- 1). Focus your topic. Narrow the scope of your topic so that you can adequately address it within the page limit of your paper. Avoid broad topics such as atomic weapons. Choose a more manageable topic such as President Truman's decision to use atomic weapons against Japan.
- 2). Formulate your thesis: your new idea that you have synthesized during your research. Rework your idea until you can express it in a one-sentence thesis statement.
- 3). Write an introduction for your paper. Introduce the issue at hand. Summarize briefly, in one or two sentences, the major opinions that you encountered in your research. Conclude the introduction with your thesis statement.
- 4). Support your thesis. Inform the reader of the subject of each paragraph. Stick narrowly to the subject of the paragraph. For example, if your topic is President Truman's decision to use atomic weapons against Japan and your first paragraph focuses on Japanese loyalty to the Emperor, do not introduce sources about the effects of radiation on survivors or life under MacArthur.
- 5). Cite your sources clearly using in-text citations. Avoid accidental plagiarism by indicating when you paraphrase an idea from another author. Use lead in phrases, such as "So-and-so says in his 2003 book, Truman and Hirohito . . .", and parenthetical citations.
- 6). Conclude your essay with a paragraph summarizing the points you made. Restate your thesis statement and the key points of each paragraph. Suggest further reading for the reader. Note any limitations that you had during your research.
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