Writing a 5 Page Research Paper Outline: Are You Missing Out?

In your academic years, you will have to write several research paper outline, from middle school to college. As a student, most of the standard sections you will include in your outline will be the introduction, body, and conclusion. However, there is more to a writing outline than what you have listed above. An outline acts as a road map to your research paper. It gives you a clue as to what your research paper looks like. It also acts as a compass in differentiating your work.

In this article, we look at how to write a research paper outline and the strengths and weakness of a framework. Read on to learn more!

Introduction to Your Research Paper Outline

As the name suggests, the first section of your outline is the introduction. It introduces the reader to the topic of discussion, helps you get their attention and work towards finding a suitable title. Furthermore, it offers them a chance to establish whether they will want to know more about your research paper or not. As such, it should be the most captivating part of your paper. The introduction should serve to hook the reader on your work and to state the thesis statement.

However, it helps to start the introduction with a hook to pique the interest of the reader. The study paper outline should support the thesis statement with credible, yet real data. Ideally, you should introduce the concepts with sources related to them. The information you present is essential in getting the readers to remain with your research paper.

Body

You should not start writing a research paper with the introduction. Your body should talk about your research, validating your thesis statement. The body section should consist of your main points. The recommended writing method for a 5 page research paper outline is to include a table of content for each page. However, any other method will also work. For instance, you could have three page sections per page in an APA or MLA outline.

The body should briefly cover all the key points raised in the introduction section.

The next step should be to create a table of content for each chapter. The table should organize all the headings and subheads. Additionally, it should have links to other related resources that will help you in proving your research work. Make sure to back your points with authentic sources that have been published before in peer-reviewed journals.

Remember, you should never use generic terms in your body outline. For instance, do not use the word citation even if you came up with the content referencing the term. Your research paper should adhere to the current citation guidelines that come with your major institution. The words you use in the body outline will act as citations in the research paper.

Lastly, you should reference all the external sources you have used in your research paper. Only then should your research paper look professional and logical.

In summary, the 5 page research paper outline should contain all the above sections. If you follow the above instructions, you will have written a 5 page research paper outline that is: