Sample Outline

 

Here is a generic sample outline and some organization guidelines for your research paper, borrowed from guidelines I followed for a recent book chapter I wrote: "How People Learn with Computer Simulations."  You can think of your research paper as a "chapter" in the Ed Tech Knowledge Base if you wish.

 

Abstract

As a contribution to a scholarly publication, your chapter will need to include an abstract, consisting of approximately 100-150 words, which will provide your readers with an overview of the content of your chapter. It is important that your abstract clearly states the purpose of your chapter and summarizes the content.

Introduction

In this section, you will want to describe the general perspective of your chapter. Toward the end of the introduction, you should specifically state your chapter’s objectives.

Difference between introduction & abstract: In a way this is similar to the abstract, but in the abstract you quickly summarize the whole paper (including results & conclusions), whereas the introduction just opens up your paper.  So really probably the first couple of sentences of your abstract will cover the same ground as your introduction, but then go on to summarize the rest of the paper.

Background

If you are doing a paper about the use of a particular type of technology, for example, here is a good place to discuss the history and background of this technology and it's use in education.  You can call this section "History" if more appropriate.

Main Thrust of the Chapter

(Please note that the title of this section should NOT be “Main Thrust of the Chapter.”)

1. Issues, Controversies, Problems

Here, you’ll want to present your perspective on the issues, controversies, problems, and so forth, as they relate to the theme and arguments supporting your position. Compare and contrast with what has been, or is currently being done, as it relates to your specific topic and the main theme of the book.

2. Solutions and Recommendations

Here, you should discuss solutions and recommendations in dealing with the issues, controversies, or problems presented in the preceding section. 

Future Trends

In this section, you’ll want to discuss future and emerging trends. You should provide insight about the future of the book’s theme from the perspective of your topic. Viability of a paradigm, model, implementation issues of proposed programs, and so forth, may be included in this section. If appropriate, you may want to suggest future research opportunities within the domain of the topic.

Conclusion

Here, you should provide a discussion on the overall coverage of the chapter and include your concluding remarks.

References

 

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[Below are style guidelines to help with your references and citations, copied from here.  See also the Duke citations site and the Citation Machine for help with APA citations.]

STYLE

It is important that your paper use rigorous research supported by adequate reference citations. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that all information in your manuscript that is paraphrased or quoted from another source is substantiated with an in-text reference citation.

Please also note that your manuscript and references must strictly follow APA (American Psychological Association) style (The publisher may return your manuscript to you for correction if you do not properly format your manuscript and references. Note that this will delay the production process, and ultimately, the release of the issue.). References should relate only to the material you actually cited within your manuscript (this is not a bibliography), and they should be listed in alphabetical order. Please do not include any abbreviations.

While some examples of references in APA style are included in the following pages, it is highly recommended that you reference an actual APA style manual (5th edition). If you do not own an APA style manual, you may either 1) consult your library or 2) visit APA’s Web site to order your own copy: http://www.apastyle.org/pubmanual.html. It may also benefit you to consult the following pages of APA’s Web site for frequently asked questions and other tips:

www.apastyle.org/faqs.html and www.apastyle.org/previoustips.html.

Properly formatting sources in your reference list

Book with one author:
Author, A. A. (2005). Title of work. Location/City, State: Publisher.

Book with two authors:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (2005). Title of work. Location/City, State: Publisher.

Book with more than two authors:
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (2005). Title of work. Location/City, State: Publisher.

Journal article:
Sawyer, S., & Tapia, A. (2005). The sociotechnical nature of mobile computing work: Evidence from a study of policing in the United States. International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 1(3), 1-14.

A publication in press:
Junho, S. (in press). Roadmap for e-commerce standardization in Korea. International Journal of IT Standards and Standardization Research.

Edited book:
Zhao, F. (Ed.). (2006). Maximize business profits through e-partnerships. Hershey, PA: IRM Press.

Chapter in an edited book:
Jaques, P. A., & Viccari, R. M. (2006). Considering students’ emotions in computer-mediated learning environments. In Z. Ma (Ed.), Web-based intelligent e-learning systems: Technologies and applications (pp. 122-138). Hershey, PA: Information Science Publishing.

Report from a university:
Broadhurst, R. G., & Maller, R. A. (1991). Sex offending and recidivism (Tech. Rep. No. 3). Nedlands, Western Australia: University of Western Australia, Crime Research Centre.

Published proceedings:
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). A motivational approach to self: Integration in personality. In R. Dienstbier (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation: Vol. 38. Perspectives on motivation (pp. 237-288). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Unpublished doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis:
Wilfley, D. (1989). Interpersonal analyses of bulimia: Normal-weight and obese. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Missouri, Columbia.

A presented paper:
Lanktree, C., & Briere, J. (1991, January). Early data on the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSC-C). Paper presented at the meeting of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, San Diego, CA.

Web site:
VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2001). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology undergraduates. Journal of Bibliographic Research, 5, 117-123. Retrieved October 13, 2001, from http://jbr.org/articles.html

Properly formatting in-text citations

When citing a source in your text, you will need to state the authors’ surnames along with the year of publication. Please note the following:

• If you have several references cited within the same parenthesis, the citations should be listed in alphabetical order. You’ll note that 1) each citation is separated by a semicolon, and 2) ampersands (&) are used instead of the word “and.”
  
  Example:In most organizations, data resources are considered to be a major resource (Brown, 2002; Krall & Johnson, 2005; Smith, 2001).
• If an author’s name is mentioned directly within the text of your manuscript as part of a sentence, please note that only the year is placed within parenthesis.
  
  Example:Brown (2002) states that the value of data is recognized by most organizations.
• If you directly quote another individual’s work, you must also provide the page of the source from which the quote was taken.
  
  Example:“In most organizations, data resources are considered to be a major organization asset” (Smith, 2001, pp. 35-36) and must be carefully monitored by the senior management.
  Example:Brown (2002) states that “the value of data is realized by most organizations” (p. 45).
• Under NO circumstances should in-text citations be numbered.
  
  Incorrect:In most organizations, data resources are considered to be a major resource [15; 30; 84].
  Correct:In most organizations, data resources are considered to be a major resource (Brown, 2002; Krall & Johnson, 2005; Smith, 2001).
• If a direct quote that you wish to include in your manuscript is more than 40 words long, please be sure to format your quote as a block quote (a block quote uses no quotation marks, and its margins are indented from the left; also, you’ll notice that the period at the end of the sentence comes before the parenthetical in-text citation):
  
  Example:As an ever-growing number of people around the world have gained access to e-mail and Internet facilities, it has become clear that the communicative environment provided by these tools can foster language learning. E-mail facilitates access to speakers of one's target language. (Vinagre & Lera, 2007, p. 35)