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Six Major Steps to Successful Research

Step 5: Project Outline
1. 3 Basic Components
2. Informal Outlines
   • A List
   • Thesis as Question
3. Formal Outlines
4. Assignment

A. Research Writing Projects Contain Three Basic Components:

• Introduction: indicates the purpose, background, and overview of the topic and ends with the thesis statement.
• Body: describes the problem and proposes solutions.
• Conclusion: recommends action and summarizes what has been presented, returning to the thesis statement.

An effective method to begin the writing process is to develop an outline.

B. Informal Outlines

• A List
  The most common outline is simply a list of all the ideas to be included in the writing project. Items in the list can be rearranged, added to, and deleted until the logical order is developed. Writing can proceed directly from this rough outline with ideas developed in the order they appear.
• Thesis as Question
  The thesis statement can also be used to develop a rough outline. Turn the thesis statement into a question, then write 3-5 different answers to the question. Consider the following example.

Statement: The ability of users of the World Wide Web to download music is very similar to the ability of television radio, and CD listeners to tape and record music and requires no new legislation for legal compliance.

The thesis restated as a question.

Question: How can current legislation that protects musicians in terms of radio, television, and CDs be used to protect musicians from Web piracy?

The next step is to write answers to the question.

1. Describe the current relevant legislation.
2. Compare the use of radio, television, and CDs to use of the World Wide Web.
3. Identify numbers of users in each category.
4. Describe the current controversy, using Napster as one example.

Each statement should then be explored in the same way.

1. How does the current copyright legislation work to protect musicians?
   • Identify the current copyright laws.
   • Describe how the laws are applied.
   • Use specific examples related to musicians.
2. How does the use of radio, television, and CDs compare to use of the Web?
3. How do the number of users compare?
   • Radio, television, and CD use far exceed that of the Web.
   • The number of people copying audiotapes, videotapes, and radio and television programs exceeds the number of people who have access to the Web.
   • The cost of Internet access and adequate telecommunications to make downloading a viable alternative is too high to make it a major problem.
4. How did Napster influence the current controversy about Web piracy?
   • Napster received major media attention.
   • Musicians joined together in an attempt to influence legislators.

C. Formal Outlines

A formal outline indicates major sections and supporting details using a distinct pattern of Roman numerals, capital letters and Arabic numbers. It builds on the concepts stated in the thesis statement.

1. First Claim
1. Support for claim I
2. Support for claim I
3. Support for claim I
2. Second Claim
1. Support for claim II
   1. Evidence for item IIA
   2. Evidence for item IIA
      1. Support for item IIA2
      2. Support for item IIA2
2. Support for claim II
   1. Evidence for item IIB
      1. Support for item IIB1
      2. Support for item IIB1
   2. Evidence for item IIB
3. Support for claim II
4. Support for claim II
3. Third Claim
1. Support for claim III
   1. Evidence for item IIIA
      1. Support for item IIIA1
      2. Support for item IIIA1
   2. Evidence for item IIIA
2. Support for claim III
3. Support for claim III

D. Assignment #4

Create an outline for your research paper, using one of the forms described in this section. Send this outline by e-mail to your instructor.