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How to Create a Structured Research Paper Outline | Example
Published on August 7, 2022 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on November 29, 2022.
A research paper outline is a useful tool to aid in the writing process , providing a structure to follow with all information to be included in the paper clearly organized.
A quality outline can make writing your research paper more efficient by helping to:
- Organize your thoughts
- Understand the flow of information and how ideas are related
- Ensure nothing is forgotten
A research paper outline can also give your teacher an early idea of the final product.
Table of contents
Research paper outline example, how to write a research paper outline, formatting your research paper outline, language in research paper outlines.
- Definition of measles
- Rise in cases in recent years in places the disease was previously eliminated or had very low rates of infection
- Figures: Number of cases per year on average, number in recent years. Relate to immunization
- Symptoms and timeframes of disease
- Risk of fatality, including statistics
- How measles is spread
- Immunization procedures in different regions
- Different regions, focusing on the arguments from those against immunization
- Immunization figures in affected regions
- High number of cases in non-immunizing regions
- Illnesses that can result from measles virus
- Fatal cases of other illnesses after patient contracted measles
- Summary of arguments of different groups
- Summary of figures and relationship with recent immunization debate
- Which side of the argument appears to be correct?
Follow these steps to start your research paper outline:
- Decide on the subject of the paper
- Write down all the ideas you want to include or discuss
- Organize related ideas into sub-groups
- Arrange your ideas into a hierarchy: What should the reader learn first? What is most important? Which idea will help end your paper most effectively?
- Create headings and subheadings that are effective
- Format the outline in either alphanumeric, full-sentence or decimal format
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There are three different kinds of research paper outline: alphanumeric, full-sentence and decimal outlines. The differences relate to formatting and style of writing.
- Alphanumeric
- Full-sentence
An alphanumeric outline is most commonly used. It uses Roman numerals, capitalized letters, arabic numerals, lowercase letters to organize the flow of information. Text is written with short notes rather than full sentences.
- Sub-point of sub-point 1
Essentially the same as the alphanumeric outline, but with the text written in full sentences rather than short points.
- Additional sub-point to conclude discussion of point of evidence introduced in point A
A decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline, but with a different numbering system: 1, 1.1, 1.2, etc. Text is written as short notes rather than full sentences.
- 1.1.1 Sub-point of first point
- 1.1.2 Sub-point of first point
- 1.2 Second point
To write an effective research paper outline, it is important to pay attention to language. This is especially important if it is one you will show to your teacher or be assessed on.
There are four main considerations: parallelism, coordination, subordination and division.
Parallelism: Be consistent with grammatical form
Parallel structure or parallelism is the repetition of a particular grammatical form within a sentence, or in this case, between points and sub-points. This simply means that if the first point is a verb , the sub-point should also be a verb.
Example of parallelism:
- Include different regions, focusing on the different arguments from those against immunization
Coordination: Be aware of each point’s weight
Your chosen subheadings should hold the same significance as each other, as should all first sub-points, secondary sub-points, and so on.
Example of coordination:
- Include immunization figures in affected regions
- Illnesses that can result from the measles virus
Subordination: Work from general to specific
Subordination refers to the separation of general points from specific. Your main headings should be quite general, and each level of sub-point should become more specific.
Example of subordination:
Division: break information into sub-points.
Your headings should be divided into two or more subsections. There is no limit to how many subsections you can include under each heading, but keep in mind that the information will be structured into a paragraph during the writing stage, so you should not go overboard with the number of sub-points.
Ready to start writing or looking for guidance on a different step in the process? Read our step-by-step guide on how to write a research paper .
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How to Write an Outline in 5 Steps
An outline is an organizational tool you use to keep track of all the topics and points you plan to include in a piece of writing. Knowing how to make an outline is a great advantage when you’re doing any kind of writing, from research papers to creative writing.
Still, many students and writers don’t know how to do an outline or understand the proper outline format. So below, we explain how to write an outline, with a step-by-step guide and a formal outline example. But first, let’s start with a simple question: What does it mean to “make an outline”?
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What is an outline in writing?
An outline is like a blueprint for writing . Simple outlines list the topics you plan to cover and the order they will go in. Outlines are usually broken up by paragraphs along with their supporting details like statistical data or logical evidence. When it’s time to write the first draft, the writer simply follows the outline so they know what to write about and in what order.
Why create an outline?
Topic outlines let you focus exclusively on the structure and fitting everything in the right place. That way, when you’re writing the first draft, you can focus on details like sentence structure and clarity without getting distracted by the big picture.
Knowing how to write an outline for a paper is particularly important if you want to keep track of your prior research. When outlining, you can decide the best way to put your findings into sections and paragraphs. The outline not only organizes your research but also ensures you don’t forget anything when writing the first draft.
Outline structure: What is the outline format?
Easy outlines are structured by paragraph : You list the topic of each paragraph along with a few bullet points about what goes into that paragraph. This allows you to easily rearrange the order of the paragraphs to find the perfect arrangement before you begin writing.
The standard outline format uses an alphanumeric system, which alternates letters and numerals at the start of each section.
- Main topics like sections or chapters are listed as Roman numerals.
- Paragraphs are usually listed as capital letters.
- Points and subtopics within a paragraph are listed as Arabic numerals.
- Specific details are listed as lower-case letters.
The content of the outline is generally written in blurbs—you don’t need to use complete sentences, although if you’re working as a team, using full sentences can help other people understand your ideas better and vice versa.
Standard outline format has a distinct indentation. Roman numeral lines are not indented, capital letter lines are indented once, Arabic numeral lines are indented twice, and lower-case letter lines are indented three times.
So you can see what an outline should look like, here’s an example of a writing outline for this section of this article.
III. Outline structure
A. Overview about outline structure
1. explain basic structure of outline
2. reiterate how outlines help with paragraph order
B. Alphanumeric system
1. introduce the alphanumeric system
a. bullet list of each line in alphanumeric system
C. Content written in blurbs
1. exceptions for sharing with teams
D. Outline indentation
E. Outline example
1. example outline of this section
As you can see, you use only the lines you need—not every paragraph needs markers for subtopics, and not every subtopic needs specific details.
It’s also worth noting that there is no official structure for outlining. For example, if you’re using longer paragraphs, you might want to use Roman numerals as the paragraph marker. The above example is simply the most common and easiest format to follow, but you’re free to structure your outline however seems most reasonable to you.
Outline format example: What does an outline look like?
Knowing how to create an outline for an essay or another piece of writing is impossible if you don’t know what an outline looks like.
We’ve already written articles about essay outlines and argumentative essay outlines in particular, but that doesn’t cover everything. So below we’ve included an outline example of a five-paragraph essay comparing the pros and cons of social media.
I. Does the harm of social media outweigh the benefits?
A. Introduction
1. briefly mention background of social media
a. specific examples like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
2. explain how social media is a major part of modern people’s lives
3. end with a teaser about whether or not social media is actually good
B. The advantages of social media
1. increased socialization
a. “Many respondents in this study used their social networks to make friends, chat with them, conduct research, and share news or information.” ( Awareness and Usage of Social Media study)
2. raise awareness of social issues
a. list causes that benefited from social media ( Maryville article )
3. entertainment value
C. The disadvantages of social media
1. negative effect on self-esteem
a. Facebook knowingly harming teenage girls ( Guardian article )
2. echo chamber effect
a.“Social media may limit the exposure to diverse perspectives and favor the formation of groups of like-minded users framing and reinforcing a shared narrative, that is, echo chambers.” ( The echo chamber effect on social media study)
D. It’s how you use it
1. research shows both good and bad effects
a. “. . . some research finds that SNS use and self-esteem are negatively associated, while some find that they are positively associated.” ( Social networking site use and self-esteem study)
2. ways to mitigate disadvantages
a. limit time on social media per day
b. choose only positive platforms
c. learn to recognize and avoid triggers
E. Conclusion
1. draw parallels to TV
a. TV can also be positive or negative depending on usage
2. reiterate healthy methods for social media use
How to write an outline in 5 steps
Want to know how to create an outline for an essay, academic paper, or even a piece of creative writing? Here’s how to make an outline in five simple, easy-to-follow steps.
1 Research and gather sources
The first step in any writing process is preparation. For academic writing , that involves researching and collecting evidence to back up your thesis. For creative writing , that means brainstorming and coming up with ideas.
Once you know what you want to write about, you can start to plan your outline. You can always add new content later if inspiration strikes you, but generally the more content you prepare at the beginning, the smoother the rest of the writing process will go.
2 Make a list of the topics you want to cover
When you know what you want to write, whether it’s a researched argument or creative content, the next step is to organize it. The most common and effective way to organize topics is by paragraph.
Take all your research or creative ideas and group them into separate topics. Remember that each paragraph should deal with only one main topic, so be sure to group everything with their related themes. Don’t forget to connect details like statistical data to their most relevant paragraph topic.
3 Consider the best order to discuss the topics
By now you should have a scattered list of topics, ideally divided by paragraph. Your next step is to decide the optimal order the paragraphs should go in.
Consider whether a topic requires some background information or if the reader will understand it right away. Some topics should be discussed early to prepare the reader for more advanced topics later on. If you’re having trouble deciding, chronological order also works fine.
Make the backbone of your outline by putting the topics in the order you think will work best. Think of this as the first draft of your outline—you’ll be able to move things around later if you don’t like how it’s organized.
4 Fill in the details
When you’re satisfied with the structure of your paragraphs, you can start filling in supporting details like quotes and references to sources. As you may have noticed from the standard outline format example above, it’s helpful to include direct quotes and source material links directly in the outline. This makes it easier to find the source material when you’re writing the first draft—and gives you one less thing to worry about.
After you create a working outline, you can review it for areas to improve. Sometimes, when you see your topics listed out, you recognize problematic areas. Maybe you don’t have enough evidence for certain points, or maybe your writing would flow better if the paragraph order was rearranged.
It can be helpful to have someone else review the outline to notice things you haven’t, although that’s not always necessary. Sleeping on it, or taking a fresh look at your outline after a rest, can also help you notice problems you missed before.
Outline FAQs
What is an outline.
An outline is a supportive document for organizing all the topics in a piece of writing before the first draft. Think of an outline as a blueprint; a writer can simply follow the outline as they write so they don’t forget to include anything.
When should you use an outline?
Outlines are useful for all forms of writing, from academic papers to creative writing. They help compartmentalize the stages of the writing process: When writing the outline, you can focus exclusively on the structure and big picture; when writing the first draft, you can focus on writing details without being distracted by organizational concerns.
What are the parts of an outline?
Typically, outlines are broken up into sections and paragraphs, with the relevant points or evidence listed under their respective topics. This makes it easy for writers to rearrange the paragraph order if they decide to change the structure.
Research Paper Outline/Structure with Examples
A research paper outline also referred to as research paper structure, is an important writing tool that a student or a professional writer can apply in their writing process. It contains the blueprint or skeleton of the research paper, detailing the structure to follow when inserting information to make a research paper.
