INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAPER OUTLINE
This outline frames and organizes your thinking to prepare for your research paper. It provides clear, concise ideas and a visual framework for your thoughts. This includes your introduction, conclusion, 3+ main points, support for the main points, transitions, internal citations, and source list. Please note that each main point does not mean it is a paragraph – you can split up your main points into multiple paragraphs based on the information you provide.
You may have more numbers/letters than the ones listed, but you may not have less. If you have a 1, you must have a 2 and an A must have a B. You may add another level to any main point (see main point 1 for an example; adjust as appropriate). You will likely need more levels to meet the content requirement for this assignment. The main points listed are generic for all sub-fields and are the content you will be covering in your paper – you need to adapt these to your specific subfield.
Outlines do not have to be in complete sentences or not complete thoughts. Keep in mind, that the more developed your outline is, the more likely you are to receive constructive feedback. However, the statements on this outline require additional verbiage when they part of your final paper. This should not be your paper broken into sentences but main ideas and support you want to address within your paper.
Begin this process by developing your thesis statement (what is the sub-field of forensic science you are discussing and what are you going to show through your paper in your main points). Then, support those main points and develop your introduction and conclusion. Don’t forget to add in transitions, these are often overlooked by students and their exclusion leads to choppy papers. At the end of your outline, there is a source list. Here you will be submitting your source(s) in APA style of parenthetical citations. This is how your references will appear within the text of your paper so I know where your information came from.
You may delete out the above text and fill in the outline below. This is a rough template, you may move aspects of this outline to fit your needs. Be sure to consult the paper description and rubric when organizing your thoughts.
TEMPLATE
Name: Title:
Introduction
I. What is the sub-field you are going to write about II. Why is it important: III. Thesis statement Transition into body
Body I. Trace the origin and the development of this sub-field/technique a. Support i. Support ii. Support b. Support c. Support
II. Analyze the sub-field and determine what it can and cannot tell about evidence at a crime scene. a. Support b. Support c. Support
III. Explain the role of this sub-field in forensic science, and how it fits into the broader criminal justice system a. Support b. Support c. Support Transition into conclusion
Conclusion I. Close the Paper References (type sources as per an APA-style reference page) Parenthetical citations (convert the same references into parenthetical style in text citations)
