State the research question.
Discuss why you have investigated it.
Discuss why and how the research question is important to your specific audience.
Define any unfamiliar terms or concepts unfamiliar to your audience.
Provide a synthesis of the information you’ve gathered in your research.
Clearly identify your stance on the research question.
Clearly discuss why and how you’ve arrived at your particular take on the reach question based on your search.
Additional guidelines for your essay’s structure:
You might consider using subject headings to guide your readers through the essay. Reader-friendly is a key buzzword.
Your Introduction section should consist of numbers 1 to 3 above, with around two paragraphs total. Remember that you are not arguing for a particular answer to your research question here.
Your Definition of Terms section should consist of number 4 above. The key here is not to use generic dictionary definitions. The goal of this section is to define terms relevant to your research that your audience may not understand by using terminology, metaphors, language with which they are familiar. Explain the unfamiliar using the familiar. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the expertise you’ve gained through research and your creativity.
Your Synthesis section, number 5 above, will take up the majority of the report. It should be multiple paragraphs and between two and a half and three pages. Here you present your research to your audience by breaking down and presenting the major arguments, or discussions relevant to, your research question. You’ll want to paraphrase, summarize and quote directly from your sources. Remember that you need to use intext citation, even when not quoting directly. You want to use a minimum of four sources. You may want to use subsections to identify the various points of discussion.
The Opinion section should cover 6 and 7 above and consist of one or two paragraphs. Here you can overtly state your position on the research question.
The essay should conclude with a works cited page.