In essence, a well-crafted outline makes writing your research paper fast, efficient, and seamless. It does so by helping you organize the ideas and thoughts, organize the flow of information and related concepts, and ensure that every part of the research paper is addressed.
In some cases, teachers ask students to prepare research paper outlines to have a perspective of how the final product will be. It is common practice with almost all graduate-level supervisors, especially when you target to publish your research paper in an online journal.
What is a research paper outline?
A research paper outline is a skeleton or blueprint of a research paper, enlisting the potential contents of different parts of the research paper that you are to write. The outline serves to organize the written ideas about a given research topic in a logical order in a manner that helps you to visualize the final research paper.
Outlines help organize the main ideas based on a topic, headings, subheadings, and supporting details. They also help decide what points come first and which ones come last depending on their order of importance and impact on the writing process.
Writing an outline helps visualize your final research paper, which makes it easier to refer to the structure each time you face a challenge with a given part. Besides, with an outline, you can work on any part of the research paper independently without fearing that you will disturb the flow or confuse yourself.
The basic format of a research paper outline entails the introduction, body, and conclusion. You should write a research paper outline before starting to write your research paper. Some instructors can assign it as an independent assignment that culminates into the research paper.
A typical research paper has between two to four layers. The first two layers are the most basic and generalized, while the subsequent levels contain more specific and detailed information about the research topic, as would appear in the research paper.
Tips for Perfecting your Research Paper Outline
For you to write an effective research paper outline, it is vital that you consider the factors we list below.
- Ensure that you maintain consistency in formatting your outline . If you choose a specific format, ensure that you maintain it all through. For instance, you cannot mix approaches. Also, ensure that the outline levels are reflected in your outline.
- Organize the information such that higher levels of your outline are general while the subsequent levels are detailed and well labeled.
- If your professor requires the outline, include the relevant citations (in-text) and reference list.
- Every main idea must have two or more supporting subtopics . If you notice there is none, do extra research to gather enough information to support the ideas.
- Ensure that you properly coordinate the points so that there is a correlation between the subheadings with the subpoints
- It is beneficial to write from general to specific when writing an outline. Separate the general and specific points. For instance, the subheadings should be general, while the sub-points become more specific as you descend the levels.
- Ensure that you break down the information into subpoints . Although there is no limit to the number of subsections, you can use, ensure that there is a good flow of information that can structure a good paragraph once you begin writing.
How to Format a Research Paper Outline
Of course, there is the MLA, APA, Harvard, or Chicago formatting style. However, in terms of formatting an outline, there are three strategies that you might use: using full sentences, using decimals, and using alphanumeric.
When using the decimal for your outline, you will use a numbering system that entails the use of decimal points to note the level of the point. For instance, you will use 1.0, 1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, etc.
In this case, you will be writing your text in short rather than full notes.
Here is an illustration
- The extent of the problem (statistic)/hook
- Background of the problem
- Organization of the research paper
Full-sentence or Three Level Outline format
If you opt to use the full-sentence format for your outline, you will be writing your text in full sentences, sometimes with citations rather than in short points.
- PTSD is a mental health condition caused by terrifying life events.
- The paper addresses the history of the issue, cause, extent of the problem, and possible solutions.
Alphanumeric or the Four-level outline format
In the alphanumeric outline format, which is by far the most commonly used outline format in colleges and universities, you will use Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters to organize information depending on their levels for a good flow.
The test is written mainly in short notes instead of full sentences
Here is an illustration:
- Types of pandemic disease
- History of the pandemic disease since the 1900s
- Thesis statement: Our nation’s response to the threat of pandemic disease creates a clear objective to support the two pillars of the National Security Strategy and defeat America’s enemies.
- Subpoint of subpoint 1
- Subpoint of subpoint 2
- Federal Government
- State and local government actions
- Conclusion: Can the National Security Plan for pandemic disease support and protect the
citizens of the United States.
Research Paper Outline Examples
Now, to further break down what we have so far discussed, let us look at some examples of outlines for research papers. These can serve as templates for your next research paper outline. You can choose any format that you are comfortable with, depending on the topic and type of research paper you are writing.
Sample 1: Basic Research Paper Outline
Topic: Role of Valium in Opiate Replacement Treatment Approaches:
- Statistics of the use of opiates and their impacts on society
- Significance of valium as an opiate replacement treatment
- Thesis statement
- History of valium
- Psychopharmacology of valium
- Current trends and issues
- Societal concerns or issues relating to diazepam
- Significance of the topic to the counseling profession
- Future implications
- Recommendations
Sample 2: Scientific Research Paper Outline
- Proper hook
- Background statement
- Statement of the problem
- Statement of intent
- Significance of the study
- Statement of hypothesis or research question
- Theoretical framework
- Past research on the topic/ review of related literature
- The identified gap in the literature
- Sampling strategy/method
- Participants
- Data collection tools
- Dependent and independent variables
- Controlled variables
- Graphs, figures, and tables
- Numerical and non-numerical data
- Restate the problem
- Describe the findings
- State if your findings support the hypothesis or not
- Explanation of the research given past studies
- Problems and sources of error
- Significance of the findings
- Analytical summary
- Reworded thesis
- limitations
- Recommendations for future research
Sample 3: Typical Research Paper Outline
Topic: Labor Shortage in Healthcare Industry
- The extent of labor shortage
- A snapshot of labor shortage in the USA
- Causes and consequences of labor shortage
- How labor shortage should be addressed, and why it is a matter of concern
- Voluntary turnover of healthcare workers
- The limited capacity of educational programs
- Poor working conditions and compensation
- High burnout, dissatisfaction, and fatigue
- Better alternatives
- Brain drains
- Increased demand for healthcare due to chronic diseases
- Mortality and morbidity rates
- Limited patient care
- Reduced patient safety
- Improper patient to healthcare workers ratio
- High levels of dissatisfaction
- Overcrowded healthcare settings
- Increased wait times
- Inefficient healthcare management
- Better perks, compensation, and working environment
- Funding and supporting students
- Attract, recruit, and retain a young workforce
- Creating gender-balanced workforce
- Embracing diversity
- Embracing technology
- Developing new balanced care models
- Summary of the causes, effects, and remedies for healthcare workforce shortage.
- Summary of the implications of the proposed recommendations and who should implement what
What next after writing a Research Paper Outline?
In most cases, when assigned to submit a research paper outline and then a research paper, you need to keep your references for use when writing your research paper upon approval of your research outline.
Upon approval of the outline, you need to conduct in-depth research, read widely, and begin writing the first draft of your research paper. As you conduct the research, build on the outline and provide evidence, examples, and explanations to bolster your thesis. Check out our research paper writing guide for more details.
Immediately you are done writing the first draft, ensure that you verify that you have tackled all the parts of a research paper. You then need to rest and only edit your research paper when you are sober enough.
When you resume to edit, check for the formatting (MLA, APA, Harvard, or Chicago), check and correct all the errors (grammar, language, and spelling), and ensure that the in-text citations are correct and that a corresponding reference list is provided at the end of your paper.
With everything polished, you now have yourself a final research paper. Ensure that it has an abstract and title page and then submit for grading. Then, you can pat yourself on the back for doing it wonderfully. However, you can buy custom research papers from our website. We will have it written from scratch with a guarantee of 100% originality, high quality, and timely delivery.
Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.
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Writing Research Papers
- Research Paper Structure
Whether you are writing a B.S. Degree Research Paper or completing a research report for a Psychology course, it is highly likely that you will need to organize your research paper in accordance with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. Here we discuss the structure of research papers according to APA style.
Major Sections of a Research Paper in APA Style
A complete research paper in APA style that is reporting on experimental research will typically contain a Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References sections. 1 Many will also contain Figures and Tables and some will have an Appendix or Appendices. These sections are detailed as follows (for a more in-depth guide, please refer to " How to Write a Research Paper in APA Style ”, a comprehensive guide developed by Prof. Emma Geller). 2
What is this paper called and who wrote it? – the first page of the paper; this includes the name of the paper, a “running head”, authors, and institutional affiliation of the authors. The institutional affiliation is usually listed in an Author Note that is placed towards the bottom of the title page. In some cases, the Author Note also contains an acknowledgment of any funding support and of any individuals that assisted with the research project.
One-paragraph summary of the entire study – typically no more than 250 words in length (and in many cases it is well shorter than that), the Abstract provides an overview of the study.
Introduction
What is the topic and why is it worth studying? – the first major section of text in the paper, the Introduction commonly describes the topic under investigation, summarizes or discusses relevant prior research (for related details, please see the Writing Literature Reviews section of this website), identifies unresolved issues that the current research will address, and provides an overview of the research that is to be described in greater detail in the sections to follow.
What did you do? – a section which details how the research was performed. It typically features a description of the participants/subjects that were involved, the study design, the materials that were used, and the study procedure. If there were multiple experiments, then each experiment may require a separate Methods section. A rule of thumb is that the Methods section should be sufficiently detailed for another researcher to duplicate your research.
What did you find? – a section which describes the data that was collected and the results of any statistical tests that were performed. It may also be prefaced by a description of the analysis procedure that was used. If there were multiple experiments, then each experiment may require a separate Results section.
What is the significance of your results? – the final major section of text in the paper. The Discussion commonly features a summary of the results that were obtained in the study, describes how those results address the topic under investigation and/or the issues that the research was designed to address, and may expand upon the implications of those findings. Limitations and directions for future research are also commonly addressed.
List of articles and any books cited – an alphabetized list of the sources that are cited in the paper (by last name of the first author of each source). Each reference should follow specific APA guidelines regarding author names, dates, article titles, journal titles, journal volume numbers, page numbers, book publishers, publisher locations, websites, and so on (for more information, please see the Citing References in APA Style page of this website).
Tables and Figures
Graphs and data (optional in some cases) – depending on the type of research being performed, there may be Tables and/or Figures (however, in some cases, there may be neither). In APA style, each Table and each Figure is placed on a separate page and all Tables and Figures are included after the References. Tables are included first, followed by Figures. However, for some journals and undergraduate research papers (such as the B.S. Research Paper or Honors Thesis), Tables and Figures may be embedded in the text (depending on the instructor’s or editor’s policies; for more details, see "Deviations from APA Style" below).
Supplementary information (optional) – in some cases, additional information that is not critical to understanding the research paper, such as a list of experiment stimuli, details of a secondary analysis, or programming code, is provided. This is often placed in an Appendix.
Variations of Research Papers in APA Style
Although the major sections described above are common to most research papers written in APA style, there are variations on that pattern. These variations include:
- Literature reviews – when a paper is reviewing prior published research and not presenting new empirical research itself (such as in a review article, and particularly a qualitative review), then the authors may forgo any Methods and Results sections. Instead, there is a different structure such as an Introduction section followed by sections for each of the different aspects of the body of research being reviewed, and then perhaps a Discussion section.
