Report format
1. Your first paragraph should state your thesis (argument) in the form
of a declarative sentence, together with an idea of how you will prove
it. If this seems rather dull, it is. Therefore you should be creative
in designing this paragraph, perhaps beginning with a quotation, anecdote,
or an item of human interest to engage the reader.
2. The second paragraph should provide background information, enough
that your reader will have the factual information necessary to understand
your argument.
3. The main section of your report will present the reasons you have
assembled to support your argument. These can take the form of logic, or
evidence, or preferably) both. If you can't think of at least three reasons
why your thesis is true, you may have the wrong thesis.
4. Your final paragraph should restate your thesis in the form of a
conclusion. Where before you had to say, "I will show" you can now say
"We have seen."
The pages should be stapled together in the upper left had corner, with
a title page, but with no plastic covers or spines. Do not use erasable
paper. White paper, black ink only.