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Research Papers. Social Sciences and Humanities. The Ethos of Writing Research Papers. Share comments at your table regarding the following: What do you dread the most about writing a research paper? What strategies are most helpful in addressing what you dread?
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Research Papers Social Sciences and Humanities
The Ethos of Writing Research Papers • Share comments at your table regarding the following: • What do you dread the most about writing a research paper? • What strategies are most helpful in addressing what you dread? • What tips can you share with others that have brought you writing success?
Disclaimers • There are many forms of research paper writing. Check with your advisor for the appropriate style and format! • Ask your advisor for examples. • Writing is a process and a product. • Writing is a form of communicating your ideas to an audience who does not see or hear what is going on inside your head!
Purpose of a Social Science Research Paper • Communicate the research question, background, method, etc. with enough detail that study could be replicated by reader. • Identifies research approach: descriptive, exploratory, explanatory (hypotheses), evaluative, etc. • Identifies methods used: • Surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, assessments, evaluations, case study, etc. • Allows reader to find additional material on the question(s) via well constructed literature review.
Outline for a Social Science Research Paper(Could vary slightly depending on discipline) • Introduction/ Research Question/ Research Approach • Background and Purpose (why is this important?) • Literature Review (more depth and synthesis than the background/purpose) • Methods (Data Collection and Sampling) • Results or Findings (Data organization and results- NO interpretation) • Discussion (ok, now interpret) • Limitations, questions for future research, connection to literature review, implications for practice) • Conclusion • References • Appendices
Purpose of a Humanities Paper • Knowledge is developed through observation, reflection, and analysis. • Focus: interpretation of texts, themes or ideas. • Build from existing data and to expand knowledge through new insight.
Outline for a Humanities Paper • Introduction • Body • Conclusion • References
Introduction • Tell them what you are going to tell them. • What does your research focus on? • General introduction to the boundaries of the discussion: setting up the frame of the exploration/argument/discussion, and your thesis.
Body • Exploration of your thesis, supported by evidence. • Evidence from a source text. • Evidence from other research sources. • Critical points of your argument, building towards the proof of your thesis. • Most likely involves several subsections.
Conclusion & References • Tell them what you told them. • Re-state thesis and critical conclusions. • Citations for all items you used in your work.