- Multi-experiment papers – when there are multiple experiments, it is common to follow the Introduction with an Experiment 1 section, itself containing Methods, Results, and Discussion subsections. Then there is an Experiment 2 section with a similar structure, an Experiment 3 section with a similar structure, and so on until all experiments are covered. Towards the end of the paper there is a General Discussion section followed by References. Additionally, in multi-experiment papers, it is common for the Results and Discussion subsections for individual experiments to be combined into single “Results and Discussion” sections.
Departures from APA Style
In some cases, official APA style might not be followed (however, be sure to check with your editor, instructor, or other sources before deviating from standards of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association). Such deviations may include:
- Placement of Tables and Figures – in some cases, to make reading through the paper easier, Tables and/or Figures are embedded in the text (for example, having a bar graph placed in the relevant Results section). The embedding of Tables and/or Figures in the text is one of the most common deviations from APA style (and is commonly allowed in B.S. Degree Research Papers and Honors Theses; however you should check with your instructor, supervisor, or editor first).
- Incomplete research – sometimes a B.S. Degree Research Paper in this department is written about research that is currently being planned or is in progress. In those circumstances, sometimes only an Introduction and Methods section, followed by References, is included (that is, in cases where the research itself has not formally begun). In other cases, preliminary results are presented and noted as such in the Results section (such as in cases where the study is underway but not complete), and the Discussion section includes caveats about the in-progress nature of the research. Again, you should check with your instructor, supervisor, or editor first.
- Class assignments – in some classes in this department, an assignment must be written in APA style but is not exactly a traditional research paper (for instance, a student asked to write about an article that they read, and to write that report in APA style). In that case, the structure of the paper might approximate the typical sections of a research paper in APA style, but not entirely. You should check with your instructor for further guidelines.
Workshops and Downloadable Resources
- For in-person discussion of the process of writing research papers, please consider attending this department’s “Writing Research Papers” workshop (for dates and times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).
Downloadable Resources
- How to Write APA Style Research Papers (a comprehensive guide) [ PDF ]
- Tips for Writing APA Style Research Papers (a brief summary) [ PDF ]
- Example APA Style Research Paper (for B.S. Degree – empirical research) [ PDF ]
- Example APA Style Research Paper (for B.S. Degree – literature review) [ PDF ]
Further Resources
How-To Videos
- Writing Research Paper Videos
APA Journal Article Reporting Guidelines
- Appelbaum, M., Cooper, H., Kline, R. B., Mayo-Wilson, E., Nezu, A. M., & Rao, S. M. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for quantitative research in psychology: The APA Publications and Communications Board task force report . American Psychologist , 73 (1), 3.
- Levitt, H. M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J. W., Frost, D. M., Josselson, R., & Suárez-Orozco, C. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for qualitative primary, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research in psychology: The APA Publications and Communications Board task force report . American Psychologist , 73 (1), 26.
External Resources
- Formatting APA Style Papers in Microsoft Word
- How to Write an APA Style Research Paper from Hamilton University
- WikiHow Guide to Writing APA Research Papers
- Sample APA Formatted Paper with Comments
- Sample APA Formatted Paper
- Tips for Writing a Paper in APA Style
1 VandenBos, G. R. (Ed). (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) (pp. 41-60). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
2 geller, e. (2018). how to write an apa-style research report . [instructional materials]. , prepared by s. c. pan for ucsd psychology.
Back to top
- Formatting Research Papers
- Using Databases and Finding References
- What Types of References Are Appropriate?
- Evaluating References and Taking Notes
- Citing References
- Writing a Literature Review
- Writing Process and Revising
- Improving Scientific Writing
- Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism
- Writing Research Papers Videos
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How To Make Perfect-Structured Research Paper: Best Tips
30 Oct 2021
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Why is it necessary to maintain the research paper structure, the main components of college research papers, research paper structure example.
Every type of a scientific investigation, whether it is a small article or a degree-seeking paper, is started with the work on the main structure. The structure for a research paper is limelight of any type of investigation project and it requires some serious consideration as there are numerous aspects regarding the forming of the points that should be highlighted in the work.
We offer you a free guide on how to structure a research paper in the most appropriate manner and tips for writing a research paper outline. Not only could it be a compulsory part of the assignment but an effective means of writing assistance regardless of the writing style, either APA or MLA.
The structure of a research paper outline is a part of the process that requires maximum attention and scrupulosity, and it has a lot of helpful functions that not only assist during writing but also define the writer as a scientist. The structure has the following functions.
Expository function. It reflects all the ideas that will be shown in the task.
Informative function. For potential readers, the structure is a first glance at the issue and the first piece of data that is given to them.
Structuring function. All the parts of writing, including appendices, tables, and figures, are important details for writing. They will help during writing as they become the reflection of the order of the ideas.
The Structure of a Research Paper Outline
Work on the outline of all types of research papers starts with the simplest method: you need to build up the frame. The basis of an outline is setting the major points of the academic text.
Basically, these are the following points:
- Introduction;
- Conclusion;
- References list.
This one seems rather simple and obvious, doesn’t it? However, such a method of organizing a plan is the simplest and most universal one. Each particular type of work demands a more specific approach.
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In the process of working on the structure of a scientific project, you are to be aware of the basic components of a research paper. It will become a great aid for organizing the structure of the text. Here are the major components of a typical investigation text.
- The title page is the start of the investigation that reflects the core idea.
- The abstract contains short generalized information regarding the issue with the presented methodology, goals, and the results of the investigation.
- The introduction is a brief presentation of the main topic combined with a review of the current state of the investigation in the present scientific community.
- Methods/Procedure are tools that are used in order to organize and solve tasks that are required for a successful investigation.
- Findings are the achievements of the completed study.
- Conclusions/Discussion – Are the final words regarding the process of investigation with all published information regarding the investigation.
- The bibliography is the reference list of all the utilized material, both digital and physical sources.
- Appendixes – All supplementary material like charts and statistic materials that describes the situation in the most effective manner.
Various sites offer a good deal of structure types on the Internet. A research paper structured in APA or MLA are the most popular ones.
- The importance of the problem.
- The description of the current situation.
- List the objectives of the investigation.
- Organize the process.
- Define the method.
- Describe a potential sample.
- State the procedure of data collection.
- State the results of the gathered material.
- Describe the elements of your work.
- State the key points of the investigation.
- Write the results of the work.
- Analyse the results with the set goals.
- Define the perspectives for the future investigation.
The guide above will assist in your ideas regarding how to plan a research paper and impress your professors with top quality and spotlessness. If you still need help, you can ask research paper writer service that work without days off and around the clock.
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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Writing a Research Paper
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The pages in this section provide detailed information about how to write research papers including discussing research papers as a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources.
The Research Paper
There will come a time in most students' careers when they are assigned a research paper. Such an assignment often creates a great deal of unneeded anxiety in the student, which may result in procrastination and a feeling of confusion and inadequacy. This anxiety frequently stems from the fact that many students are unfamiliar and inexperienced with this genre of writing. Never fear—inexperience and unfamiliarity are situations you can change through practice! Writing a research paper is an essential aspect of academics and should not be avoided on account of one's anxiety. In fact, the process of writing a research paper can be one of the more rewarding experiences one may encounter in academics. What is more, many students will continue to do research throughout their careers, which is one of the reasons this topic is so important.
Becoming an experienced researcher and writer in any field or discipline takes a great deal of practice. There are few individuals for whom this process comes naturally. Remember, even the most seasoned academic veterans have had to learn how to write a research paper at some point in their career. Therefore, with diligence, organization, practice, a willingness to learn (and to make mistakes!), and, perhaps most important of all, patience, students will find that they can achieve great things through their research and writing.
The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper:
- Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper.
- Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics, whether the topic be one that is assigned or one that the student chooses themselves.
- Identifying an Audience - This section will help the student understand the often times confusing topic of audience by offering some basic guidelines for the process.
- Where Do I Begin - This section concludes the handout by offering several links to resources at Purdue, and also provides an overview of the final stages of writing a research paper.
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How to Write an Outline in APA Format
Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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What Is APA Format?
The basics of apa format, choose your topic, start writing, write your conclusion, update your final outline.
Writing a psychology paper can be an overwhelming task for students. From picking a good topic to finding high-quality sources to cite , each step in the process comes with its own challenges.
Formatting your paper in APA style can also be challenging, especially if you have never used the format before. Luckily, there are strategies you can use to make writing a psychology paper using APA format easier—one of which is creating an outline.
APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association (APA). It can be used to style papers written for university courses as well as in professional psychology publications.
Formatting dictates how papers are styled, which includes organizational structure, page layout, and how information is presented.
Learning the basics of APA format is necessary to write effective psychology papers and reports. However, psychology is not the only field of study that relies on APA format. Other social science disciplines such as education, nursing, economics, and sociology also use APA format.
A strong paper starts with a solid outline. Creating an outline is the first step you should take as you begin to research, organize, and write your paper.
Unless your instructor specifically requires outlines, you usually will not need to turn yours in with your final paper, but that doesn't mean you should skip the step. Developing an outline can help you organize your writing and ensures that you effectively communicate your paper's main points and arguments.
There is no specific APA format for creating an outline, which means the final form that your outline takes will depend on what your instructor requires as well as your personal preferences. While the official APA publication manual does not provide specific guidance for outline preparation, it does specify general rules to keep in mind as you are writing.
For example, according to APA style, papers need to be written in a widely available font. Traditionally, Times New Roman in 12-point font is used, but other legible serif and sans serif fonts like Arial or Georgia in 11-point fonts are also acceptable. Your paper's text should be double-spaced.
Each page should have 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right), and you need to include a page number in the upper right corner of each page.
Your outline will include three key sections: an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion.
- Introduction : Highlights key background points and presents your thesis
- Body : Details the main ideas that support your thesis
- Conclusion : Briefly reiterates your main points and clarifies how these ideas support your final position
Headings and Subheadings
In addition to following the basic rules for APA format writing , there are also specific guidelines for using headings and subheadings you will want to follow as you create your outline.
- Main headings : Use Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV)
- Subheadings: Use capital letters (A, B, C, D)
If you need additional subheadings within the initial capitalized letter subheadings, start with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3), then lower case letters (a, b, c), then Arabic numerals inside parentheses [(1), (2), (3)]
Review Your Instructor's Requirements
Before you start thinking about different methods of organization, review what your instructor has provided for guidance. They may have specific requirements for what to include in your outline, as well as how it needs to be structured and formatted.
Some instructors require outlines to use decimal format. This structure uses Arabic decimals instead of Roman numerals or letters. For example, the main headings in an outline using decimal format would be 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, while the subheadings would be 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, and so on.
Consider Your Preferences
After you have reviewed your instructor's requirements, you can consider your own preferences for organizing your outline. For example, you could choose to format your headings and subheadings as full sentences or use shorter headings that summarize the content. You can also use different approaches to organizing the lettering and numbering in your outline's subheadings.
Whether you are creating your outline according to your instructor's guidelines or following your own organizational preferences, the most important thing is that you are consistent.
