Using your outline, write a draft of your research essay. (For more information on writing a draft, see Chapter 4.)

Your introduction should include your thesis statement and a preview of the support you will provide in the body of the essay. If you are taking a stand on an issue, the introduction should let your readers know what your position is. The body of the essay will present your major support points for your thesis backed by supporting details from your research. The conclusion will remind readers of your main point and make a further observation based on the information you have presented.

As you write, incorporate your sources into your paper with introductory phrases. Most often, you will state the name of the source or author before adding the information you are using. Use a comma after the introductory phrases.

INTRODUCTORY PHRASE IDENTIFYING SOURCE

INTRODUCTORY PHRASE IDENTIFYING AUTHOR AND SOURCE

In his article “Sustaining Mother Nature with Native Plants,” Bill Ward states,

When you have finished writing your draft essay, take a break from it. Then, definitely allow time to reread, revise, and edit it. At this point, you might read the draft essay and see that you need a bit more support from outside sources. Perhaps you can find more in the sources you have already been using, or you may want to find another source to support your thesis statement.

All the sources that you use must be cited correctly where you use them in your paper, as well as at the end of the paper, in the Works Cited list. The sections that follow give you the correct format for documenting in-text citation and works cited. If you are using a type of source that you do not find in these sections, visit macmillanhighered.com/researchroom where you will find the documentation format for every kind of source imaginable.