How to Write a Research Paper

1. How to Write a Research Paper

2. You have already…… Conducted research and answered your research question Written a thesis statement Arranged your notecards in the order you will you them in your paper

3. Introduction • write one to two sentences that gab the reader’s attention. It could be an anecdote or fact of some kind. • Give enough background information that your reader will have a good idea about your topic and not be confused • Your thesis statement will be your last sentence of your introduction paragraph • Do—start broad and narrow your topic down to your thesis. • Do NOT—begin with a quote or a question

4. Using your Research • You will now write your body paragraphs using the notecards you have written. • Write a topic sentence stating what your first body paragraph will be about. • Then, use your notecards to prove your topic sentence/thesis statement. • Each notecard will be a citation in your paper.

5. Citing Your Sources • Each source will have what is called either in-text citations or parenthetical citations. • You will have citation after each block of information that you use to prove your thesis (a notecard). • The basic format of an in-text citation has a paraphrase, an open parenthesis, the author’s last name with the page number followed by a closed parenthesis and a period. • Ex. Once Custer went hunting on the prairie and accidentally shot his own horse in the head (Welch 76). • Direct quotes must be embedded into your own writing. No stand alone quotes please. • Ex. In order to “Write an effective research paper, you must conduct thorough research and take careful notes” (Aguilar 82).

6. Citing Book Sources • when citing a book source, you must have an author and a page number. • If you are citing the same source consecutively (back to back), then you only cite the page number after the first citation • Ex. The legend of the Holy Grail has had many incarnations throughout the course of British Literature (Loomis 5). Some of the main heroes who quested for the Grail are Percevaland Galahad (7).

7. Citing Database Articles • If the article you are citing has an author, then use the author’s name in the parenthetical citation. • Ex. One cause of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is childhood abuse (Smith). • If there is no author, then abbreviate the title and use it. For example, if the title of the article is “Decline of Chinook Salmon in the Puget Sound,” you would cite it as (“Decline”). • Make sure to use quotation marks around the abbreviated titles. • Make them as short as possible while still making sure the reader can tell the exact source you used

8. Writing the rest of the paper • Use transitions when necessary to show a change in thought. Write sentences to introduce new ideas. • Rely mainly on your research for this paper. Stay away from heavy interpretation. • Remember, you are not an expert on your subject. You are quoting and paraphrasing people who are, so make sure you quote experts instead of relying on your own interpretation.

9. Conclusions • Restate your main points. • You will be restating your thesis, but make sure you do not use the same language you used in your introduction. • State the significance of your subject. Answer the question “Who cares?” or “Why does this still matter today?” • Make a statement that sums your research up (this can be combined with the significance)

10. Tips…. • Do NOT use “You” or “I” in this paper • Proofread and make sure you have followed the format exactly as shown • correct any errors in grammar, usage, punctuation, or spelling • Have someone read it to make sure that you have covered everything within your topic in a thorough way

11. Works Cited • Export your Works Cited to a Word document. • Go through your entire essay and check off each source that you used. • If there are sources listed on your Works Cited that are not used in your paper, delete them. • Correct any citations. • Copy and paste your corrected Works Cited as a new page in your essay.