Formatting Tips
Your outline should begin on a new page. Before you start writing, check that your word processor does not automatically insert unwanted text or notations (such as letters, numbers, or bullet points) as you type. If it does, you should have the option of turning off auto-formatting.
Your instructor may require you to specify your thesis statement in your outline. For example, it may be presented at the top of your outline or included as a subheading. Be sure to review your assignment instructions to find out where your thesis should be placed.
If you are required to turn in your outline before you begin working on your paper, keep in mind that you may also need to include a list of references that you plan to use. Here is a step-by-step example of how to outline a paper using APA format.
The topic you choose should be one that you can build and develop a compelling paper around. Start by developing a strong thesis for your paper that is based on the topic you've chosen, then begin to research the topic. Here are some key points to keep in mind as you are researching:
- Choose your main arguments
- Keep your research organized
- Look for facts that support your thesis
- Create a working outline to organize your paper
Here's what step one would look like formatting according to APA style:
I. Choose a good topic for your paper
A. Develop a strong thesis
B. Research your topic
- Organize your research Choose your main arguments Consider facts that will help support your thesis
- Create a working outline to help organize your writing
Begin with an introduction that summarizes your topic, provides some background information, and presents your main thesis. Next, write the main body of your paper based on your working outline. As you write, there are a few important points to keep in mind:
- Follow the structure that your instructor specifies
- Present your strongest points first
- Support your arguments with research and examples
- Organize your ideas logically and in order of strength
- Keep track of your sources
- Present and debate possible counterarguments, and provide evidence that counters opposing arguments
Here's what the second step would look like formatted with APA style:
II. Begin writing your paper
A. Write an introduction that summarizes your topic, gives some background information, and presents your main thesis
B. Write the main body of your paper based on your working outline
- Be sure to follow the structure that your instructor has specified Present your strongest points first Follow your arguments with research and examples that support your ideas
- Be sure to keep track of your sources Present and debate possible counterarguments Present evidence that counters these opposing arguments
In your conclusion, briefly summarize the main points of your paper and present possible avenues or topics for future research that might be needed.
Here's what the third step would look like formatted with APA style:
III. Write your conclusion
A. Summarize your main points briefly
B. Present ideas for possible future research that might be needed
The final version of your outline should reflect your completed draft. At this stage, be sure to carefully review and edit your paper. During the final step you will update your final outline to reflect your completed draft. Also, be sure to review and edit your paper
Here's what your completed outline would look like in APA format:
A. Writing an introduction that summarizes your topic, gives some background information, and presents your main thesis
IV. Update your final outline to reflect your completed draft
A. Be sure to review and edit your paper
A Word From Verywell
Understanding the basics of APA format makes writing papers that require it much easier. While APA format does not provide specific rules for writing outlines, you can still create a strong roadmap for your paper using general APA style guidance, your instructor's requirements, and your own personal organizational preferences.
About APA Style . American Psychological Association.
APA Style: Font . American Psychological Association (APA).
APA Style: Page Header . American Psychological Association (APA).
Types of Outlines and Samples . Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
Writing Center: Outlines . Mississippi College.
APA Style: Headings . American Psychological Association (APA).
APA Style: Line Spacing . American Psychological Association (APA).
APA Style: Margins . American Psychological Association (APA).
APA Style: Paragraph Alignment and Indentation . American Psychological Association (APA).
American Psychological Association (APA). The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 2020. ISBN 978-1-4338-3217-8.
By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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Research paper outline/structure with examples.
A research paper outline also referred to as research paper structure, is an important writing tool that a student or a professional writer can apply in their writing process. It contains the blueprint or skeleton of the research paper, detailing the structure to follow when inserting information to make a research paper.
In essence, a well-crafted outline makes writing your research paper fast, efficient, and seamless. It does so by helping you organize the ideas and thoughts, organize the flow of information and related concepts, and ensure that every part of the research paper is addressed.
In some cases, teachers ask students to prepare research paper outlines to have a perspective of how the final product will be. It is common practice with almost all graduate-level supervisors, especially when you target to publish your research paper in an online journal.
What is a research paper outline?
A research paper outline is a skeleton or blueprint of a research paper, enlisting the potential contents of different parts of the research paper that you are to write. The outline serves to organize the written ideas about a given research topic in a logical order in a manner that helps you to visualize the final research paper.
Outlines help organize the main ideas based on a topic, headings, subheadings, and supporting details. They also help decide what points come first and which ones come last depending on their order of importance and impact on the writing process.
Writing an outline helps visualize your final research paper, which makes it easier to refer to the structure each time you face a challenge with a given part. Besides, with an outline, you can work on any part of the research paper independently without fearing that you will disturb the flow or confuse yourself.
The basic format of a research paper outline entails the introduction, body, and conclusion. You should write a research paper outline before starting to write your research paper. Some instructors can assign it as an independent assignment that culminates into the research paper.
A typical research paper has between two to four layers. The first two layers are the most basic and generalized, while the subsequent levels contain more specific and detailed information about the research topic, as would appear in the research paper.
Tips for Perfecting your Research Paper Outline
For you to write an effective research paper outline, it is vital that you consider the factors we list below.
- Ensure that you maintain consistency in formatting your outline . If you choose a specific format, ensure that you maintain it all through. For instance, you cannot mix approaches. Also, ensure that the outline levels are reflected in your outline.
- Organize the information such that higher levels of your outline are general while the subsequent levels are detailed and well labeled.
- If your professor requires the outline, include the relevant citations (in-text) and reference list.
- Every main idea must have two or more supporting subtopics . If you notice there is none, do extra research to gather enough information to support the ideas.
- Ensure that you properly coordinate the points so that there is a correlation between the subheadings with the subpoints
- It is beneficial to write from general to specific when writing an outline. Separate the general and specific points. For instance, the subheadings should be general, while the sub-points become more specific as you descend the levels.
- Ensure that you break down the information into subpoints . Although there is no limit to the number of subsections, you can use, ensure that there is a good flow of information that can structure a good paragraph once you begin writing.
How to Format a Research Paper Outline
Of course, there is the MLA, APA, Harvard, or Chicago formatting style. However, in terms of formatting an outline, there are three strategies that you might use: using full sentences, using decimals, and using alphanumeric.
When using the decimal for your outline, you will use a numbering system that entails the use of decimal points to note the level of the point. For instance, you will use 1.0, 1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, etc.
In this case, you will be writing your text in short rather than full notes.
Here is an illustration
- The extent of the problem (statistic)/hook
- Background of the problem
- Organization of the research paper
Full-sentence or Three Level Outline format
If you opt to use the full-sentence format for your outline, you will be writing your text in full sentences, sometimes with citations rather than in short points.
- PTSD is a mental health condition caused by terrifying life events.
- The paper addresses the history of the issue, cause, extent of the problem, and possible solutions.
Alphanumeric or the Four-level outline format
In the alphanumeric outline format, which is by far the most commonly used outline format in colleges and universities, you will use Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters to organize information depending on their levels for a good flow.
The test is written mainly in short notes instead of full sentences
Here is an illustration:
- Types of pandemic disease
- History of the pandemic disease since the 1900s
- Thesis statement: Our nation’s response to the threat of pandemic disease creates a clear objective to support the two pillars of the National Security Strategy and defeat America’s enemies.
- Subpoint of subpoint 1
- Subpoint of subpoint 2
- Federal Government
- State and local government actions
- Conclusion: Can the National Security Plan for pandemic disease support and protect the
citizens of the United States.
Research Paper Outline Examples
Now, to further break down what we have so far discussed, let us look at some examples of outlines for research papers. These can serve as templates for your next research paper outline. You can choose any format that you are comfortable with, depending on the topic and type of research paper you are writing.
Sample 1: Basic Research Paper Outline
Topic: Role of Valium in Opiate Replacement Treatment Approaches:
- Statistics of the use of opiates and their impacts on society
- Significance of valium as an opiate replacement treatment
- Thesis statement
- History of valium
- Psychopharmacology of valium
- Current trends and issues
- Societal concerns or issues relating to diazepam
- Significance of the topic to the counseling profession
- Future implications
- Recommendations
Sample 2: Scientific Research Paper Outline
- Proper hook
- Background statement
- Statement of the problem
- Statement of intent
- Significance of the study
- Statement of hypothesis or research question
- Theoretical framework
- Past research on the topic/ review of related literature
- The identified gap in the literature
- Sampling strategy/method
- Participants
- Data collection tools
- Dependent and independent variables
- Controlled variables
- Graphs, figures, and tables
- Numerical and non-numerical data
- Restate the problem
- Describe the findings
- State if your findings support the hypothesis or not
- Explanation of the research given past studies
- Problems and sources of error
- Significance of the findings
- Analytical summary
- Reworded thesis
- limitations
- Recommendations for future research
Sample 3: Typical Research Paper Outline
Topic: Labor Shortage in Healthcare Industry
- The extent of labor shortage
- A snapshot of labor shortage in the USA
- Causes and consequences of labor shortage
- How labor shortage should be addressed, and why it is a matter of concern
- Voluntary turnover of healthcare workers
- The limited capacity of educational programs
- Poor working conditions and compensation
- High burnout, dissatisfaction, and fatigue
- Better alternatives
- Brain drains
- Increased demand for healthcare due to chronic diseases
- Mortality and morbidity rates
- Limited patient care
- Reduced patient safety
- Improper patient to healthcare workers ratio
- High levels of dissatisfaction
- Overcrowded healthcare settings
- Increased wait times
- Inefficient healthcare management
- Better perks, compensation, and working environment
- Funding and supporting students
- Attract, recruit, and retain a young workforce
- Creating gender-balanced workforce
- Embracing diversity
- Embracing technology
- Developing new balanced care models
- Summary of the causes, effects, and remedies for healthcare workforce shortage.
- Summary of the implications of the proposed recommendations and who should implement what
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How Can You Create a Well Planned Research Paper Outline
You are staring at the blank document, meaning to start writing your research paper . After months of experiments and procuring results, your PI asked you to write the paper to publish it in a reputed journal. You spoke to your peers and a few seniors and received a few tips on writing a research paper, but you still can’t plan on how to begin!
Writing a research paper is a very common issue among researchers and is often looked upon as a time consuming hurdle. Researchers usually look up to this task as an impending threat, avoiding and procrastinating until they cannot delay it anymore. Seeking advice from internet and seniors they manage to write a paper which goes in for quite a few revisions. Making researchers lose their sense of understanding with respect to their research work and findings. In this article, we would like to discuss how to create a structured research paper outline which will assist a researcher in writing their research paper effectively!
Publication is an important component of research studies in a university for academic promotion and in obtaining funding to support research. However, the primary reason is to provide the data and hypotheses to scientific community to advance the understanding in a specific domain. A scientific paper is a formal record of a research process. It documents research protocols, methods, results, conclusion, and discussion from a research hypothesis .
Table of Contents
What Is a Research Paper Outline?
