How to Write a Research Paper

1. How to Write a Research Paper Research "The purpose of research is not simply to retrieve data, but to participate in a conversation about it" (Brent 109).

2. Plagiarism: Literally "kidnapping;" involving the use of someone else's words as if they were your own (Gibaldi 6). To avoid plagiarism you must document direct quotations, paraphrases, and original ideas not your own.

3. Step 1: Decide on a topic

4. Step 2: Begin your research Write down the main ideas or concepts that you discover during your research. Keep these notes in a safe place, and remember to record the sources that you are using so you can easily document them in a Reference Page. Support main points with detailed information and elaborate where needed.

5. Step 3: Organize your research Outlines help organize information

6. Examples of different outlines Topic Outline Choices in College and After Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses, depend on larger questions I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work. I. Two decisions described • A. Art history or chemistry • 1. Professional considerations • 2. Personal considerations • B. A third year of French? • 1. Practical advantages of knowing a  foreign  language • 2. Intellectual advantages • 3. The issue of necessity II. Definition of the problem • A. Decisions about occupation • B. Decisions about a kind of life to lead III. Temporary resolution of the problem • A. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistry • B. To take advantage of cultural gains already made: French

7. Sentence Outline Choices in College and After • Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses, depend on larger questions I am beginning to ask myself about my life’s work. • I. I have two decisions to make with respect to choosing college courses in the immediate future. • A. One is whether to elect a course in art history or in chemistry. • 1. One time in my life, I planned to be a chemical engineer professionally. • 2. On the other hand, I enjoy art and plan to travel and see more of it. • B. The second decision is whether to continue a third year of French beyond the basic college requirement. • 1. French might be useful both in engineering and travel. • 2. Furthermore, I am eager to read good books which are written in French. • 3. How necessary are these considerations in the light of other courses I might take instead? • II. My problem can be put in the form of a dilemma involving larger questions about my whole future. • A. On the one hand I want to hold a highly-trained position in a lucrative profession. • B. On the other hand I want to lead a certain kind of life, with capacities for values not connected with the making of money. • III. I will have to make a decision balancing the conflicting needs I have described. • A. I will hold open the professional possibilities by electing chemistry. • B. I will improve and solidify what cultural proficiency in another language I have already gained, by electing French.

8. Step 4: Write a thesis statement A thesis statement is the idea upon which your entire paper is constructed. Your research will provide you with the information that you need to prove your thesis in the body of your paper.

9. EXAMPLE “If the school day is adjusted to begin and end 3 hours later, many students will be forced to quit their part time jobs.”

10. Step 5: Write the introduction Begin with a "hook" which will grab the reader's attention immediately. State your thesis. Your introductory paragraph should only be 2-3 sentences long.

11. Step 6: Write the body of your paper Write down the main points from your research. This will become the foundation for your body paragraphs. Support each main point with detailed information and elaborate where needed.

12. Step 7:Write the conclusion Summarize the content of your paper. It is a good idea to restate your thesis. End your paper with a hard-hitting sentence, anecdote or quote which reminds the reader that you proved your thesis.

13. Step 8: Edit your paper At this point, you should ask a parent, teacher, or friend to read over your paper to make sure that it is clear and concise. You should ask for specific suggestions which will help make your paper stronger. It always helps to edit your paper by asking yourself some guiding questions as you read through it, such as:

14. Does the body support the thesis? • Check over the organization of the paper. Does it make sense? • Make sure that you followed the instructions for the assignment     (e.g., margins, spacing etc.). • Check your writing for errors (e.g., paragraph order, grammar,     spelling, etc.).

15. Example of a research paper • Double space • Size 12 • Font type/style needs to be plain • Follow APA guidelines • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ • Google- Owl at Purdue APA

16. Step 9: Prepare a final draft After you have thoroughly edited your draft, PROOF READ PROOF READ PROOF READ again & revise your paper if necessary.

17. How do I write a paragraph?

18. Topic/Transitional or Hook Sentence This sentence states what the paragraph is going to be about, and how it relates to the subject of the essay and the previous paragraph. Sometimes accomplishing all of this in one sentence is difficult. In these cases, it is better to write the "hook" first, and then follow it with the topic sentence.

19. Body Sentences Body sentences support the topic of the paragraph. When writing these sentences, provide details and state related points. Elaborate on each of these points where appropriate.

20. Closing Sentence This sentence completes the thought expressed in the paragraph. In addition, this sentence should also set up a connection to the next paragraph.

21. A sample paragraph: Imperialism was a foreign policy used by the British for a number of different reasons. An imperialist nation acquired vast amounts of additional territory. Imperialism added to Britain's wealth by providing raw materials for use in its factories. Imperialist nations such as Britain argued that they were spreading more advanced civilization to areas of the world that they said were "backward" and "uncivilized." Lastly, imperialism brought with it a great deal of glory and prestige for the British Empire (Killoran and Ilg. 54).

22. Writing Research Papers Final Words                                           The goal of the research essay is not to gather information and report on it. Research essays are assigned so that you can study a certain topic, develop a research question, and answer it using the materials you have studied plus your own analysis.

23. Writing Research Papers I want to see that you are thinking through an issue, not simply explaining or quoting what you have read.

24. Writing Research Papers The information you discover in your research is thus only the foundation, the first part, of the task. What is more important is your ability to use that information to advance the world’s knowledge.

25. Vocabulary • Thesis Statement/Research Question- a complete sentence that contains one main idea. The idea controls the content of the entire essay. Example: Birth order can have a significant impact in the formation of a child’s character.

26. Vocabulary • Plagiarism- • using another writer’s words or unique ideas as if they were your own

27. Vocabulary • In-text citation- • When you have cited inside your research paper that it is not your own thoughts/words. • Example: According to Robert Young, “Numerous psychologists believe that one’s birth order had the greatest influence on a person’s character” (Only Child).

28. Vocabulary • Reference Page • A separate page from the text of the essay. • A list of every source or person used for your research paper. • Example- Blume, Judy. Welcome to Judy Blume’s Home Base. 9 Sept 2004.29 June 2005 <http://www.judyblume.com>.

29. Vocabulary • Outline- • The organizational plan for your paper. • Example: I. Introductionof benefit of music II. The Cause for MotivationIII. The Cause of AlertnessIV. How is this Beneficial? V. Restate importance

30. "A General Guide For Writing History Research Papers" Christopher      Newport University. 1997. http//www.cnu.edu/academics/wcenter/html/history.htm. (22 May 1997). • Briggs, Bonnie-Anne, and Petersen, Catherine, Fish. Brief Review in     United States History and Government. Needham, Mass:    Prentice Hall, 1997. • Global History and Geography Regents Examination Test Sampler Draft, Spring 1999. New  York: New York Board of  Regents,   1999. http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/assess/ghist1.pdf and http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/assess/ghist2.pdf.     (28 March 2001). • Global Studies Regents Exam, June 1996. New York: New York     Board of Regents, 1996. • Global Studies Regents Exam, June 1997. New York: New York     Board of Regents, 1997. • Killoran, James, and Zimmer, Stuart, Ilg. The Key to Understanding     Global Studies. Lake Ronkonkoma, New York: Jarrett Publishing     Co., 1995 • Livingston, Kathy."Compose a Thesis Statement" Kathy's Home Page. 2000. http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/thesis.html. (28 March 2001). • Livingston, Kathy. "Writing a Basic Essay" Kathy's Home Page.   2000. http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/index.html.    (28 March 2001).

31. http://www.oswego.org/staff/tcaswell/wg/ research.htm