussion of something mentioned previously in the paper.

10. Graceful transitions use the topic sentence to carry the reader from one paragraph to another. A small amount of information from the previous paragraph should be carried to the next.

11. Example of carrying over information in a transition that offers contrast:

12. TRANSITION WORDS! For continuing a common line of reasoning: consequently clearly, then furthermore additionally and in addition moreover because besides that in the same way following this further also pursuing this further in the light of the... it is easy to see that To change the line of reasoning (contrast): however on the other hand but yet nevertheless on the contrary For opening a paragraph initially or for general use: admittedly assuredly certainly granted no doubt nobody denies obviously of course to be sure true undoubtedly unquestionably generally speaking in general at this level in this situation For the final points of a paragraph or essay: finally, lastly Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically: first... second... third... generally... furthermore... finally in the first place... also... lastly in the first place... pursuing this further... finally to be sure... additionally... lastly in the first place... just in the same way... finally basically... similarly... as well To signal conclusion: therefore this hence in final analysis in conclusion in final consideration indeed To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way: in other words point in fact specifically Sequence or time after afterwards as soon as at first at last before before long finally first... second... third in the first place in the meantime later meanwhile next soon then