A research paper outline is a basic format for writing an academic research paper. It follows the IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion). However, this format varies depending on the type of research manuscript. A research paper outline consists of following sections to simplify the paper for readers. These sections help researchers build an effective paper outline.
1. Title Page
The title page provides important information which helps the editors, reviewers, and readers identify the manuscript and the authors at a glance. It also provides an overview of the field of research the research paper belongs to. The title should strike a balance between precise and detailed. Other generic details include author’s given name, affiliation, keywords that will provide indexing, details of the corresponding author etc. are added to the title page.
2. Abstract
Abstract is the most important section of the manuscript and will help the researcher create a detailed research paper outline . To be more precise, an abstract is like an advertisement to the researcher’s work and it influences the editor in deciding whether to submit the manuscript to reviewers or not. Writing an abstract is a challenging task. Researchers can write an exemplary abstract by selecting the content carefully and being concise.
3. Introduction
An introduction is a background statement that provides the context and approach of the research. It describes the problem statement with the assistance of the literature study and elaborates the requirement to update the knowledge gap. It sets the research hypothesis and informs the readers about the big research question.
This section is usually named as “Materials and Methods”, “Experiments” or “Patients and Methods” depending upon the type of journal. This purpose provides complete information on methods used for the research. Researchers should mention clear description of materials and their use in the research work. If the methods used in research are already published, give a brief account and refer to the original publication. However, if the method used is modified from the original method, then researcher should mention the modifications done to the original protocol and validate its accuracy, precision, and repeatability.
It is best to report results as tables and figures wherever possible. Also, avoid duplication of text and ensure that the text summarizes the findings. Report the results with appropriate descriptive statistics. Furthermore, report any unexpected events that could affect the research results, and mention complete account of observations and explanations for missing data (if any).
6. Discussion
The discussion should set the research in context, strengthen its importance and support the research hypothesis. Summarize the main results of the study in one or two paragraphs and show how they logically fit in an overall scheme of studies. Compare the results with other investigations in the field of research and explain the differences.
7. Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements identify and thank the contributors to the study, who are not under the criteria of co-authors. It also includes the recognition of funding agency and universities that award scholarships or fellowships to researchers.
8. Declaration of Competing Interests
Finally, declaring the competing interests is essential to abide by ethical norms of unique research publishing. Competing interests arise when the author has more than one role that may lead to a situation where there is a conflict of interest.
Steps to Write a Research Paper Outline
- Write down all important ideas that occur to you concerning the research paper .
- Answer questions such as – what is the topic of my paper? Why is the topic important? How to formulate the hypothesis? What are the major findings?
- Add context and structure. Group all your ideas into sections – Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion/Conclusion.
- Add relevant questions to each section. It is important to note down the questions. This will help you align your thoughts.
- Expand the ideas based on the questions created in the paper outline.
- After creating a detailed outline, discuss it with your mentors and peers.
- Get enough feedback and decide on the journal you will submit to.
- The process of real writing begins.
Benefits of Creating a Research Paper Outline
As discussed, the research paper subheadings create an outline of what different aspects of research needs elaboration. This provides subtopics on which the researchers brainstorm and reach a conclusion to write. A research paper outline organizes the researcher’s thoughts and gives a clear picture of how to formulate the research protocols and results. It not only helps the researcher to understand the flow of information but also provides relation between the ideas.
A research paper outline helps researcher achieve a smooth transition between topics and ensures that no research point is forgotten. Furthermore, it allows the reader to easily navigate through the research paper and provides a better understanding of the research. The paper outline allows the readers to find relevant information and quotes from different part of the paper.
Research Paper Outline Template
A research paper outline template can help you understand the concept of creating a well planned research paper before beginning to write and walk through your journey of research publishing.
1. Research Title
A. Background i. Support with evidence ii. Support with existing literature studies
B. Thesis Statement i. Link literature with hypothesis ii. Support with evidence iii. Explain the knowledge gap and how this research will help build the gap 4. Body
A. Methods i. Mention materials and protocols used in research ii. Support with evidence
B. Results i. Support with tables and figures ii. Mention appropriate descriptive statistics
C. Discussion i. Support the research with context ii. Support the research hypothesis iii. Compare the results with other investigations in field of research
D. Conclusion i. Support the discussion and research investigation ii. Support with literature studies
E. Acknowledgements i. Identify and thank the contributors ii. Include the funding agency, if any
F. Declaration of Competing Interests
5. References
Download the Research Paper Outline Template!
Have you tried writing a research paper outline ? How did it work for you? Did it help you achieve your research paper writing goal? Do let us know about your experience in the comments below.
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Research Paper Outline
Research Paper Outline - A Complete Guide with Examples
Published on: Dec 1, 2017
Last updated on: Jan 24, 2023
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A research paper is a compulsory academic writing task. It is an important activity to check the writing and research abilities of students. However, it takes time to write a good research paper , so you need to create a plan before you start writing.
It is a bit tricky and hard to write an outline. You need to write it carefully, or the ideas will get mixed up. But after you do, it will be worth the work.
Research Paper Outline Example
A research paper outline could be created in several different ways. Here is a sample research paper outline for a quick review;
Research Paper Outline Template
You can format your research paper outline in three different ways. Here is how to use each type of outline template for formatting;
How to Write a Research Paper Outline?
The following is a detailed explanation of the steps to write a college research paper outline.
Cover or Title page
A paper should have the title in it. It should discuss what the paper is about and how it will help in proving the arguments. This section includes the following elements.
- Student’s full name
- Name of the instructor
- Course title and code
- Submission date
The abstract is a short summary of your paper. It should be five to six sentences long and includes the main information. It comes after the title page and mainly focuses on:
- The main arguments
- The research methods
- The subject matter
- Participants
Ensure the abstract should not exceed the ? of the page, i.e., about 150 to 200 words.
Table of Contents
The table of contents will summarize the chapters and sections in an organized manner. It also includes the title and descriptions of the headings and subheadings.
This section provides readers with a complete overview of the document’s contents. It is good to have a table of contents. It helps you know what is in your research paper, and it allows the audience to go directly to a specific section.
Research Paper Introduction
The introduction is the most important part of any research paper. It should present the topic and answer the research question. Similarly, it must also explain the importance of the subject matter for the audience.
The central aim is to grab the reader’s attention with the help of strong arguments. Thus, this section must be engaging and interesting enough.
Below are the four main elements to write a compelling introduction:
- A Hook - An engaging start to persuade the readers to read more. It is about 1 to 2 sentences in length.
- Background Information - It presents the historical background of the topic along with the general information for better understanding.
- Thesis Statement - It explains the major points of your paper that discuss why the topic is of great importance. Thus, it must be clear, specific, and to the point.
- Define the Audience - Understand and define your target audience. Explain the reasons why they are interested in reading your content.
Research Paper Body
The body is the main section of your research paper. It consists of several paragraphs that include the relevant information, examples, and evidence to support your argument.
You can also provide counterarguments and opposing facts. Such factors help the reader to get an idea about your understanding of the topic.
Make sure the paper should remain consistent from the beginning to the end. The style, tone, and citation should be according to the required format.
Literature Review
This section will explain how the literature you used to support your theory has influenced and helped guide your research. It also identifies the research gaps in the existing data.
Here, you will present the techniques and types of equipment that you have employed to carry out the research work. Keep in mind that the methods can vary according to the subject matter.
Thus, you need to give a detailed explanation of how you have conducted the research.
A good research paper has facts and figures to justify the argument. In this section, you will focus on the findings of your paper. Make sure to add as many facts, statistics, and numbers as possible.
Use tables and graphs to be more precise and structured. Remember to tell the audience how the outcome has contributed to the field of study as a whole.
Most students get confused between the results and discussion. There is a simple line that separates both.
Results focus on facts and figures. However, in the discussion section, a writer makes sure whether the expected results are achieved or not.
Research Paper Conclusion
The conclusion is the final part of your research work that summarizes the main arguments.
It also restates the thesis, goals, and methods used to achieve the results.
There is no need to provide a detailed explanation. Instead, just give a general overview. Also, formulate the prospect for future research and a call to action to provoke the readers.
Keep in mind; the conclusion should not be longer than the abstract.
Bibliography and Appendix
Mention all the sources that you have used in your text in the bibliography section. Similarly, add facts, tables, images, and charts in Appendix, but in some formats, the appendix is not required.
Research Paper Outline Samples
Below you can find an example of an outline for a research paper to understand and create an outline for your own paper clearly.
Basic Outline for a Research Paper
Research Paper Outline for College Students
Research Paper Outline in MLA Format
Research Paper Outline in APA Format
Why is a Research Paper Outline Important?
A research paper outline is basically a blueprint for a complete subject. It serves as a mindmap and a plan of action that most students follow throughout the writing process.
The following are the benefits of creating a well-structured outline.
- It organizes all the thoughts and ideas in one place.
- It provides a detailed structure for your future research work.
- It demonstrates your understanding and vision of a particular topic.
- The outline helps to avoid any possible mistakes by shaping a topic.
- It helps not to skip any important points.
- It gives an idea for the future headings of the paper.
- It provides an understanding of the flow of information and how ideas are related.
- It gives the audience a clear idea of what is included in the paper.
The above guide will help you to start writing an outline for your research paper. However, some students lack good writing skills and prefer to seek professional help.
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- Manuscript Preparation
How to Write a Research Paper Outline
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Table of Contents
Getting started with your research paper can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. But, if you start with an outline, the rest of the paper almost completes itself. Even so, an outline can be difficult to wrap your head around as well. In this article, we’ll go over the fundamentals of a research paper outline, explaining exactly what it is, and how you can write it, step-by-step.
Research Outline
When it comes down to it, your research outline is like the frame of a house for your research paper. It is the framework on which everything else is built upon. The foundation of this framework is the thesis and main ideas of your research project. And, just like a house, there are multiple layers to complete the project. The same is true with your research paper. We start with general ideas and building a framework, and then we add information and detail as the outline comes into shape.
The key to understanding how to write an effective research paper is by comprehending what these different layers are, and in what order you should address them. For example, you wouldn’t put your kitchen counters in a house, without first completing the interior walls and base cabinetry of the home. So, you build carefully and deliberately, step-by-step, in a way that makes it easy for your ideas to take shape.
Let’s take a look at those layers and stages.
Step-by-Step Research Paper Outline
Most research papers have several layers to their construction. In this section, we’ll cover the most basic construction principles. For additional information, talk with colleagues in your field to review their outlines and how they may have built a research paper that you find useful.
You’ll likely notice that each layer grows from general to more specific topics. Additionally, each layer is usually shown via Roman numerals, along with Arabic numbers, upper and lowercase letters. Some institutions actually look for a specific outline format, and formatting can also depend on your specific field and topic. Of course, if you’re just using an outline for your own purposes, you can use whatever format that works best for you.
