Outline- Introduction Outline

The broad categories for your outline come from the Proposal Guidelines

I. Research Question (At top of outline)

II. Introduction (Link to proposal description)

A. Larger context of the research
(What is your audience? Who will be most interested in your work?)

B - ?. What do we know about this topic?
( These paragraphs provide review of the literature (our knowledge) to focus the reader eventually to the specific question that you want to study? The number of supporting paragraph will vary from proposal to proposal. The number of supporting paragraph that you need to substantiate your study will vary. You need to be concise but complete. This needs to be a full review of the underlying logic and pertinent literature.)

Last Paragraph. What is the next step?
(This paragraph sets the stage for your research. In the end, this paragraph links your argument, e.g. literature review, with research question.)

Outline Format for each paragraph

1. Paragraph Thesis
2. Supporting statements and/ or literature examples
3. Concluding/ Transitional sentence

Make sure to cite where appropriate either with specific citation or indication that citation needed.

The Assignment

Bring in two hardcopies of your introduction outline to class. One copy will be used in the class peer review. The second copy may be given to your instructor. You will have the opportunity to revise the outline after class. Revised outline will then be uploaded onto Angel.

Comments

More effort in your outline will make writing the introduction much easier. Try to develop as clear and complete outline as possible so that you can identify weaknesses in your argument and supporting literature.

From this point, you begin filling in the details of each section using topical subheadings and complete sentences where needed. You should endeavor to make your subheadings as detailed as possible, without making them paragraphs.

© Meers, Savarese, Demers, Barreto, Kakareka, Volety, Everham, Cruz-Alvarez, Loh, Goebel, Fugate, Bovard, Hartley, Mujtaba, & Gunnels 2009.

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