How To Write A Research Paper

1. How To Write A Research Paper

2. Active vs. Passive Voice In active voice…… the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb. The dogbit the boy.

3. In passive voice……. the subject is acted upon; he or she receives the action expressed by the verb. The boywas bitten by the dog.

4. Passive Voice • The passive voice can create awkward sentences. • It is more readily accepted in scientific writing. • The verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been, but presence of a be-verb does not necessarily mean the sentence is in passive voice. • I was riding the bicycle. • may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb • The milk was bought by the man.

5. Research Paper Criteria • Topic must be approved by Mrs. Mills. • You must use at least 5 credible sources. You may choose from the following: books, newspapers, magazines, articles from data bases, sources from reliable web sites (no blogs, Wikipedia, etc.). • Final paper must use correct MLA format and documentation within paper as well as adhere to MLA format in your Works Cited page. • The thesis statement must be clearly written.

6. Research Paper Criteria • The content of your paper should be clearly organized, relevant to the selected topic and thesis statement, and written in a manner that demonstrates varied language use and sentence structure(correct spelling, grammar, verb tenses, etc.). • The paper must be typed and double-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12. • The final version of your paper must be a minimum of 3 pages in length (not including your Works Cited page). It should not exceed 5 pages.

7. Your Name Mrs. Mills English 4 Date Due Title

8. Research Paper Criteria • 1” margins on each side • Create a header in the upper right hand corner with your last name and consecutive page numbers (omit on page 1)

9. Types of Research Papers • Argumentative • Analytical

10. Argumentative • The writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take in his thesis statement: • Although it has been proven that cigarette smoking may lead to health problems in the smoker, the social acceptance of smoking in public places demonstrates that many still do not consider secondhand smoke as dangerous to one's health as firsthand smoke.

11. Analytical • Usually begins with the writer asking a question on which he has taken no stance. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf and wants to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community: • Though Beowulf is often read as a poem that recounts the heroism and supernatural exploits of the protagonist Beowulf, it may also be read as a poem that served as an exemplum for tenth- and eleventh-century communities.

12. Choosing Your Topic • Select a topic that interests you • Pick something you want to know more about • Choose something you can easily research

13. Possible Topics • artificial intelligence • cell phone use (dangers of…) • cloning • e-toys replacing human companionship • genetic testing during pregnancy • plastic surgery: creating the perfect person • space exploration: beneficial or an unnecessary government investment? • stem cell research

14. Narrowing Your Topic Literature of Weapons used in World War I History of Impact of America’s role in Causes of

15. More to consider… • Consider your audience • Formal writing • Third-person narration • Consider your purpose • Argumentative or analytical

16. Research • When you find a good source you want to use, make sure you: • Print the information directly from the source • Start reading through and organizing information • highlighting

17. Sources • Once you select a source, there is some basic information that you will want to acquire. This will include the details that you will need later when you compile your works cited page. • For an internet source, for example, you will need: • Author’s name: record all if there is more than one • Title of article or site • Date of electronic publication (if available) • Date accessed/printed by you • Consider numbering your sources for ease when writing later.

18. Writing Your Thesis Statement • A thesis statement…. • Is the key point or argument you wish to make about your topic • Is a summary of the most important ideas of your paper • Should be clear and easy to understand • Everything in your paper should refer back to the thesis.

19. Example Thesis Statements • You want to write an analytical paper that explains the challenge facing admissions counselors: • One of the biggest challenges college admissions counselors face is deciding to accept students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.

20. Example Thesis Statements • You want to write an argumentative paper that supports the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college: • High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

21. Vague Thesis Statements • The space program of the 1960’s helped to unite Americans. • The childhood of Queen Elizabeth I of England had a great impact on decisions she made as a ruler.

22. Thesis Statement Errors to Avoid • A thesis must not be in the form of a question. NOT: Should mothers have the right to genetically test their babies? • A thesis must not contain phrases such as “I think” because they weaken the statement. NOT: In my opinion, plastic surgery is ridiculous.

23. More Thesis Information • A thesis must not contain elements that are not clearly related. • NOT: All computers are not helpful; therefore internet use should be banned in elementary schools. • A thesis must not be expressed in vague language. NOT: Bad things have resulted from humans using text messages to communicate.

24. More Thesis Information • A thesis must not be expressed in muddled or incoherent language. • NOT: Stem cell research is a status offense because the participants are not willing so that the relationship is on volunteer basis and the donors are more like victims. • A thesis should not be written in figurative language. NOT: Bio-Engineered food is the phoenix bird of civilization.

25. S + D + FA = Thesis • S = Subject • D = Direction (of your stand) • FA = Focus Areas • Americans of Japanese ancestry have been discriminated against through the use of internment camps, educational tracking, and educational quotas.