First Level of Organization
This is the most basic core of your research paper; your introduction, each of your main ideas and your conclusion. The main ideas are where, of course, the majority of your information is going to be presented. If you think of your research paper like a book, your main ideas would be like chapters. Your main ideas may also read like specific dates for a historical literature review, or even specific methods and results for a scientific-based research paper.
I. Introduction/summary of the research
II. First main idea or date
III. Second main idea or date
IV. Third main idea or date
V. Conclusion
Second Level
At this level, we dig into the topics that support each of the ideas in the first level. For each main idea, you’ll want at least two to three details. If you can’t put that much detail into any of your main ideas, you might want to consider merging it with another main idea. Once you have the second level of your outline done, typically you’ll want to stop working on your outline, especially if this is just your first draft.
Continue with your research so that you can add details to the next layers and levels of your outline. Keep in mind, that depending on where your research leads you, your main ideas may even change, which is yet another reason why you won’t want to dig too deeply into your outline until your actual research is completed.
A. Background info
B. Hypothesis (or thesis)
A. First supporting idea or topic
B. Second supporting idea or topic
C. Third supporting idea or topic
V. Conclusion (don’t worry about this, at this stage of your outline)
Third and Fourth Level
With the third and fourth levels, you’ll add supporting data and information that’s related to your previously outlined topics. This is where your research “fills in the blanks.” For example, you might add to your introduction, or revise your main ideas, based on the research you’ve conducted. The fourth level is only used when further details are needed to describe the research or topic. For example, historical quotes, references, and the most specific data and information.
1. Reference One
2. Reference Two
1. Quote One
2. Quote Two
III. Conclusion (based on the culmination of your research project)
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Getting started with your research paper outline
The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline. The most important part is done by now, we are just going to extend and organize it.
- Understanding the levels of your research paper outline is key
A research paper outline typically contains between two and four layers of organization. The first two layers are the most generalized. Each layer thereafter will contain the research you complete and presents more and more detailed information.
The levels are typically represented by a combination of Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, uppercase letters, lowercase letters but may include other symbols. Refer to the guidelines provided by your institution, as formatting is not universal and differs between universities, fields, and subjects. If you are writing the outline for yourself, you may choose any combination you prefer.
- First level of organization
This is the most generalized level of information. Begin by numbering the introduction, each idea you will present, and the conclusion. The main ideas contain the bulk of your research paper's information. Depending on your research, it may be chapters of a book for a literature review, a series of dates for a historical research paper, or the methods and results of a scientific paper.
- Second level or organization
The second level consists of topics which support the introduction, main ideas, and the conclusion. Each main idea should have at least two supporting topics listed in the outline. If your main idea does not have enough support, you should consider presenting another main idea in its place. This is where you should stop outlining if this is your first draft. Continue your research before adding to the next levels of organization.
- Third level of organization
The third level of organization contains supporting information for the topics previously listed. By now, you should have completed enough research to add support for your ideas.
The Introduction and Main Ideas may contain information you discovered about the author, timeframe, or contents of a book for a literature review; the historical events leading up to the research topic for a historical research paper, or an explanation of the problem a scientific research paper intends to address.
- Fourth level of organization
The fourth level of organization contains the most detailed information such as quotes, references, observations or specific data needed to support the main idea. It is not typical to have further levels of organization because the information contained here is the most specific.
- Tips for writing a research paper outline
- Be Consistent : ensure every heading has a similar tone. State the topic or write short sentences for each heading but avoid doing both.
- Organize Information : Higher levels of organization are more generally stated and each supporting level becomes more specific. The introduction and conclusion will never be lower than the first level of organization.
- Build Support : Each main idea should have two or more supporting topics. If your research does not have enough information to support the main idea you are presenting, you should, in general, complete additional research or revise the outline.
- Start writing your research paper with our ready to go templates
By now, you should know the basic requirements to create an outline for your proposed paper. With a content framework in place, you can now start writing your paper. To help you start right away, you can use one of our templates and adjust it to suit your needs.
- My research paper outline is complete - what are the next steps?
Keep a record of your references to avoid plagiarism. Ensure you use footnotes or endnotes - your institution's guidelines will tell you which you need.
Your bibliography will begin on its own page at the end of your research paper.
Title your research paper. This is an iterative process and may change when you delve deeper into the topic.
Begin writing your research paper draft. Continue researching to further build your outline and provide more information to support your hypothesis or thesis.
After the draft is complete, format it accordingly. MLA 8 and APA 6th ed formats have differences between their bibliography page, in-text citations, line spacing, and title.
Write your final paper. APA requires a title page and abstract. An abstract will briefly state the information contained within the paper, results of the research, and the conclusion.
- Frequently Asked Questions about a research paper outline
An outline is used to organize written ideas about a topic into a logical order. Outlines help us organize major topics, subtopics, and supporting details. Researchers benefit greatly from outlines while writing by addressing which topic to cover in what order.
The most basic outline format consists on: introduction, a minimum of three topic paragraphs, and a conclusion.
You should make an outline before starting to write your research paper. This will help you organize the main ideas and arguments you want to present in your topic.
- Consistency: ensure every heading has a similar tone. State the topic or write short sentences for each heading but avoid doing both.
- Organization : Higher levels of organization are more generally stated and each supporting level becomes more specific. The introduction and conclusion will never be lower than the first level of organization.
- Support : Each main idea should have two or more supporting topics. If your research does not have enough information to support the main idea you are presenting, you should, in general, complete additional research or revise the outline.
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How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper
Last Updated: December 18, 2020 References
This article was co-authored by Matthew Snipp, PhD . C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 294,198 times.
Writing an outline for a research paper can seem like a time consuming task, and you may not understand the value of it if you have never written one before. Outlines can help you structure your research and your final paper in much more efficient ways, though, so it is a good idea that you learn how to write one. Here are a few things to keep in mind when doing so.
Sample Outlines
Outline Type and Structure
- Topic outlines are usually used when your research deals with many different issues that can be arranged in different ways.
- Sentence outlines are usually used if your research focuses on complex issues.
- Some instructors will insist that you must not combine these two forms. Many others, however, offer one exception to this guideline by allowing the main section headings to be short phrases while the remaining subpoints are written as full sentences.
- The first level is represented by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, etc.), the second level is represented by capital letters (A, B, C, D, etc.), the third level is represented by numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), and the fourth level is represented by lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, etc.).
- One school of thought indicates that first level headings should be written in all capital letters while all remaining headings use standard sentence capitalization rules.
- Another school of thought suggests that the first level headings should only have the first letter of each word capitalized, rather than the entire word. The remaining headings, again, use standard sentence capitalization rules.
- For a four to five page paper, you only need a single page outline.
- For a 15 to 20 page paper, your outline will usually run no longer than four pages. [2] X Research source
Outline Levels
- These headings are labeled with Roman numerals.
- Note that you would not usually use this outline for a research paper, as it is not very specific or detailed. It can still be a good idea to start with this outline level, however, since you can use it to provide yourself with a general direction for your paper and expand upon it as the information flows in.
- In other words, your Roman numeral and capital letter sections are both present.
- Each second-level subheading should discuss a primary supporting argument for the main idea it falls under.
- You use Roman numerals, capital letters, and standard numbers for this version.
- Next to each third-level subsection, you should address the topic of a paragraph that falls under the corresponding second-level section or main idea above it.
- The fourth-level subheadings should address supporting statements, citations, or ideas within each paragraph listed in the third-level sections.
Components of Effective Outlines
- This refers most obviously to the usage of "topic" versus "sentence" outline formats, as described in the "structure and type" section of the article.
- Parallelism also refers to parts of speech and tense. If a heading starts with a verb, then the other headings must also start with a verb. Moreover, that verb must also be in the same tense (usually present tense).
- Your major headings should identify major tasks or ideas.
- Your subheadings should elaborate on the points addressed in your major headings.
- For instance, if you were writing about memorable experiences from your childhood, "Memorable Childhood Experiences" would be the heading and the subheadings might look something like, "Vacation at 8 years old," "Favorite birthday party," and "Family trips to the park."
- There is no limit on subheadings, but once you start forming a dozen or so subheadings under a single heading, you might find your outline looking cluttered and messy.
Organizing the Outline
- From this research problem, you will derive your thesis statement. A thesis statement is a single sentence that sums up the entire purpose or argument of your research paper.
- This thesis statement will usually be written above the outline itself or within the first "Introduction" heading of the outline.
- Your research problem can also help you figure out a title.
- The main points are details that support or address your research paper. They should be very general in nature.
- Chronological arrangements generally only work if you have a topic that has some chronological history to it. For example, if you were researching the history of modern medicine, it would make sense that your paper and outline follow a chronological order.
- If your research topic does not have a history, though, you will probably end up using a spatial structure. For instance, if you are researching the effects of television and video games on the adolescent brain, you probably would not follow the chronology of the research. Instead, you might describe the different contemporary schools of thought on the issue or otherwise follow some other spatial arrangement of ideas.
- Some instructors will insist that you do not use the terms "Introduction" and "Conclusions," however. In these instances, you can usually skip these two sections altogether, but you will need to write your thesis statement separately and above the outline.
- Note that these elements will usually be listed as subpoints, not as major headings. The major heading for the section will be "Introduction."
- As with the actual paper itself, this portion of your outline will hold all the significant content.
- The main headings will correspond to the main categories briefly listed under a subheading of your “Introduction” section.
- You can include only the main ideas and supporting details of those ideas (a two-level outline, as noted in the “Outline Levels” section of the article) or you could include information about specific paragraphs and supporting details within those paragraphs (three-level and four-level outlines, respectively).
- Restate and rephrase your thesis.
- If you drew any additional conclusions based on your research, list them here. Keep in mind that none of this information should be “new,” and all of it should have been addressed elsewhere in the paper.
- If your research demands a “call to action”—a response that a reader should have in response or an action that should be done in response—include that under this section, as well. This will usually be your final point within the outline.
Expert Q&A
- A good outline shows you what to address next in your paper, thereby limiting writer's block.
- Outlines help maintain a coherent, orderly flow of ideas.
- You can use an outline to check yourself as you write if you suspect that you are straying from the main topic.
- Having a visual outline can help encourage you as you write your paper since you can tell how much you have left.
- Outlines help you organize different ideas about the same topic and gain an understanding of how those ideas connect.
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- ↑ http://libguides.usc.edu/c.php?g=235034&p=1561769
- ↑ http://libguides.usc.edu/content.php?pid=83009&sid=634166
- ↑ http://www.eng.usf.edu/~cunning/CGN6933-drinkingwater/CGN6933-drinkingwater-project/HowToOutline.pdf
- ↑ https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.twc/files/resource-files/Outline.pdf
- ↑ Matthew Snipp, PhD. Sociology Professor, Stanford University. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html
- ↑ http://www.austincc.edu/tmthomas/sample%20outline%201.htm
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How to Make an Outline for Research Paper: Detailed Guide
Are you struggling to write a research paper outlines? Don't worry - we're here to help. In this blog post, we'll give you a step-by-step guide to creating an outline for your essay. We'll also provide some tips and examples to help you start writing. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started!
