1) Provide a working title for your research paper. Use this for the major heading of your outline.

2) Below the major heading, provide your working thesis statement. Try to work out a thesis statement that hints at what your main areas of discussion will be.

3) Provide a standard topic outline for your prospective research paper that includes the main sections of the body of the paper [marked with Roman numerals]. Also present any material that you might include beneath these headings [marked with capital letters]. The headings that correspond to the capital letters could be:

• specific items you know you would like to discuss relating to a main section of the body
• a study or article that you think would relate to a main section of the body
• a chapter of a book that you think would relate to a main section of the body
• specific evidence that would support a main section of the body
• personal experience that would support a main section of the body
• anecdote that would support a main section of the body
• other

No other information needs to be detailed in the outline (but you may include it if you choose).

4. Your introduction and conclusion should be marked with Roman numerals [the same as your main sections of the body]. Hint at the manner in which you will introduce your paper. You may propose to use any of the standard means of introducing a topic (be specific): a personal anecdote, a scene or narrative, a question, a statistic, a quotation, a hypothetical situation, a surprising statement.

5. For your conclusion, provide some inclination of what you want to do in your conclusion (i.e. perhaps a restatement of the thesis, return to your hypothetical situation or any earlier example and develop it more, a prediction, etc.), but be as specific as possible.

Prospectus

In a paragraph or so, briefly describe what you intend to do in your paper as a whole. You should try to include any source material you think will be relevant to your paper which you have uncovered at this time (simply list these in your paragraph(s)). In many respects your prospectus will reiterate much of the same information you have provided in your outline. Remember: This outline is not set in stone. It does not lock you in to the manner in which you must write your final research paper. Undoubtedly, the structure of your paper will change between now and the time when you submit your final paper. You may even choose to completely scrap the topic you have chosen at this time. Bon Voyage. Boa viagem. Fahren Sie gut. Happy Trails to You.

Sample outline for a research paper on the effect of tourism and consequent global culture on Ladakhi traditional culture.