Persuasive research papers are common assignments in high school and college-level English or writing classes. The purpose of a persuasive research paper is to argue a specific side of an issue. Making an outline for the paper will be helpful to you as you write it. Outlines keep you focused on the main point. But before you can make the outline, you first must choose an issue to persuade the reader about, decide on a side of the issue to argue and research that side.
Instructions
1. Write your thesis statement at the top of the outline. Having the thesis first will give you a guiding point. Remember that all points in your paper, and on the outline, should revolve around and support the thesis. So the thesis should state the issue and the side of the issue that you are arguing.
2. Use at least three main headings in the outline. Headings should be preceded with Roman numerals: I, II, III, IV and so on. Use the main headings to identify separate angles on the issue to persuade. Consider arrange the main headings. Typically, persuasive essays begin with general information and move toward more specific information.
3. Use at least two subdivisions for each main heading. Subdivisions should be numbered with capital letters. The subdivisions must explain the main headings, so you should use the subdivisions to provide supporting evidence for each of the main ideas that you are arguing.
4. Use more classification on the outline if needed. Use numbers to further divide the subdivisions; use lowercase letters for another step of classification. Further classifications are used to provide more information about each paragraph to support the argument.
5. Include information from your research in the sections where it belongs. Use citations for your sources to help you remember which source to use in the essay. Source information should not be included as one of the main headings; instead, place it as a subdivision or on a subsequent level.
Tags: main headings, side issue, each main, issue persuade, that arguing