However, if you have no time or desire to work on a paper, our online essay writers can create the best outline for a research paper. Find out more about our research paper help .
Goals and Benefits of a Research Paper Outline
When beginning any academic paper, it is important to have a clear understanding of what the finished product should look like. The same is true when starting to plan and write an outline for an essay. This guide will detail what an outline for an essay is, how to create one, and tips on how make it useful in the scientific paper.
What is an outline and why does it matter? A research paper outline is a plan written by the author to avoid stucking in the middle of the process. Call it an action plan. This part reveals the primary ideas of the study. Once you are done with the list of research paper topics to explore, it is necessary to dedicate some time to the outline development before you begin writing.
What is the difference between learning how to write a research paper outline and how to make a table of contents for research papers? Well, an outline is not that detailed, and there is no need to put numbers of pages next to each section. An outline allows the amalgamation and review of the study. A writer will not repeat their words; he will stick to the logical flow with the help of an outline. Also be sure to learn how to cite a research paper .
The assignment's prompt may not say to write an outline. However, if a project is more than 1000 words in length , a professor utilizes a research paper outline by default. For example, a 5-paragraph essay requires an outline. It will not be possible to develop a 10,000-word coursework or dissertation without having a plan. An outline structure depends on the type of academic assignment and its format.
A paper outline also has a goal – to help keep the writer on track while writing and ensure that all key points are included. To achieve this goal, the following elements are typically included in an essay outline: thesis, main ideas, and supporting evidence/details in the body paragraph. The thesis statement is usually placed at the end of the introductory paragraph and provides a brief overview of what will be discussed in the essay body paragraphs. Each topic sentence corresponds with a main point that supports the thesis statement and introduces the evidence/details and supporting topics that will be used to further explain this point.
Get help from our paper writing service : we deliver best-quality articles from our top writers. Send us your paper requirements, choose one of dissertation writers for hire , and get your original paper on time.
How to Format a Paper Outline
There are various ways to format an essay outline, but one common method is listing Roman numerals for each main point followed by capital letters for sub-points and Arabic numerals and lowercase letters for sub-sub-points (e.g., I. A. 1.). No matter which format you choose, there are a few essential tips to keep in mind when writing your outline:
- Be sure to include all required elements (e.g., thesis, topic sentences, etc.).
- Keep your language concise yet clear – avoid using too much jargon or technical language that could lose your reader’s attention.
Make sure everything flows smoothly from one point to the next – logical order and transitions will help ensure your argument makes sense overall.
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MLA Research Paper Outline
MLA is the easiest and most frequently met research paper format, so we should start explaining how to write an outline for a research paper on this example. The Modern Language Association proposed this guide a long time ago. It is used to cite works by the students and professionals from the following fields:
- Comparative literary analysis
- Cultural studies
- History & Anthropology
- English Composition
- Foreign language & literature
- Literary criticism
Use MLA outline when working on the papers from these fields. Start with the primary headings (“Intro” and “Method”) using the upper-case Roman numerals. If the paper is long, with many different subsections, the student should use letters and numbers for the various levels of subheadings.
In a draft of a paper outline, arrange the things in the proper order. Do not go into details until starting the final version of the research paper outline. This part defines how the writer will come up with other integral parts (example: Literature Review).
Here are some tips on how to write a great MLA research paper outline:
- Start with a catchy introduction Your introduction should make your readers want to read more. Try to start with something interesting or provocative, such as a quote or an anecdote.
- Make sure your main argument is clear and concise Your main idea should be the main point of your essay. It should be arguable, and it should be clear what evidence you will use to support it. Be sure to include your thesis in your outline so that you don't forget it when you're writing your final paper.
- Organize your ideas clearly Each section of your paper outline should have a clear purpose, and each point should support your main idea. Make sure that each section flows logically into the next one. If you get stuck, try using a mind map or other brainstorming tool to organize your ideas before you start writing your outline. The main idea should be kept through the whole text.
- Use specific examples and evidence to support your points Specific examples and evidence will make your essay more convincing. Be sure to make an additional research and include detailed information so that your reader can understand what you're trying to say. But don't include so much detail that your essay becomes bogged down in minutiae. Complete additional research to add the relevant information.
- Make sure everything ties together logically When you're finished writing your outline, check to make sure that everything ties together logically. All the ideas should flow smoothly into the next one, and the overall structure of your essay should make sense. If something doesn't seem quite right, go back and revise your outline until it feels right
Need more info? Check our full guide - HOW TO CITE A RESEARCH PAPER USING MLA FORMAT
Mastering APA Research Paper Outline
An APA is a most frequently used format when it comes to writing a research paper, and it is more complicated than MLA. The American Psychological Association has established it. Students and professionals use APA essay format in these fields:
- Social sciences
- Healthcare & nursing
The representatives of other fields apply APA paper format from time to time too. We have prepared a tasty infographic with an APA outline example, which is based on the 6th edition of the manual.
Let’s view that structure in details.
A Detailed Outline
There are several critical elements you should consider in your research paper:
It is the opening section to introduce the major details. The length of the recommended title is 60 characters. On the whole, do not miss this information in the title page:
- Your full name
- Professor’s name
- Peers who took part in the investigation (if any)
- Submission date
A summary is an integral part of the research paper. In college, they call it an abstract. The length of such text should not exceed 250-300 words (1/3 of an A4 page), and a student should include the basic findings, their significance, and a brief conclusion.
Experts recommend painstaking the entire research into the investigation’s background. Try to explain why the chosen problem is necessary to analyze and discuss. Mention the results you expected to obtain during the working process, and state a hypothesis that should enclose the introduction (it would be the thesis). Also, don’t forget to mention the thesis statement or the topic of your research.
List the tools, equipment, & techniques used to carry out a study. This section should make it possible to replicate the investigation step-by-step. The goal of the section is to allow other scientists interested in the same research question to continue the investigation.
In most cases, master paper writers combine results and discussion in one huge section. They are interrelated. Start with sharing the findings of the study. Go on interpreting the meaning of the results for the society and provide a short synopsis of the main components: figures and statistical examinations. While adding any visual elements for understanding (graphs, images, etc.), place the numbers next to each of them to provide details in the last section — Appendix.
In the Conclusion part, it is necessary to include:
- A summary of the results
- Paraphrased thesis statement
- Value of the research paper
- Ways to implement the findings
- Some forecasts
Based on the chosen paper format, develop a full list of references. Each time you cite something, write the source’s details on a separate piece of paper. It will speed up the process at the end. Don't forget to read about expository essay and how to write it correctly.
Things to Remember
- An outline is like an action plan which guides you through the writing process.
- You need to write an outline if your assignment is more than 1000 words in lenght.
- Basically, the outline contains three main sections: the Introduction, the Body and the Conclusion.
- The outline format depends on the type of academic assignment (MLA, APA).
- Before developing a research paper outline, read the latest version of the manual according to the chosen format of the research paper.
Research Paper Outline Example
Also, check free research paper outline template example: Developing an Attention-Grabbing Resume! The example is written according to APA writing style guidelines - the rules of the game maybe be different for other formats.
If you need help, get in touch with our support agent from coursework writing service 24/7. To order essay online fill out the form and let the writing process begin.
Need Help with Creating an Outline?
Even after reading a detailed guide on how to outline a research paper, some students need help from EssayPro — one of the leading websites in the field of academic writing & editing.
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How to use ChatGPT to help you write essays
ChatGPT's advanced capabilities have created a huge demand , with the 'app' accumulating over 100 million users within two months of launching. One of the biggest standout features has been its ability to compose all sorts of text within seconds, including songs, poems, bedtime stories, and essays.
Also: What is ChatGPT and why does it matter? Here's everything you need to know
Contrary to popular opinion, ChatGPT can do a lot more than just write an essay for you (which could be called plagiarism). What is more useful is how it can help guide your writing process. If you are a looking for ways to use ChatGPT to support your writing, here are five different ways to explore.
How to improve your writing process with ChatGPT
1. use chatgpt to generate essay ideas.
Before you can even get started writing an essay, you need to flesh out the idea. When professors assign essays, they generally give students a prompt that gives them leeway for their own self-expression and analysis. As a result, students have the task of finding the angle to approach the essay on their own.
If you have written an essay recently, you know this step is often the trickiest part -- and this is where ChatGPT can help.
Also: I wish I had ChatGPT when I was in college. But not for the reason you might expect
All you need to do is input the assignment topic, include as much detail as you'd like -- such as what you're thinking about covering -- and let ChatGPT do the rest. For example, based on a paper prompt I had in college, I asked:
Can you help me come up with a topic idea for this assignment, "You will write a research paper or case study on a leadership topic of your choice." I would like it to include Blake and Mouton's Managerial Leadership Grid and possibly a historical figure.
Within seconds, the chatbot produced a response that provided me with the title of the essay, options of historical figures I could focus my article on, and insight on what information I could include in my paper, with specific examples of a case study I could use.
2. Use the chatbot to create an outline
Once you have a solid topic, it's time to start brainstorming what you actually want to include in the essay. To facilitate the writing process, I always create an outline, including all the different points I want to touch upon in my essay. However, the outline writing process is usually tedious.
With ChatGPT, all you have to do is ask it to write it for you.
Also : ChatGPT productivity hacks: Five ways to use chatbots to make your life easier
Using the topic that ChatGPT helped me generate in step one, I asked the chatbot to write me an outline by saying:
Can you create an outline for a paper, "Examining the Leadership Style of Winston Churchill through Blake and Mouton's Managerial Leadership Grid"
After a couple of seconds, the chatbot outputted a holistic outline divided into seven different sections, with three different points under each section.
This outline is thorough and can be condensed for a shorter essay, or elaborated on for a longer paper. If you don't like something or want to tweak it further, you can do so either manually or with more instructions to ChatGPT.
3. Use ChatGPT to find sources
Now that you know exactly what you want to write, it's time to find reputable sources to get your information from. If you don't know where to start, like with all of the previous steps, you can just ask ChatGPT.
All you need to do is ask it to find sources for your essay topic. For example, I asked it the following:
Can you help me find sources for a paper, "Examining the Leadership Style of Winston Churchill through Blake and Mouton's Managerial Leadership Grid."
Also : The best AI chatbots: ChatGPT and other interesting alternatives to try
The chatbot output seven sources, with a bullet point for each that explained what the source was and why it could be useful.
The one caveat you will want to be aware of when using ChatGPT for sources is that it does not have access to information before 2021, so it will not be able to suggest the freshest sources. However, it is a start.
4. Use ChatGPT to write a sample essay
It is worth noting that if you take the text directly from the chatbot and submit it, your work could be considered a form of plagiarism, since it is not your original work. As with any information taken from another source, text generated by any AI should be clearly identified and credited in your work.
In most educational institutions, the penalties for plagiarism are severe, ranging from a failing grade to expulsion from the school.
