Research 8
Sequence the Information in Your Outline

Consider arranging your information in one of these ways depending on your thesis:

• Chronological Order - This is the most straightforward and common way to organize your research paper.  Simply, present events in the order in  which they happened.  For example:


 

• Write about a historical event detailing first what lead up to the event, then what occurred during the event, and finish with what the impact was in the aftermath of the event.

• Categorical Order - Some topics naturally fall into categories.  If so, group information based on similar properties or characteristics. For example:

• If you are examining violence in professional sports it makes sense to have sections of your paper focus on different sports: football, baseball, hockey, wrestling, etc.

• Cause and Effect - Show how a particular cause or series of contributing factors led to a particular effect or set of consequences or how how an  effect or set of consequences resulted from a particular cause or series of contributing factors. For example:

• Show how unrealistic images of women in the media have lead many teenage girls to have a negative body image and some to even develop eating disorders.

• Comparison and Contrast - Show how something relates to something else by comparing the similarities and contrasting the differences.  For example:

• You can illustrate how our educational system is inferior to that of Japan by comparing and contrasting the teachers, expectations, homework, school hours and requirements for graduation in both countries.


 

• Order of Importance - Present points in order of importance.  Make your most important point first, then present the next meaningful point and so on until all points are presented or begin with the least meaningful point and conclude with the most important point.  For example:

• Present the factors that lead to the sinking of the Titanic beginning with that which you feel was most responsible for the tragedy and going on to explain some of the more minor factors that also contributed to the disaster.


 

• Spatial Order - First describe a situation as it appears at a distance and then show through your writing how the true picture changes as you look more closely. For example:

• It is commonly accepted that JFK was assassinated by Oswald, a lone gunman, but a closer examination reveals that other parties appear to have played a part in his death.

 Think about which of these structures makes the most sense based on your thesis and the way you plan to approach the issue..