How to Write Your Rough Draft

Research Paper

What you will need…

• Your complete outline• Four different, credible sources (these are

from your source cards that you completed during the ‘research process’)

• The correct manner in which you will cite your sources in your text (for example either author last name or title of article)

Introduction

• Attention grabber – a general sentence about your topic that is not specific but is interesting

• Introduce your topic (subject): 2-3 sentences• Thesis statement (taken directly from your

outline)• Transitional closing sentence (close the topic

and mention the next topic.)

Grabber

• Should be catchy/grab the reader’s attention• Could be a question, interesting

statement/quote, or interesting fact/statistic• Examples:– Imagine 4,000 people marching up to Ouchi High

School and peacefully protesting for change. This is what black and white U.S. citizens did during the March on Washington to stand up for equal rights.

– What would you do if you were forced to attend a run-down, understaffed school?

Introduce Topic

• Explain what your topic is• For example:– Rosa Parks was an African American woman who

refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. She stood up for what she believed in and never backed down. She was an inspiration to civil rights activists across the country and her stand sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Example of Outline->Draft conversion

I. Introductiona. Grabber: Mention

braveryb. Background/lead in:

discuss how bravery makes a person “great”

c. Thesis: Maya Angelou was brave because…

d. Closing: bravery/Maya

Bravery is a quality that many people admire for a multitude of reasons. Throughout the country’s history bravery has been admired in all types of people: soldiers, civil rights activists, and heroes. When asking an American citizen about qualities that are important to this country, it is likely that bravery would be at the top of the list. Maya Angelou is a great American because her bravery in overcoming terrible life events make her strong and courageous. Bravery is just one of Angelou’s great qualities.

Body Paragraphs

• Refer to your outline• Outline shows what needs to be covered in each body

paragraph• First sentence of the paragraph should be a

topic/transition sentence• Make sure to include extra information not on your

outline: specific dates, facts, statistics, etc.• Each body paragraph needs one quote from one of your

sources (parenthetical citation)– (Authors Last Name page number) ex. (Smith 10)– If no author, than article name/title

Outline -> Draft Conversion: Body Section

I. Bodya. Bravery topic sentenceb. Definitionc. Exampled. Transitional closing

sentence:

Bravery is an admirable quality in a person. Bravery is defined by Webster’s dictionary as, “brave or courageous behavior, or valor,” (Webster 1242). When people think of bravery thoughts of soldiers in battle or heroes rescuing people come to mind. Maya Angelou is a brave woman because she has faced many tragedies in her life.

CITATION

Make sure to cite your sources using the appropriate method within the body of your draft or paper. If you have an author for the source, use the last name and page number (if there is one)

example: (Jones 4) or (Jones)If you do not have an author for the source, use the title of the article

example: (“Angelou Biography”)

Conclusion

• Restate thesis• Summarize your main points• Extend relevance of your topic– Why is it important today?– What change has it caused?– Why should we remember?