Also : ChatGPT is changing everything. But it still has its limits
If you want ChatGPT generate a sample piece of text, put in the topic, the desired length, and watch for what it generates. For example, I input the following text:
Can you write a five-paragraph essay on the topic, "Examining the Leadership Style of Winston Churchill through Blake and Mouton's Managerial Leadership Grid."
Within seconds, the chatbot output exactly what I asked for: A coherent, five-paragraph essay on the topic which can help you to guide you in your own writing.
At this point it's worth remembering how tools like ChatGPT work: They put words together in a form that they think is statistically valid but they don't know if what they are saying is true or accurate. That means you might find invented facts or details or other oddities. It won't be able to create original work because it is simply aggregating everything it has already absorbed. It might be a useful starting point for your own work, but don't expect it to be inspired or accurate.
5. Use ChatGPT to co-edit your essay
Once you've written your own essay, you can use ChatGPT's advanced writing capabilities to edit it for you.
You can simply tell the chatbot what you specifically want it to edit. For example, I asked it to edit for essay structure and grammar, but other options could have included flow, tone, and more.
Once you ask it to edit your essay, it will prompt you to paste your text into the chatbot. Once you do, it will output your essay with corrections made. This could be the most useful tool as it can edit your essay more thoroughly than a basic proofreading tool could, going beyond spelling.
You could also co-edit with the chatbot, asking it to take a look at a specific paragraph or sentence and asking it to rewrite or fix it for clarity.
For a better document collaboration experience, try these tips
How to use ChatGPT: Everything you need to know
The best AI chatbots: ChatGPT and other interesting alternatives to try
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A Guide on How to Write a Research Paper Outline
How to create a structured research paper outline.
A research paper is a scientific or academic document that involves surveying a field of knowledge to get the most accurate data on the topic. It is written in a formal style. Students of elementary and middle school do not face this complicated assignment, while high school, college , and university students should be ready to face this challenge.
A good research paper writing process starts with organizing the workflow. Students should know every step of creating this document. That is what will prevent you from sitting in front of a blank paper for hours, having no idea where to start from.
In your career, you may face the need to write research papers. That is why it's essential to master this art while you're a school, college, or graduate student.
WiseEssays is the best organizer for you. It will both structure your research paper or proposal properly and meet the deadline. Our experts can imitate your writing style so that your teachers will be sure that the piece was written for you. Now, let's have a closer look at what makes a great research paper .
Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
We would like to share a detailed guide on crafting an outline. Thorough research is the first step to success, so we'll start with it.
- Choose your topic or come up with a research question. We recommend detecting keywords that relate to the topic. Finally, provide some background info.
- Locate info search strategy. Start looking for different types of content (websites, books, posts, etc.) that might be useful. Be sure to choose only trustworthy sources that are no older than 3-5 years. Purdue OWL and other sites ending with .edu or .gov would be reliable sources.
- Assess the data gathered. Compare primary vs. secondary sources, qualitative vs. quantitative data. Make certain verdicts and put them down in a draft.
- Prepare literature review or annotated bibliography. Cite sources or put down references for further usage in your research.
Before conducting an in-depth study, you should decide on the topic first. Sometimes, a teacher may provide you with an idea. However, often, students have to choose the topic related to the subject they study on their own. Here are some possible titles for a research paper:
- What are the examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
- What are the most effective methods to treat type II diabetes?
- Relationship between Analytical Thinking Skill and Scientific Argumentation Using PBL
- Is cancer still a disease that any medicine cannot cure?
- The correlation between child obesity and depression
- Drug trafficking in the countries of Latin America
- Preliminary investigation under Rule 112: when is it required?
- The significance of the civil war for the African Americans
- The main reasons for teen violence like bullying in schools
- Reasons for the failure of a new learning system
After collecting the relevant information, the process of writing an outline begins. If you order a paper from WiseEssays, the local writers will do everything for you, from collecting data and analyzing it to writing a paper from scratch. With our new "hot" discounts, it will only cost you $12.71 per page with our new "hot" discounts!
How to Write a Research Paper Outline
Unlike an English essay, a research paper has more sections. In a research paper, make sure that you have:
- A title page with your personal information, such as name and more
- The abstract with a brief general info
- The introduction
- Methods or procedures
- Outcomes or findings
- Discussion or conclusion
- Reference list
Some parts can be optional. For example, graphics, charts, and tables, as well as their explanations, are not always needed.
Introduction
That is the right place to set up your research problem. The main idea is to stress the significance of your research and prove that this issue matters to the community.
The primary goals include grabbing the audience's attention, providing background on the topic, and developing a thesis statement. List the reasons for analyzing the specific question. The intro part of this work may vary, depending on if an author wants to construct an argument by engaging with different sources or offer findings of empirical research that they conducted personally.
This basic part should contain evidence to support the thesis statement. It is the bulk of your work. This section shows up between the introductory part and conclusion. Its length should be proportional to the entire paper's length. However, it is better to stick to the word count suggested by your teacher or professor.
It is the last obligatory section of a research paper, excluding the references page. One paragraph is often enough. Here, a writer should wrap up their ideas and leave a robust impression on the audience so that they realize the essence of the problem or even decide to continue research on their own. The primary objectives of a good conclusion are: restating the main topic and summing up the results.
Thesis/Purpose Statement
Don't confuse it with a thesis as a separate lengthy assignment, similar to a dissertation. A thesis statement is a sentence or few that sums up the main argumentative point(s) of your work. It is the perfect way to end an intro. A writer should sound persuasive in their thesis to show the true value of their work.
Outlining Video
On our platform, you can find and view some useful educational materials. One of them is a video on how to create an outline.
Related Resources
You should operate with relevant, trusted sources only. For instance, if your topic is death, you may retrieve stats and facts from websites like CDC, Our World in Data, WHO, ONS, and more.
The Format of Research Paper Outline
If it is not simple for you to cite papers using academic formats, just let us know. Our experts will cope with this task better than online citation generators.
The Modern Language Association has developed this format for students and scientific organizations to follow when writing their papers. Most often, MLA is applied to projects in humanities.
That is the second most popular formatting style. The full name is The American Psychological Association. Writers use APA to format docs like scholarly journals and books. Most often, this format is applied to works in the field of social sciences and psychology.
Examples of Research Paper Outlines
If you review these samples of outlines, you'll have an idea of how this part of an assignment looks and why it is helpful. You can also find free paper templates on our website . They are available for download in PDF or Microsoft Word.
Why Use an Outline?
That is your writing plan. It will lead you to the perfect project and the highest grade. Of course, our service will maximize your chances of getting an A. Anyway, an outline is the structure of your paper. It makes no sense to start working on an assignment without having this clear plan.
If you order an informative research paper from WiseEssays, our writers will prepare an outline for you and send it as a draft upon your request. Whether you need to do an assignment for sociology, history, human resources, legal studies, nursing, psychology, social science, global warming, or else - you will always find a professional writer and researcher in one face on our site. We'll take care of every section that should be in your project!
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Follow these steps to start your research paper outline: Decide on the subject of the paper Write down all the ideas you want to include or discuss Organize related ideas into sub-groups Arrange your ideas into a hierarchy: What should the reader learn first? What is most important? Which idea will help end your paper most effectively?
The typical outline of a research paper is broken up into sections and paragraphs, listing each paragraph's topic and the related evidence or data to include therein. The depth of detail can change depending on your writing style or the requirements of the paper, as we explain below. Are there different kinds of research paper outlines?
How do I create an outline? Determine the purpose of your paper. Determine the audience you are writing for. Develop the thesis of your paper. Then: Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want to include in your paper. Organize: Group related ideas together.
Here are steps that will help you craft an outline. 1. Determine the type of essay you'll be writing Research essays for high school are early college are often five paragraphs in length and are either descriptive or argumentative. 2. Determine your topic Many times, instructors provide topics for students.
Here's how to make an outline in five simple, easy-to-follow steps. 1 Research and gather sources The first step in any writing process is preparation. For academic writing, that involves researching and collecting evidence to back up your thesis. For creative writing, that means brainstorming and coming up with ideas.
Organize the information such that higher levels of your outline are general while the subsequent levels are detailed and well labeled. If your professor requires the outline, include the relevant citations (in-text) and reference list. Every main idea must have two or more supporting subtopics.
The structure to write an outline consists of three major sections: Introduction Main body Conclusion Need help with writing your APA papers? Get your paper written by a professional writer Get help Reviews.io 4.8/5 Introduction: This section highlights crucial background information. Body: Explain the primary points that support your ideas.
A complete research paper in APA style that is reporting on experimental research will typically contain a Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References sections. 1 Many will also contain Figures and Tables and some will have an Appendix or Appendices.
The structure of a research paper outline is a part of the process that requires maximum attention and scrupulosity, and it has a lot of helpful functions that not only assist during writing but also define the writer as a scientist. The structure has the following functions. Expository function.
The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper: Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper. Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics ...
Your outline will include three key sections: an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion. Introduction: Highlights key background points and presents your thesis Body: Details the main ideas that support your thesis Conclusion: Briefly reiterates your main points and clarifies how these ideas support your final position
A research paper outline also referred to as research paper structure, is an important writing tool that a student or a professional writer can apply in their writing process. It contains the blueprint or skeleton of the research paper, detailing the structure to follow when inserting information to make a research paper.
Steps to Write a Research Paper Outline Write down all important ideas that occur to you concerning the research paper. Answer questions such as - what is the topic of my paper? Why is the topic important? How to formulate the hypothesis? What are the major findings? Add context and structure.
A research paper outline is basically a blueprint for a complete subject. It serves as a mindmap and a plan of action that most students follow throughout the writing process. The following are the benefits of creating a well-structured outline. It organizes all the thoughts and ideas in one place.
First Level of Organization. This is the most basic core of your research paper; your introduction, each of your main ideas and your conclusion. The main ideas are where, of course, the majority of your information is going to be presented. If you think of your research paper like a book, your main ideas would be like chapters.
Title your research paper. This is an iterative process and may change when you delve deeper into the topic. Begin writing your research paper draft. Continue researching to further build your outline and provide more information to support your hypothesis or thesis. After the draft is complete, format it accordingly.
Outline Type and Structure Download Article 1 Choose between a topic outline and sentence outline. With a topic outline, the headings and subpoints are all given in single words or short phrases. With a sentence outline, all of the headings and subpoints are provided in complete sentences. [1]
Basically, the outline contains three main sections: the Introduction, the Body and the Conclusion. The outline format depends on the type of academic assignment (MLA, APA). Before developing a research paper outline, read the latest version of the manual according to the chosen format of the research paper.
1. Use ChatGPT to generate essay ideas. Before you can even get started writing an essay, you need to flesh out the idea. When professors assign essays, they generally give students a prompt that ...
How to Create a Structured Research Paper Outline. A research paper is a scientific or academic document that involves surveying a field of knowledge to get the most accurate data on the topic. It is written in a formal style. Students of elementary and middle school do not face this complicated assignment, while high school, college, and university students should be ready to face this challenge.