Organizing Papers
Keep in mind that this is not the only way to organize a paper, but one of many possible ways.
First, think of the different parts that your paper should contain, then collect that information:
Information Parts | Art on Campus | Social Experiment |
Topic | Union Fountain | Union Zodiac |
Background |
history of the fountain (artist, date, origin)
myths about the fountain |
history of the zodiac (artist, date, origin)
myths about the zodiac
relationship to the fountain
typical interaction people have with the zodiac (walking around it...) |
Description |
fountain details (statues, pool, water, colors, etc.) |
experiment details (people's reactions, walking patterns, facial expressions, movements, interactions, etc.)
how did you set up your experiment? (equipment, location, time, weather, etc.) |
Analysis / Interpretation |
what does the art symbolize?
what significance does it hold on campus?
what does it mean to you? |
how did people act in / respond to your experiment?
why did they act this way?
what specific details about your experiment affected the way people responded to the experiment? |
Evaluation |
is this piece art?
what makes it art? (does it symbolize something, hold a meaning to individual viewers, etc.?) |
what did you learn about people from your experiment?
why do people act in certain ways?
did people act how you anticipated they would? how / how not? |
Once you have the material for your paper, find a way to organize that material:
Topically / Chronologically
Fountain | Zodiac |
- history of the Union Fountain
- description of the art (parts, colors, materials, etc.)
- analysis of the meaning behind the art (is there a history or significance?)
- evaluation of the art
|
- history of the Union Zodiac
- setup of your experiment (time, location, equipment, weather, etc.)
- description of people and interactions (reactions, walking patterns, facial expressions, movements, interactions, etc.)
- analysis of people's actions
- evaluation of your experiment (what did you learn?)
|
By Component
Fountain | Zodiac |
- history of the Union Fountain
- description and analysis of statues around fountain
- description and analysis of fountain pool itself
- description and analysis of the relationship to the Union Zodiac
- evaluation of the art
|
- history of the Union Zodiac
- setup of your experiment (time, location, equipment, weather, etc.)
- description and analysis of the effect that time of day had on people and interactions
- description and analysis of the effect that the weather had on people and interactions
- description and analysis of the effect that the location had on people and interactions
- description and analysis of the effect that other specific components of your experiment had on people and interactions
- evaluation of your experiment (what did you learn?)
|
Just because there are a certain number of main sections like above, you do not have to have that same number of paragraphs in your paper. Be sure to proofread and edit! |