Research Paper on Trades
Think about your current career interests and goals. Is there a trade that you are hoping to enter? What’s the trade that you’re interested in pursuing? Research this field and write an informative essay that gives the reader an overview of the trade and educates the reader about something important or useful to know about working in that field.
As you research the topic to learn more about the trade, here are a few questions you might wish to consider:
What are the steps that need to be taken to enter the trade? What’s the entry-level position? What is the most senior position?
Is there on-the-job training?
Do you need special certifications or licenses?
How competitive is the job market for the position you would like to have?
What’s the average pay? Are positions typically salaried or hourly?
Is there room for growth?
What does the future look like for this trade and the position you’d like to have?
You may have other questions you’d like to explore, or that you think would be helpful for a person not familiar with this trade. You don’t have to answer all these questions in your final essay, but you should think about how to explain the field in an interesting and informative way to a person who is unfamiliar with it.
Construction of Your Research Paper
Recall that outlines help writers organize ideas into a logical flow. Remember that your outline can be as simple or detailed as you want it to be, but it’s usually a good idea to look at your source notes as you fill it in.
Here’s a sample outline for you to refer to:
Sample Outline
Here’s a sample outline you can customize to fit your essay:
Introduction Paragraph (One paragraph)
Attention-grabbing hook
Introduction to the topic of the essay
Thesis statement
Body Paragraph(s) on Major Point 1 (One or two paragraphs)
Topic sentence
Evidence from Source 1
Evidence from Source 2
Evidence from Source 3
Body Paragraph(s) on Major Point 2 (One or two paragraphs)
Topic sentence
Evidence from Source 1
Evidence from Source 2
Evidence from Source 3
Body Paragraph(s) on Major Point 3 (One or two paragraphs)
Topic sentence
Evidence from Source 1
Evidence from Source 2
Evidence from Source 3
Body Paragraph(s) on Major Point 4 (One or two paragraphs)
Topic sentence
Evidence from Source 1
Evidence from Source 2
Evidence from Source 3
Conclusion Paragraph (One paragraph)
Summary of thesis
Review of important points and conclusions
As you’re writing, consider the typical elements of an informative essay:
Write a strong thesis statement.
The thesis statement appears in your introduction. Your introduction should do the following:
Catch the reader’s attention.
Give some background information on your topic.
End by letting the reader know exactly where you stand on your topic.
Develop your supporting points and evidence.
The body paragraphs of your essay are where you’ll develop your information and support it with evidence from your sources. Make sure your evidence is logical, relevant, and credible.
Write a Conclusion
The last paragraph of your essay will paraphrase your main claim (thesis statement), briefly summarize your supporting points, and show the significance of your topic. The conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay. It shouldn’t introduce new information different from those presented in the body paragraphs. It should make your reader understand why your argument matters.
Grading Criteria
Consult the rubric provided. This is how your project will be graded. Keep all requirements in mind while you’re writing. Make sure your first draft checks off all the items on your checklist. Compare it to your final project before submitting it as well.
Here are the assignment’s requirements:
You must write five to seven paragraphs
Must include an introduction
Must have a clear thesis that tells the reader the topic of the paper
Must include three to five body paragraphs
Write in the third person
Be sure each body paragraph addresses its own topic relating to the overall thesis
Must include a conclusion
Must conduct your own research and incorporate at least three sources in your essay to support your ideas
In-text citations must be in MLA format
Works-cited page must be in MLA format
