Sample Outline for a Long
Analytical Research Paper Such as a Senior Thesis
or Research Paper Written for
a Writing-Centered Class
Note: For each of the items below the
paper should include descriptive
subject headings unless otherwise appropriate (i.e., the terms
“Introduction” and “Conclusion” are acceptable
but for other sections descriptive headings—not the generic ones
below—should be used).
Note: Page ranges indicated below are
typical for a senior thesis. Research papers for other writing-centered
courses in most cases will not be as long.
I. Introduction (2 to 3 pages at most)
A. Statement of what the paper is about
1. Why the paper answers an
interesting question
B. Brief discussion of the theoretical puzzle and/or
analytical concept to be explored
1. Indication of scholarly
literature to be explained if applicable
2. Indication of the concept that is to be examined,
i.e., not the factual subject matter but the larger phenomenon of which
the subject matter is just one example
C. Thesis statement
II. Overview of that which needs to be
explained/brief description of
the empirical problem, i.e., the “dependent variable”
(length varies but most likely no
more than
5 pages)
A. Summary of the facts that are under investigation
B. Description of what has been observed that is
curious and why it needs to be explained
C. Indication of the comparisons that are being made
in the dependent variable
1. Comparative case studies, if
applicable
2. Temporal comparison, if
applicable
Note: This section does not yet include information
on those factors that potentially explain
that which is under investigation
III. Theoretical literature review,
i.e., overview of theories,
approaches, paradigms, frameworks, perspectives, and/or schools of
thought, etc. that scholars have used to explain manifestations of the concept that is to be examined (see
I.B.2. above) (length varies but most
likely no more than 10 pages)
A. Theory, approach, paradigm, framework,
perspective, school of thought, etc. #1
B. Theory, approach, paradigm, framework,
perspective, school of thought, etc. #2
C. Theory, approach, paradigm, framework,
perspective, school of thought, etc. #3
(D/E/F/G) Additional review of theories, approaches,
paradigms, frameworks, perspectives, schools of thought, etc. as
necessary
Note: This section should also include, as fully as
possible, two additional elements:
1. Summary of the nature of scholarly debate
regarding the concept that is to be examined, i.e., what is at stake in
the scholarly literature on competing theoretical perspectives
2. For each theory, approach, paradigm, framework,
perspective, school of thought, etc. a statement of what they would
hypothesize as those empirical facts that would verify, validate,
strengthen, etc. or undermine, disconfirm, weaken, etc. the
propositions of each
theoretical perspective. That is, this section should indicate the
hypothesized independent variables
that would uphold the propositions of theory. The hypothesized
independent variables are the empirical facts that will be researched
in the next section.
IV. Presentation of empirical facts
that potentially can explain the
existence of that which is to be explained, i.e., facts
regarding the independent variable(s).
That is,
this section reviews the facts that are hypothesized (see III.2. above)
to bring about the dependent variable (length
varies but most likely no more than 15 pages although as much space
should be allocated to review as much evidence as necessary to test out
the hypotheses that flow from the theoretical literature review)
A. The order of presentation of evidence typically
follows thee standard formats (other means of laying out the evidence
are acceptable as long as they follow a logical progression of
thoughts):
1. Evidence as it tests the
propositions of each theory, approach, paradigm, framework,
perspective, school of thought, etc. as they are laid out in the
theoretical literature review, or
2. Case-by-case presentation of
the evidence, or
3. Chronological presentation of
the evidence
V. Analysis. It is in this
section that the propositions of each
theory, approach, paradigm, framework, perspective, school of thought,
etc. are analyzed in terms of their ability to explain the dependent
variable on the basis of evidence of the hypothesized independent
variables as presented in section IV. (length varies but typically no more than
10 pages)
A. How the evidence has led the paper to its thesis
statement
Note: Presentation in most cases follows the same
order as section III.
VI. Conclusion (2–3 pages)
A. How the findings can be applied to other
instances of the concept under investigation
B. How the findings allow for a better understanding
of the empirical subject matter as well as scholarly debates over the
issue