Look back through your research outline. You should have answered your research question. There may be further questions that have emerged during the course of your research. Highlight those to remind yourself to return to them at a later time. Now it is time to put your research to work! You will compose a short expository essay to present your information. Your essay should be at least 300 words in length. Remember, your focus is on the information—the “Ideas and Content” phase of the 6+1 Traits. Therefore, your paper should contain the following:

a central idea (your research question), which is the focus of the piece of writing
unique details, interesting quotes, and relevant examples from your research, with in-text citations adhering to the MLA Style Guide
original thoughts, ideas, and insights based on your own experiences, beliefs, and perspective
a works-cited list adhering to the MLA Style Guide