Please submit a formal MLA Format Research Paper Outline. Your outline package needs to include the following:
Title Page – Main Title and Subtitle (Optional) with your student information
Outline (2-3 pages text only)
Bibliography Page
This is not a formal research paper yet so it does not have to perfect. However, the more information you have in your outline the less you have to write for your research paper.
Tips on How to Format a Good Research Paper Outline
Although a good outline structure features only three main elements, there is more to keep in mind when you learn how to write a research paper outline. A research paper contains the following elements:
Title page — features a title, student’s name, educational establishment, and publication date.
Abstract — a summary, brief (up to 250 words) and not obligatory. (Optional)
Table of Content — Optional if you have a lot of supporting materials.
Introduction — background information that leads to the thesis statement. In the introduction you can explain the choice of your topic, state your approach, express a theory or suggestion, make a strong thesis statement. This part implies covering the purpose and the main idea of your paper. Additionally, you have to provide the contextual information on the topic for the readers to have a good grasp on the matter. Note that effective introduction should attract the attention of a reader, so think of a story, current event, or statistics that pertain to the topic. Moreover, if the research that you are carrying out is rather complicated or involves using many terms, add them to your outline too. That will help you to understand the basic concepts of the topic. Do not forget that the introduction should close with the thesis statement, which is 1-2 sentences in length.
Body — consists of several parts: materials, methods, results, discussion, and the conclusion. This is the largest part of your paper, and therefore, it has to be split into several subtopics. Each subtopic has to be introduced as a separate paragraph with the main idea and at least two arguments, examples, or explanations supporting this idea. Mind that one paragraph should smoothly go over to the next one so that there is an inextricable link between these subtopics. Also, every thought or idea introduced further should not contradict the previously stated one.
Conclusion — restate the thesis, proving that your study is important and relevant, and mission has been accomplished. It usually takes half of page or so and aims to give a brief summary of the subject in question, particularly the direction of your research. Here, you have to indicate the research method and theoretical approach you used. You will have to mention why you have chosen this topic and how significant or interesting it is.
Bibliography — list of cited works, which includes both literature quoted directly and paraphrased sources.
Additional Referenced Materials — tables, charts, figures, terminology, photos, plans, construction documentation etc. Aside from reference list, you might need to add notes and appendices. The purpose of notes, which are divided into footnotes and endnotes, is to add important or interesting yet not directly relevant information on the matter. Appendices, on the other hand, provide more detailed information on the topic, which would distract a reader’s attention if mentioned in the body of the text.