26. Note Taking • Keep all information stored together (manila folder, pocket folder, or notebook) • Be sure to print and/or photocopy all the information • Do not just copy and paste • Organize your research by color coding, using sticky notes/note cards, highlighting, stapling, etc.

27. Techniques for Notetaking • Summarize: reduce what you have read to a few important points using your own words • Condense a chapter into a short paragraph or a paragraph into a single sentence • Paraphrase: restate what you have read using your own words • Different from a summary because it does not condense the author’s own ideas but retells the information (using own language) in the same amount of words • Quote directly: record the statement or idea word for word and put quotation marks around this information

28. Parenthetical Citations • Any material taken from an outside source must be given proper credit in your paper. • This does not include common knowledge, which does not need to be cited. • The information in reference citations in the text must match the corresponding information in the reference list (works cited page).

29. Parenthetical Citations • The reference citation is inserted at the end of the sentence, as close as possible to the material itdocuments. • If the author’s name appears in a sentence in your paper, do not repeat it in the citation. • Orwell made this point earlier in “Shooting an Elephant” (65-66). • The reference citation at the end of the sentence precedes the punctuation mark that concludes the sentence.

30. More Citations • To cite an entire work, you need only include the author’s name in the text. • Justus Buchler expounds this view in The Man of Light. If you cite the same author twice in succession, then omit the author’s name in a second citation, using the page number only. He accepts a sad truth: “History is made by warfare…” (Gould 280). But he wishes to argue that aggressiveness and selfishness by no means define the human being (282).

31. More Citations… • If you cite a different author in between, however, you must include the author’s name again in the second citation. • “History is made by warfare…” (Gould 280). On the contrary, concern for others appeared early in history (Diamond 38). One must factor….(Gould 282).

32. Revising • Content • Improving flow • Readability • Clarity • Logical order • Transitions are clear • Every paragraph is relevant to your argument (thesis statement) • Tone • Audience appropriate • Limit use of passive voice

33. Editing • Grammatical errors • Verb tenses • Subject/verb agreement • Pronoun references • Missing words • Mechanical Mistakes • Misspelled words • Incorrect or missing punctuation • Incorrect capitalization • Sentence Structure • Comma splices • Run-on sentences • Fragments

34. Revising • ARMS • Add sentences/words • Remove unnecessary sentences/words • Move sentences/words • Substitute sentences/words

35. Editing • CUPS • Capitalize proper nouns • names, places, months, titles, the word I • Usage – match nouns/verbs correctly • Punctuation Marks • periods, commas, colons, semicolons, quotes, question marks, exclamation points, hyphens, brackets • Spelling

36. Active or Passive? • Most of the class is reading the book. • Results will be published in the next issue of the journal. • The recommendation was vetoed by the president. • The leaders are reaching a fair resolution. • Scientists have discovered traces of ice on Mars.

37. Errors to Avoid in Formal Writing • Do not use personal pronouns. • I, me, my, we, us, you • Do not use contractions. • Spell out numbers less than 100.

38. Parallel Structures • Mary likes to hike, to swim, and riding a bicycle. • Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. • Mary likes to hike, swim, or ride a bicycle. • Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

39. More Parallel Structure • The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. • The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly. • The production manager was asked to write his report in a quick, accurate, and detailed manner.

40. More Parallel Structure • The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low. • The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.

41. Heading Your Name Mrs. Mills English IV 13 February 2014 Title

42. MLA Formatting Guide • https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

43. For an Internet Source • Author and/or editor names (if available) • Article name in quotation marks (if applicable) • Title of the Website, project, or book in italics • Any version numbers available, including revisions, posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers • Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date • Page numbers (if available) • Medium of publication (always “Web” for anything online) • Date you accessed the material

45. Introduction • First paragraph of paper • Often begins with a general statement about the topic and ends with a more specific statement of the main idea of your paper (thesis statement) • Purpose of introduction is to let the reader know what the topic is and inform the reader about your point of view • Stimulates the reader's curiosity so that he or she will want to read about your topic

46. Body • Follows introduction • Makes up a majority of your paper • Consists of a number of paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in detail •  Limit each paragraph to one main idea • Don't try to talk about more than one idea per paragraph • Proves your points continually by using specific examples and quotations from your research • Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph

47. Conclusion • Last paragraph of the paper • Purpose is to summarize your points, leaving out specific examples • Restates the main idea (thesis statement) of the paper

49. State Library library.sd.gov

50. Criteria • Your research paper must be argumentative. • The writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take in his thesis statement. • Although it has been proven that cigarette smoking may lead to health problems in the smoker, the social acceptance of smoking in public places demonstrates that many still do not consider secondhand smoke as dangerous to one's health as firsthand smoke.