Introduction
This English Research Project Template helps you plan, research, and present a polished project for class assignments and competitions like essay contests, speech and debate, spelling bees, and poetry contests. You’ll transform from “I have no idea where to start” to having a clear research question, organized sources, a strong thesis statement, and a structured outline you can turn into a polished essay or speech. Use this template anytime you need to investigate a topic, support your ideas with evidence, and present your findings.
How to Use This Template
Step 1: Choose and Focus Your Topic
Goal: Pick a specific, research-ready topic that fits your assignment or competition rules.
Fill this out:
- General area I’m interested in: ___________________________________________________
- Type of project (essay, speech, etc.): __________________________________________
- Competition or class context: _________________________________________________
- Narrowed topic: ______________________________________________________________
Example:
- General area: Modern poetry and social issues
- Type of project: Persuasive speech
- Context: Speech and Debate Original Oratory
- Narrowed topic: How spoken word poetry empowers teens to talk about mental health
Step 2: Write a Clear Research Question and Working Thesis
Goal: Decide what you want to find out and draft a claim to argue in your project.
Fill this out:
- My main research question: “How/Why/To what extent/What is the impact of ___________________________________________?”
- My working thesis: “I argue that _________________________________________________________________________ because _________________________________________________________________________.”
Example:
- Research question: “How does spoken word poetry help teens express and cope with mental health?”
- Working thesis: “I argue that spoken word poetry helps teenagers manage mental health challenges because it provides a creative outlet, builds supportive communities, and makes their experiences visible.”
Step 3: Plan and Collect Your Sources
Goal: Gather 3–8 reliable sources that help you answer your question.
Use this mini-source log:
- Source #___
- Type (book, article, website, etc.): ______________________________
- Title: ______________________________________________________________________________
- Author/speaker: ____________________________________________________________________
- Publication/organization: ____________________________________________________________
- Year: ___________________
- Main points: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
- Direct quote I might use: “____________________________________________________________________________________” (p. ___)
- How this helps my thesis: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Example snippet:
- Source #1
- Type: Online article
- Title: “Teens Find Their Voice Through Spoken Word”
- Author: Maria Lopez
- Publication: Youth Arts Journal
- Year: 2023
- Main points: Spoken word workshops improve teens’ self-confidence. Teens feel “less alone” after sharing poems about anxiety.
- Direct quote: “When I performed my poem about panic attacks, three people came up and said they felt the same way” (Lopez, 2023).
- Helps my thesis: Shows how spoken word builds community.
Step 4: Organize Ideas into an Outline
Goal: Turn your research into a logical structure for an essay or speech.
Fill this outline template:
- Introduction Hook: ___________________________________________________________________________ Context: ___________________________________________________________________________ Thesis: ___________________________________________________________________________
- Main Point 1 Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Evidence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Explanation: ___________________________________________________________________________
- Main Point 2 Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Evidence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Explanation: ___________________________________________________________________________
- Main Point 3 (optional) Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Evidence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Explanation: ___________________________________________________________________________
- Counterargument Opposing view: ___________________________________________________________________________ Your response: ___________________________________________________________________________
- Conclusion Restate thesis: ___________________________________________________________________________ Big picture: ___________________________________________________________________________ Call to action: ___________________________________________________________________________
Example starter:
- Hook: “What if your next poem could save a life?”
- Context: Explain spoken word poetry.
- Thesis: “Spoken word poetry helps teens manage mental health challenges by providing a creative outlet and building community.”
Step 5: Draft, Revise, and Adapt for Your Format
Goal: Turn your outline into a full draft, then polish it for your format.
Fill this out as you revise:
- Audience: _________________________________________________
- Tone: ______________________________
- Main techniques I will use: (check or circle) Imagery Repetition Rhetorical questions Alliteration Examples and anecdotes Logical reasoning
- One paragraph/sentence to improve: Original: ___________________________________________________________________________ Revision: ___________________________________________________________________________
Example adaptation:
- For an essay: Use clear paragraphs and formal language.
- For speech: Add vocal cues, and edit long sentences for spoken style.
- For poetry: Use research to inspire imagery and themes.
Best Practices
Keep these tips in mind:
- Start with curiosity. Choose a topic that genuinely interests you.
- Turn your topic into a question. “How did social media influence slam poetry?” is better than “Social media and poetry.”
- Mix source types. Combine books, interviews, and primary texts.
- Use competition materials as sources. Winning essays or recorded performances can be insightful.
- Keep a source tracker. Log key details for easy citations.
- Read critically. Question the author's claims and evidence.
- Use vivid examples. Show rather than tell for more impact.
- Say your sentences out loud. This helps with flow.
- Choose precise vocabulary. Opt for the right word, not just a fancy one.
- Revise in layers. Address structural issues before smaller details.
- Respect time limits. Trim examples and long quotes as needed.
Example Walkthrough (Brief)
Here’s how a student might use this template:
- Step 1 – Topic: They narrow from “teens and mental health” to “how spoken word poetry helps.”
- Step 2 – Question & thesis: Question: “How does spoken word poetry help teenagers cope with mental health challenges?” Thesis: “Spoken word poetry provides a creative outlet, builds community, and forces adults to listen.”
- Step 3 – Sources: They compile: An article on teen poets and anxiety. A study on expressive writing. YouTube performances by teen slam poets. They log key quotes to support their main points.
- Step 4 – Outline: Hook: A story of a teen sharing a poem and receiving a standing ovation. Point 1: Creative outlet – quote from the study. Point 2: Community – insights from interviews. Point 3: Visibility – performances encouraging adult engagement. Counterargument: Addressing views that poetry is merely “venting” with evidence of its benefits. Conclusion: Call for schools to host spoken word events.
- Step 5 – Draft & adapt: They write and read the speech aloud, adjusting for clarity and completing it within time limits.
Next Steps
Once you’ve completed this template, take a break before revising. Seek feedback on your research question and thesis. Look for comment patterns, update your outline and wording, and save your template and source log for future projects—you’ll improve with practice.
