INTRODUCTION

         The introduction gives the reader enough background information to to understand and evaluate the results of the present study.  This section should begin with a problem statement.  That is, the statement of what the paper is investigating.  An example might be:

"There has been much recent controversy about the meaning of 'High crimes and misdemeanors,' in the Constitution.  This paper investigates the original intent of the Founders about this idea."

         The section should continue with a brief outline of the problem.  This includes the scope and nature of the problem investigated.  Perhaps there might be a brief outline of the historical antecedents.  You might include in this section a brief description, if appropriate, of why this is a mystery or problem that has not yet been resolved.

         Next, you should briefly review the major literature findings or main bodies of thought on the subject.  This should be followed by a short outline of the method of investigation to be followed (archival research, interviews, statistical analysis, etc.)  In the introduction you should also state the principal conclusions of the research.  This will allow the reader to follow your investigation as it unfolds with the end in mind.

Literature Review

         This section reviews the pertinent literature on the subject in detail.  It should be organized by major bodies of thought (High crimes and misdemeanors involve only direct threats to governance;  No, they also involve the behavior of the President.)  Each should include the major works and authors on that point of view.  A brief (two line) summary of each work shows how it contributes to the question.  At the very least, the seminal works must be included.  The literature review should be organized to allow the reader to understand the previous bodies of thought on the subject.  Later, you can use this to show where your research fits, or how it is different from all previous work.

         Each source should be properly credited.  There are several citation styles contained in various style manuals.  Any is appropriate.  Note that internet citations are acceptable, but you should consult a current style manual for the proper form. 

Methods/Analysis

         In this section of the paper you present and analyze the data that you have collected.  The data that you have collected might be original research on your part, interviews that you conducted to shed new light on the problem, or archival research that reveals previously overlooked information.  In this section, your own work shows through.  Often, the original information is a new viewpoint that analyzes old data.

         The analysis might be either quantitative or qualitative.  Quantitative examination is empirical study and statistical analysis of the new data.  The experimental investigation is one where the investigator manipulates or changes some variables to find the effect on other variables.  Usually, the data itself is collected numerically.  Sometimes, non-numerical data is transformed into numerical sets and then analyzed statistically. 

         Non-experimental research, on the other hand, can be observational, archival, or case study.  In observational methods, the researcher observes and records on-going behavior but does not attempt to change it (as in experimental research.)  This method is often used to monitor the behavior of people and to then draw conclusion from that behavior.  One might, for example, observe the behavior of individual members of Congress during this recent impeachment and draw conclusions by comparisons of party, gender, age, etc.

         Archival research examines records and literature to obtain data.  For example, one might examine ancient English law to find the history of impeachment.

         Case studies explore a single event to draw lessons from it or to guide further research.  One might conduct a case study, for example, of Clinton's impeachment.

         In all of these, the writer should organize the data in some way so that a comparison or analysis may be made.  This may be numerically or not.  It should certainly allow the reader to see how the new data compares with the literature review.

Conclusions

         In this final section, you present your findings.  You specify your conclusions, but also briefly outline again the logic of your analysis that led you to the conclusions.  You may wish to also show how your findings fit into the literature that already exists on the subject.

Documentation

         Normally, the ending of the paper includes endnotes (if footnotes were not used) and a "Works cited" page.  Follow the form shown in your style manual. (The various styles available include APA, MLA, Turabian, etc.)  You may also wish to include tables, graphs, or supporting evidence that is too bulky to be included in the text.

         Remember, you must always give credit to ideas that are other people's.  Essentially, all of the literature review and perhaps much of the methods analysis section will consist of other people's ideas.

There are many texts written on how to write these types of papers.