If you have an idea for a topic that isn’t listed, feel free to ask your instructor if it would be okay to write about something that isn’t on the list they provided. In some cases, the teacher or professor might just provide an assignment sheet covering the logistics of the paper, but leave the topic choice up to you. If this happens, it can be helpful to come up with a short list of ideas on your own, then choose the best one. Don’t hesitate to ask your instructor for guidance on choosing a topic if you’re having trouble deciding.
Note that there are different types of papers including research papers, opinion papers, and analytical essays. All of them need a thesis statement and all of them require you to do research and review various sources in order to write them. Your primary sources may come from the Internet, books, and various academic databases. [3] X Expert Source Matthew Snipp, PhDResearch Fellow, U. S. Bureau of the Census Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. Try to form your own ideas about your topic, based on your research. [4] X Expert Source Matthew Snipp, PhDResearch Fellow, U. S. Bureau of the Census Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. In other words, don’t just restate what the author of a source is already telling you. As you do your research, what questions do you find yourself asking? What patterns are you noticing? What are your own reactions and observations?[5] X Expert Source Matthew Snipp, PhDResearch Fellow, U. S. Bureau of the Census Expert Interview. 26 March 2020. Keep in mind that a thesis is not a topic, a fact, or an opinion. It is an argument based on observations and findings that you are trying to prove in your paper, like a hypothesis statement in a science experiment.
An example of a thesis statement for a research paper is: “The Soviet Union collapsed because of the ruling class’s inability to tackle the economic problems of the common people. ” This tells the reader what point you are going to back up with evidence in the rest of your paper. A thesis statement for an opinion paper might read something like: “Libraries are an essential community resource and as such should receive more funding from local municipal governments. ” An analytical essay’s thesis statement could be: “JD Salinger makes heavy use of symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye in order to create feelings of melancholy and uncertainty in the novel. ”
For example, if your thesis is about why the government needs to do more to protect wetland ecosystems, main supporting points could be: “effects of wetland loss in the US,” “current lack of laws protecting wetlands,” and “benefits of saving wetlands. ” These major points form the body of your paper, in between your introduction and your conclusion.
For example, under a main point that says “employment conditions affect the mental health of workers,” your sub-points might be: “high levels of stress are directly related to mental health” and “workers in low-skill positions tend to have higher levels of stress. ” Conduct additional research as needed to come up with supporting points to back up your thesis and major points. [8] X Expert Source Matthew Snipp, PhDResearch Fellow, U. S. Bureau of the Census Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
For example, you might write something like: “It’s common for apps and social media to be demonized as a waste of time and brain space, but not all such technology should be considered mindless entertainment. In fact, many apps and social media networks can be used for educational and academic purposes. ”
Make sure the background information about your topic that you include in your intro flows nicely into your thesis.
Think of each paragraph as kind of a mini essay in and of itself. Each paragraph should be a self-contained chunk of information that relates to the overall topic and thesis of your paper. Supporting evidence can be things like statistics, data, facts, and quotes from your sources
For example, if your thesis in your intro was “The use of technology can benefit children because it improves developmental skills,” restate it something like this: “The use of technology contributes to children’s well-rounded development from a young age. ”
For example, you might write something like: “Deforestation is directly linked to climate change and increasingly extreme weather across the world, which is why global governments must take more action to stop illegal logging. ”
For example, say something like: “Ignoring the realities of deforestation and climate change has grave implications for all of us. If we don’t start putting more pressure on governments to act, your children or grandchildren will be living in a very different world from that which we inhabit today. ”
Humanities subjects include language arts and cultural studies. Note that these are just the basic rules for writing an MLA-style works cited page. For a full list of rules regarding all things MLA and citations, refer to an MLA handbook. Note that there is some crossover between certain subjects, in which case more than 1 style of works cited or reference page may be acceptable. Always review your assignment rubric or ask your professor which style of citations they prefer before writing your reference or works cited page.
Social sciences include psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Refer to an APA style guide for complete rules about how to list different types of sources.
Check a Chicago Manual of Style for more specific instructions about citations. Note that Chicago style is more commonly used for published works. If you’re a student, your professor might instruct you to use MLA format for your papers.
Anywhere from a few hours to a day is a good amount of time to wait before you start revising your paper. The point is to come back to it with a fresh set of eyes. If you can, get a roommate, a family member, a friend, or a classmate to read your paper too. Ask them for advice on ways you could make your argument and your evidence more clear or relevant. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself as you read each sentence and piece of information in your paper: Is this really worth saying? Does this say what I want it to say? Will readers understand what I’m saying?
It helps to read your paper out loud as you do this. Listen for awkward pauses, phrases, and sentence structure, and revise them so the writing flows better. Try copying and pasting your essay into the free online tool called “Hemingway. ” The app suggests many different ways to make your writing clearer, more direct, and more readable.
Take this sentence as an example: “The collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the collapse of local governments and economies across Eastern Europe. ” Instead of using “collapse” twice, replace the second instance with “crumbling. ”
It’s also a good idea to paste your paper into a third-party tool, like Grammarly, for a final spelling and grammar check. Not every program catches everything, so it’s better to be on the safe side!
