Figuring out your research paper layout.

In many cases, your grader, department, or discipline, will provide or indicate the layout you are to use. If they have not provided a general outline or described what sections, in what order, you are to create, then you can generally presume that a “standard” research paper layout is acceptable. It is always a good idea to ask your teacher or professor for an example if they’ve not given one.

In the absence of specific instructions, this is a good basic format:

• An introduction that includes a) your thesis and b) a map of your paper

Your thesis should be clear to you, and your reader, and a map of your paper is just a brief overview of what your reader can expect.

• Overview of basic research

Unless your paper is supposed to be very brief, you will need to include some background on the subject. This means the foundations of your subject, not just aspects immediately related to your thesis. For example, if your thesis is that the original Star Trek series is the greatest English-language science fiction television program of all time, your background information could be about what constitutes televised science fiction and some general information about the show and its creative background.

• Research related directly to your topic

If you want to prove that Star Trek is the greatest English-language sci-fi of all time, you might include research about the ratings of the show at the time, but you also include research into the legacy of the original series including the associated films, as well as the writers, directors, and activists, among others, who report being inspired by Star Trek.

• Conclusion

Here is where you would reiterate your main points and your thesis. In a research paper, you can sometimes include suggestions for further research. For example, you might suggest that research be done into how Star Trek has influenced television outside of English-language countries or outside the boundaries of science fiction.

Have questions about your research paper layout? Ask here.

Want to place an order for a research paper? Place your order here.