A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, 7th edition - Kate L. Turabian 2007

Build your argument around answers to readers' questions
Planning your argument
Part I. Research and writing: from planning to production

It is easy to imagine the kind of conversation you must have with your readers, because you have them every day:

A: I hear you had a hard time last semester. How do you think this one will go? [A poses a problem in the form of a question.]

B: Better, I hope. [B answers the question.]

A: Why so? [A asks for a reason to believe B's answer.]

B: I'm taking courses in my major. [B offers a reason.]

A: Like what? [A asks for evidence to back up B's reason.]

B: History of Art, Intro to Design. [B offers evidence to back up his reason.]

A: Why will taking courses in your major make a difference? [A doesn't see the relevance of B's reason to his claim that he will do better.]

B: When I take courses I'm interested in, I work harder. [B offers a general principle that relates his reason to his claim that he will do better.]

A: What about that math course you have to take? [A objects to B's reason.]

B: I know I had to drop it last time I took it, but I found a good tutor. [B acknowledges A's objection and responds to it.]

If you can see yourself as A or B, you'll find nothing new in the argument of a research report, because you build one out of the answers to those same five questions.

What is your claim?

What reasons support it?

What evidence supports those reasons?

How do you respond to objections and alternative views?

How are your reasons relevant to your claim?

If you ask and answer those five questions, you can't be sure that your readers will accept your claim, but you make it more likely that they'll take it—and you—seriously.