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