How to write the first draft of a research paper.
Research Paper: Write a First Draft
- Every essay or paper is made up of three parts:
- introduction
- body
- conclusion
- The introduction is the first paragraph of the paper. It often begins with a general statement about the topic and ends with a more specific statement of the main idea of your paper. The purpose of the introduction is to
- let the reader know what the topic is
- inform the reader about your point of view
- arouse the reader's curiosity so that he or she will want to read about your topic
- The body of the paper follows the introduction. It consists of a number of paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in detail.
- Limit each paragraph to one main idea. (Don't try to talk about more than one idea per paragraph.)
- Prove your points continually by using specific examples and quotations from your note cards.
- Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph.
- The conclusion is the last paragraph of the paper. Its purpose is to
- summarize your points, leaving out specific examples
- restate the main idea of the paper
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