Research Paper

Basic Elements of Writing a Good PaperAdapted from Empire State College Writing Center PPT

What is a research paper?

• A substantial piece of academic writing, usually done as a requirement for a class, in which the author does independent research into a topic and writes a description of the findings of that research.

• A formal written report that includes research findings and a student's own ideas.

• Research papers are all about organizing your ideas in a linear, understandable format.

• A research paper is a report summarizing the answers to the research questions you generated from the sources you gathered information from. Then presenting the work in research paper format.

Purpose of Research Paper

• You will be taking a stand on an issue and providing support or evidence gained from your research to back up your position.

• Any type of writing where research and citations are required: Essays, case studies, etc.

Goal of your Research Paper

• 1) Ask a question worth answering.• 2) Find an answer that you can support with good

reasons.• 3)Find reliable evidence to support your

reasons/argument. • 4) Draft a report that makes a good case for your

answer or perspective. • 5) Revise that draft until readers will think you met the

first four goals.

Breaking down the process

• There are many steps in writing a research paper.• Trying to do it all at once, just sitting down and writing

the paper won’t do.

Step 1 – Clarify Assignment

• Is topic specified?• Length of paper required?• What citation format is required?

– MLA – Modern Language Association• Used in the Humanities

– APA - American Psychological Association• Used in the Social Sciences, Education, and

Behavioral Sciences• Ask your teacher any questions you may have at

beginning of process!

Step 2 – Develop a Research Question

• Provides focus for research and paper• OWN YOUR TOPIC!

– What interests you the most about the topic?– Make a listing of questions you would like to have answered

about the topic– What would capture the interest of the reader?

• Pick issue that can be researched– Make sure topic is not too broad or narrow in scope

Step 3 – Begin Doing Research

• Rollins Online Library• http://www.rollins.edu/- Click on R-Net, then click Olin Library

and you will be able to use the search books feature or find Journals.

• Peer-reviewed articles vs. Google search• Accuracy/Bias• Authority• Currency

• Avoid certain “sources” i.e., Wikipedia, unsubstantiated sources such as blogs, statements from non-experts.

Step 4 – Develop a Thesis Statement

• Purpose: focuses your ideas and information within the paper and provides guidance to the reader

• TOPIC + YOUR POSITION ON THAT TOPIC = THESIS STATEMENT

• Example:– Adult students returning to college make up a

higher percentage of entering students than they did twenty years ago because of a number of statistical, economic, and social reasons.

Step 5 – Organize Your Ideas

• Use mapping, outlining, or arranging of your research index cards to place your ideas in a logical sequence.

• Outline format will be discussed later.• Sequence of ideas is sometimes determined by thesis

statement.

Step 6 - Create a First Draft

• Three major parts to good research paper:• Introduction

• Opportunity to capture interest of reader• Allows you to present thesis statement

• Body• Paragraphs that provide evidence supporting your thesis statement

• Conclusion• Allows you to provide summary of main points and should make

reader think about implications of topic discussed.• May conclude by making a prediction or offering specific advice.

Things to watch out for

• Watch out for Academic Integrity issues• Avoid Plagiarism• Avoid Citation Errors• Avoid paraphrasing and quotation errors

What is plagiarism?

A piece of writing that has been copied from someone else and is presented as being your own work; to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own; to use (another's production) without crediting the source; to commit literary theft; to present as new and original idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

All of the following are considered plagiarism:• turning in someone else's work as your own • copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit• failing to put a quotation in quotation marks • giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation • changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit • copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work,

whether you give credit or not

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.

Step 7 – Begin Revisions & Proofreading

• Revision• Have you said what you wanted to say in a clear and

effective way?• Have you provided enough evidence to support your

thesis?• Is information presented in most effective order?• Does it flow?• Do you leave any questions in the mind of the reader?

• Proofreading• Checking your paper for grammar and spelling errors

• Are you using consistent verb tense?• Are you using variation in your use of words?• Is there any way you can tighten your sentences?• Did you use spell-check or a dictionary?• Have you used proper punctuation?

Step 8 – Document Your Sources and Create Works

Cited Page• Find a good handbook (such as the MLA

Handbook) or a website (such as www.easybib.com or http://owl.english.purdue.edu) that will demonstrate proper citation formats.

• Provide in-text citations for your research findings.

Step 9 – Do Final Reading & Make Last Minute Revisions

• Always take time to do final reading

• Read paper slowly out-loud to listen for errors

• Ask someone else to read through paper to make sure you have expressed yourself clearly

• No corrections are trivial – take the time to present yourself in best possible light.

Step 10 – Submit Paper!

• Make sure you have adhered to all of the formatting requirements and submit your paper via email to me.

• Always keep a copy of your paper on file and in hard copy.

Additional Tips:

• Never Use Personal Pronouns in Research Papers. “I think, You will agree,” etc. If you’re citing the works of a group of researchers, don’t state “they found.” State instead, “The group concluded,” or “It was determined.” Remain totally objective - your credibility is at stake.

• If you cite research that supports your thesis, then you should also cite works that support the opposition.

Research Papers

Guidelines for English IV

Ms. Spencer’s Class

Format Guidelines

• Length: 5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.• Quotations: MLA format for quotes and resources• Must haves: Title page, bibliography page, outlines,

and bibliography cards.

Topic Guidelines

• Topics are to be based on your summer reading novel.• The topics are to be themed as literary analysis.• Your topic is to be based on either character analysis,

thematic analysis, setting, or imagery or symbolism.• You will use critical analysis on your novel from other

sources to support your ideas.

Due Dates

• Research Question due: 7/2/13• Thesis Statement due: 7/3/13• Rough outline due: 7/10/13• First set of Bibliography cards due: 7/3/13• Final set of Bibliography cards due: 7/11/13• Rough draft due: 7/18/13• Final paper due: 7/24/13

Extra Information

• MLA format will be discussed in length next week• You will receive handouts for MLA to remain in your

notebooks• Bibliography cards will be included with MLA format• Outlines will also be further discussed at the same time

as MLA• Must have 7 sources minimum, 3 of which must be print

sources