MR. MARTINELLI’S GUIDE TO WRITING A THESIS PAPER

Thank you to Mouschi for the valuable advice and assistance….

The Steps

1. Pick a topic2. Create a thesis3. Research/take notes4. Outline5. Write rough draft6. Edit/Revise

Step 1: Pick a Topic

For this project the topic must relate to the Civil War or Reconstruction.

Start with something that is interesting to you

Try to avoid clichés or overused topics

Pre-read to see how much information is actually available

Step 2: Write a Thesis Statement The thesis is the main idea of your

paper. In one sentence you must summarize

the argument of your paper. It should be:

Clear Concise Specific Relevant

The thesis should also be fewer than 15 words

Step 2: Write a Thesis Statement A strong thesis statement has several

characteristics. It should “do” or “have” all of the following. Contain an active verb (Fill in here) Answer at least 3 of the 6 questions

Who Where What How Why When

Is “provable” or “proven” through the research that you provide.

Remember!

A thesis statement must be clear enough to understand but broad enough to fill an entire term paper with information.

Basically, your thesis statement is like the person behind the wheel of the car. There are lots of people who have drivers licenses who probably don’t deserve them.

A poor thesis statement could take a load of information and work and screw it all up.

Step Three: Research

This is the real leg work of the project.

Solid, documented research is the backbone of any good thesis paper.

The more research you do, the more backing your paper will have, the better the resulting paper will be (and easier to write).

Step Three: Research

MAKE SURE YOUR SOURCES ARE CREDIBLE! If you are using a biased, amateur, or invalid source of any kind it completely destroys any argument you have.

Use a variety of sources (don’t put all your eggs in one basket). (Books, magazines, newspapers, internet, journals, etc…)

Be sure that the research relates to the thesis

Take notes

Step 3 ½: Note Taking

It can be helpful to use large note cards to help organize your research

It is crucial that you write down the source’s bibliographical information

Make sure to distinguish direct quotations, paraphrases, and general facts from each other

Step 3 ½: Note Taking

If you are paraphrasing (and you should at some point), be sure to read the passage carefully, then write your paraphrase without looking back at the source for reference

Step 4: Create an Outline

You should then create an outline (or skeleton) of your paper

This will allow you to “see” the structure of your paper and roughly gauge the “flow” of the argument

Step 4: Create an OutlineIntroduction

A. B.C. Thesis statement

Supporting topic 1A.

1.2.

B.C.

Supporting topic 2A. B. C.

1.2. 3.

AND SO ON…UntilConclusion

A.B.C.

In this outline, the roman numerals represent the main topic in each paragraph. The letters

represent the main areas you will cover in the paragraph, and the numbers represent

supporting information.

Step 5: Write the Paper

Always keep the thesis in mind while writing your paper.

Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that in some way relates to the thesis.

Each paragraph should stay in the range of the topic sentence. (That way all paragraphs relate to their topics and all topics relate to the thesis)

Try to make the paragraphs flow smoothly by using transition words

Step 5: Write the Paper

Avoid plagiarism at all costs.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your sources properly.

You have to give proper credit to the authors upon whose work you based your paper (essentially you MUST give props to your peeps).

Step 5: Write the Paper

Since you are not an “expert” on any topic, you must let the reader (me) know where you got the information you used in the paper.

Basically after you use facts, data, information, theories, ideas etc… inside your paper, you must automatically inform the reader where you got it.

Step 5: Write the Paper

This proper recognition is called either parenthetical citations or internal citations (same thing)

If you fail to cite your work properly it is assumed that you are attempting to steal someone else’s work and you will be punished accordingly

Plagiarism is against the law.

Step 5: Write the Paper

Things to cite: Direct quotations from a source Indirect, paraphrased, or otherwise

summarized material from a source Opinions and theories mentioned in a

source Any group of ideas from a source, even

reworded (that’s paraphrasing)

Step 5: Write the Paper

What you do not have to cite: Old saying/adages Known bible verses Familiar quotations i.e. “One small step for

man…one giant leap for mankind.” Facts that are “common knowledge”

essentially encyclopedia information. The rule of thumb is that if the fact/information can be found in more that 5 sources than it is “common knowledge.”

Step 5: Write the Paper

The paper format should be: 1 inch margins Times New Roman

font 12 point font Double spaced The header should

be your last name and the page number (starting on page 2)

Step 5: Write the Paper

You must include a works cited page with your paper

A works cited page is where you put the bulk of the parenthetical citation information

Basically the works cited page is the part of the paper where you say “ I would like to thank the following people for their work…”

I couldn’t have done this

without you, Mouschi. You are the best!

Step 5: Write the Paper

Works cited page rules: EVERY source that you used (cited) in the

paper must be included It is the last page (numbered page) Double spaced Alphabetized by the 1st letter that appears

in the source’s information If a source’s information carries into two or

more lines, you must indent the 2nd and third lines, not the 1st (“hanging indentations”)

It must be completed to the fullest extent of your ability (If you are missing a field of info, omit that one item in the source)

Step 6: Edit/Revise

No one is perfect. You should read your paper with a critical eye looking for flaws like typos, grammar errors, redundancies, repetitions, and the like.

Pass the paper to someone else to critique. Take their input to heart, change what should be changed and reread the paper again.

It is best to give the paper to at least two different people (for the different perspective if nothing else)

I recommend using at least one person in the class as an editor.

Things to keep in mind…

Very few papers go from the creation of the original thesis statement through editing and revising process without some shifting of gears. Be flexible, try not to go into the research with preconceived notions.

You may have to alter or tweak your thesis statement.

Things to keep in mind…

Much of this project is time management. You should have a plan to be at a certain step in the process by a certain time relative to the due date.

Keep everything…Take notes and hold on to them.

Organization is key to success.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Pick your topic wisely. You must do research and create some sort of theory to prove or argue.