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Step 1
Before you begin to write a research paper outline, you need to create a thesis, or take a stance on the topic. It might be helpful to do a bit of research on your topic to know what stance will be easiest for you to write about. Write down the thesis for your research paper. Say you want to write about fish safety. Your thesis might say something like “Man made problems endanger fish safety.”
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Step 2
Once you have a thesis you feel comfortable with, you need some support. Find a couple of websites or authors that support the point of view you’re going to be writing about. Make a Pro-Con list: separate some research for and against your point of view. Make sure to include where you found the research, so you can return and reference it later.
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Step 3
Now that you’ve got a little background on the topic, you can begin writing the research paper outline. Open a Microsoft Word document, and set up a format in roman numerals (or some sort of bulleted list). Begin with the number I and write your thesis statement. Create your outline and keep it as organized as possible. Use capital letters for major points, and write any notes you have in the margins.
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Step 4
Underneath the number I, write points II, III, and IV. You may need more numbers depending on the length of your research paper, but for the outline, start with just three. These points will be the support for your research paper. With the previous example of fish safety, your paper might list pollution, and over fishing as the first two points. List one reason for support for each number II, III—IV will come later.
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Step 5
Make sub points under these numbers and list interesting facts, or supporting evidence for that sub point. For each fact or piece of evidence, make sure to copy and paste the sources as well. In these sub points, describe or elaborate upon your reason for support. So if you were writing on the sub point “pollution,” you might write “research shows fish population is declining,” and then list your source after what you wrote.
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Step 6
Your outline should now begin to look more like a research paper. If you write the outline correctly, you should have all of the research done, and only be required to write transitions between your research findings. The last step is to write point IV. Since you have already written two points supporting your thesis, this one will be something opposing your thesis. Site research that doesn’t agree with your thesis and write about flaws in the research, or address why it might be misleading. Now you’ve written a solid research paper outline.
