HHS4M SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PAPER



SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH ESSAY OUTLINE

Title Page (see template or sample or APA Style Essentials)

❑ Adjust the margins to 2,5 cm or 1” and select double spacing – save as default for whole document

❑ Complete the Header/ Running head

❑ Go to the Insert tab on the toolbar and click on Header

❑ Click on different first page

❑ then click on the Blank option

❑ then click on Page Number – Top of the Page and Plain Number 1 by clicking on each

❑ then click on Insert Alignment Tab and then choose Right and click ok

❑ then type the words “Running head: SHORT VERSION OF TITLE ALL CAPS 50 CHARACTERS MAX”

❑ then click on Close Header and Footer

❑ Complete the Main Title Portion

❑ Type the title using capitals at the beginning of each word

❑ Double space and on the next line type your name

❑ Double space and on the next line type the name of the school that you attend

Introduction (see template or sample or APA Style Essentials)

At this level the introduction should be one to three paragraphs long depending on the length of your essay (the longer the essay the more paragraphs you will need to properly introduce all the information) and should include…

❑ The header needs to be changed to just the title in ALL CAPS

❑ There should also be a title centred at the top of the page with normal capitalization

❑ Include a brief introduction and outline of the issue or topic

❑ Include any definitions relevant to the research you are compiling so that the reader understands your use of the terms and there is no confusion

❑ Include a brief summary of the main points that you will be describing to provide support for your thesis(there may be two, three, four or five etc… you are not limited nor bound to three)

❑ Include a thesis statement that clearly explains the point you will be proving throughout the paper – this may come before or after the summary of the main points you will be using for support (or both)

BODY (see template or sample or APA Style Essentials)

In this section of the essay you present the key findings from your secondary research using all the literature you could find and include that is available regarding your topic and thesis.

❑ Your first body paragraph should be based on one main idea or point that you are using to prove your thesis, fleshed out or comprised of two to four (not an exact science it could be more as needed) sub topics or ideas.

❑ These main ideas or proofs are meant to be backed up by research others have conducted regarding your topic, thesis and this main idea. You state your point and then refer to a study or article that supports this idea. If the source partly agrees, but also differs slightly you can refer to these specifics as well. This helps to make your paragraph (and in the end your paper) more comprehensive or complete.

❑ Actually use the sources to write your paragraphs, have them out in front of you in printed form or on line ready and accessible – it makes it so much easier to know what to write.

❑ When you are describing the information that you have found, it is a good idea to go into depth so that the reader fully understands the point that was made in the reading. They do not have access to the article or research report that you are using.

❑ Every time you describe or refer to theories, ideas or studies from your secondary sources you need to indicate the sources of the information that you used (can be more than one source for

a single viewpoint or piece of information – just split them using a semi colon ; ). With the APA format this means that you use in text citations instead of footnotes or end notes.

❑ This information needs to be presented in a logical format that helps to build the argument that you are making - your thesis.

❑ It is also a good idea to compare and contrast points of view that you find as it helps to build a

richer essay.

❑ While doing this it is a good idea to remember that you are still working toward proving your thesis. So you can describe counter views and then explain where they are flawed.

❑ When describing other points of view, theories or findings it is also a good idea to show some critical thought, where and why are they wrong or off the mark.

For every main point that you are using to prove your thesis you are allowed to use one, two or even more paragraphs chunked out by themes or similar areas or subtopics within the topic. This gives you the space to adequately cover your topic. When you only use one small paragraph per point not enough information is shared and the essay only seems to scratch the surface.

Tips

❑ find appropriate, valid resources of key findings from research in literature

❑ avoid using self-help websites or articles stick to web sites that include or report on research findings

❑ develop an outline to help keep yourself organized

❑ build your essay by describing the key findings or information gathered from your different sources (and keep track of them as you go – it will make things much easier for you in the long run!)

❑ go in depth when describing these key findings, compare and contrast and critique

❑ cite all sources according to APA guidelines

❑ avoid using I, we, our(s), you(s), nowadays, would of or could of (it is supposed to be would have or could have) firstly – secondly – thirdly, any contractions ex. don’t

Conclusion

This section should contain a restatement of your thesis or main argument. Your conclusion paragraph(s) should basically summarize the main points that you covered in your paper. You can include suggestions for future research that will build on your thesis or findings. You can conclude the paper with an insightful comment about the issue at hand (be careful not to be cliché* or overly dramatic with this comment). You can be witty and insightful though. The conclusion should probably be one paragraph long, unless your paper is really lengthy.

*being cliché means using overly common or over used sayings ex. stuck out like a sore thumb

❑ give a summary of the key findings that reinforce your thesis

❑ consider the implications of the research – why does this information matter anyway?

❑ give suggestions for future research

❑ wrap it up with a impactful comment about the issue

References (see template or sample or APA Style Essentials)

❑ use “in text” citations in APA style in the body of the paper to show all the sources you used even if you are using your own words example (Smith and Smith, 2001). NOTE the period comes after the second bracket not before the first one.

❑ if you are using a direct quotation include the page or paragraph number (for articles on line that don’t show page numbers) after the year in the brackets example (Smith and Smith, 2001 p. 34) or (Smith and Smith, 2001, par. 23)

❑ use a reference page that includes all works cited in the paper listed alphabetically by author

❑ do not use sources on the reference page that you looked at but did not actually cite in the paper

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