Research Papers for Social Studies

Tip #4

- How to add analysis

OK! So you have your paragraphs supported by all that amazing

evidence you foundnow what? Its time to go further and add an
important voice to the mixyours! But what does it actually mean to
analyze something? Check out the table below to get started:

Evidence
Definition

Evidence is proof that supports

your topic sentence or main idea.

Analysis
Analysis connects your ideas and
your evidence.
It convinces the reader that your
evidence is important and
valuable.

What it is

What it is not

Use sentence starters

like

An example of this
is
When to use it in a
paragraph

Why do we need it?

Quotesmake sure to identify

who is speaking and the source

Connectionscombine pieces of
evidence to make new ideas

Factsdates, events, people and

actions, numbers and statistics

Opinionsshow the value of the

evidence that you presented

Evidence is never your opinion or

something that you have made up
thats fiction.

Analysis is not a list of facts. It is

not the who, what, where, when
or howits the why!

For example
First of all
Furthermore
Finally

This shows that

The evidence indicates
This proves that
Therefore

In addition, Peter the Great

boosted the number of standing
military soldiers to over 200,000
strong (World History, p. 446).

Therefore, Peters true motivation

can be clearly seen by the steps
that he took towards establishing
a strong military presence.

After the thesis, claim or topic

sentence.

After you have provided the

evidence.

Before the analysis.

Before the concluding sentence.

Without evidence, your research

paper has no legs to stand on.

Without analysis, your research

paper has no brain of its own.

Incorporating evidence from

diverse sources persuades the
reader that you have done the
necessary work and are an
authoritative voice on the topic.

When you analyze, you do

something amazingyou dont
just tell us what the evidence is,
you tell us why it is valuable to
you, the reader and the world
around us.

Social Studies Department The International High School at Lafayette 2015-2016