Wasylik
2015
Ninth Grade English
Sample Research Essay
 Intro paragraph
o Hook- Discuss just the large topic (Ex: For centuries humans have been battling for power and land,
whether it be a full blown war or a small dispute with a neighbor; the hunger to be dominant has proven to
be instinctual among man. However, those who are on the receiving end of the power struggle are often
persecuted and discriminated against because they are different from the population who is in control )
o Discuss book and large topic (Ex: Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night follows a young Jewish boy through
numerous concentration camps, and documents his experiences with the Nazi persecution of the Jews; he is
treated with extreme violence and is affected profoundly because of this.)
o Discuss research topic and large topic (Ex: Similar to Elie’s experiences of the Holocaust, Homosexuals
are constantly berated with negativity, and even violence, because of their beliefs and choices. They are
beaten, persecuted, and discriminated against every day in our current society; they receive these
punishments because their opponent doesn’t agree with their lifestyle.
o Define the topic more clearly (Ex: Merriam-Webster defines persecution as “treat[ing] (someone) cruelly
or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs.” In Elie’s case it is his religious
belief, but in the case of many homosexuals it is because of their sexual orientation)
o Thesis statement (Ex: The persecution of individuals, because they are different from the majority, is not
only limited to the occurrences of the Holocaust but can also be seen through modern prejudices toward
homosexuals and their civil rights.)
 Background paragraph
o Summarize your research in 2-3 sentences. (Ex: Through extensive research and examination of news
articles, opinion articles, and reliable websites, it is proven that discrimination against homosexuals goes
far beyond that of only name calling. In Jones’ New York Times article he outlines the antigay hate-crimes
that have occurred in America in the past fifty years; he discusses the violent and traumatizing acts that
were committed against gays. Exploring the affects of these crimes, Feuer interviewed the family of a
transgender woman who died at the hands of a bigot, and asked them to share the impact the crime had on
their family. These anti-gay hate crimes and discrimination happen aggressively and have a strong
emotional impact on the individuals who are being persecuted for their beliefs.)
o Summarize the book in 1-2 sentences. (Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night, depicts the world of concentration
camps and the suffering of the prisoners within. In Elie’s story, the Nazi’s take countless Jewish men and
women from their homes and continue to persecute and abuse them once they enter the concentration
camp. Wiesel provides a firsthand account of the trauma he suffers as well as his emotional reaction to the
physical abuse. )
 Body Paragraph(s)
o Sub-point (topic sentence) Discuss the book, your researchable topic, and the connection to the
thesis.
(Ex: Individuals are often persecuted in a violent way only because they are the minority; both the Jews, in
Night, and the homosexuals of today’s society have been treated violently because they are different.)
Wasylik
2015
Ninth Grade English
o Elaborate on how this sub-point can be seen in the book. (Ex: Elie Wiesel suffers because his family is
Jewish and because they are the minority; the Nazis violently tore families apart on a daily basis during the
Holocaust.)
o Provide a quote. (Ex: Elie Wiesel recounts losing his family and the torture of living in the concentration
camp, “How could I say to Him: Blessed be Thou, Almighty, Master of the Universe, who chose us among
all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch as our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, end up in the
furnaces?” (Wiesel 35) )
o Analyze the quote. (Ex: Elie Wiesel’s suffering, and the torture he witnesses, is all due to the
discrimination and persecution of the world’s Jews during the Holocaust. The Nazis were the solitary force
inflicting this violence on the Jews. The impact of the violence can be seen through Elie’s loss of faith in
God and his questioning everything he ever believed in.)
o Elaborate on how this sub point can be seen in the research. (Ex: Homosexuals and gays have been
mistreated in the same violent ways that many of the Jews experienced during the Holocaust. Historically,
gays and homosexuals have been persecuted for being the minority; even in this, our 21st century, they are
violently assaulted because of their sexual orientation.)
o Quote from research (Ex: A New York City tv station reported one occurrence of a hate-crime, “NBC 4
New York reports the suspects began punching, kicking and shoving two men while shouting anti-gay
epithets.” (Jones))
o Analyze the quote- Connect back to thesis (Ex: The persecution and discrimination against these gay
individuals went beyond name calling and they were viciously assaulted, only because of their sexual
orientation. NBC reported that the students were shoved to the ground, punched, and kicked because they
were gay; this is happening on a daily basis around the world)
o Connect research and book back to the thesis (Ex: The experiences of this particular group of gay men
and the experiences of the Jews during the holocaust are related due to the fact that both groups are being
discriminated against because of their beliefs.)
 DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN FOR BODY PARAGRAPH 2
 Conclusion:
o Sum up the essay (Ex: Individual’s personal choices have often caused hatred and discontent in the hearts
of those who don’t agree with their dissimilar way of life. Today’s homosexuals and gays struggle with
this persecution, as did the Jews of the Holocaust. Both groups endure emotional, and often times
physical, trauma because of the hatred within other human souls.
o Broader Statement (Ex: We are able to understand what it is they really feel, through examining the
struggles both groups faced. Empathizing with the persecuted is the best step we can take in preventing
this abhorrence from continuing. It is not enough to know that this hostility happened, and continues to
happen; we must feel a sliver of what the persecuted feel, so we can truly understand their pain. The world
needs motivation to stop these hateful occurrences; the strongest motivation a person can have is an
internal impetus to change. Our inspiration to stamp out this perpetual hatred needs to come from within if
there is to be a change)