The Research Project
Learning the Process
Writing a Research Paper
“All Life is an experiment. The more experiments
you make the better”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a research paper?
• A research paper involves a quest for
knowledge, and then a thoughtful
analysis of the information found.
• A Research paper is YOUR own ideas,
backed up by the ideas and information
of EXPERTS in the field.
Types of Research Papers
An analytic paper uses
evidence to analyze one
aspect of an issue. To
analyze means to break
down the information,
becoming in a sense, an
expert yourself. This paper
consists of you arranging
the material as you
understand it, and then
contributing your own
opinions.
Example:
"What is the ultimate effect of musiclistening while studying on grades?"
An Argumentative paper uses
evidence to convince the
reader that your opinion is
correct about a debatable
topic. You will take a stand
on an issue, then use
evidence to back-up your
statement.
Example:
“Listening to music while studying is in
fact a beneficial activity to add to a
study regime for better grades
because of the way music motivates
students and keeps them alert"
What are the steps?
 Select
a topic
 Formulate
a thesis statement (What is
your question about the topic? What will
you prove?)
 Conduct
 Answer
Research
your question by connecting your
findings to what you already know
How to Select a Topic
FIRST AND FOREMOST: MAKE SURE YOU
UNDERSTAND YOUR ASSIGNMENT!
Has your teacher already given you a topic to
research – or even a thesis statement you must
defend? If not, you must THINK! Here are a
couple ways to look for inspiration:
Freewrite: Set the timer for five minutes and
write down everything you can think of in no
particular order.
Brainstorm: If you have a broad topic in mind,
make a list of everything associated with this topic.
Cluster Diagram: Like brainstorming, but
using a web instead.
Selecting a topic cont…
Once you have some ideas, take a moment
to think about possible thesis
statements. Then think logically – will
this work for the assignment?
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Too broad or too narrow?
Will there be enough research?
Is your choice a popular choice?
Before we get started: Do Not Even Think of Copying! Check out this
website for information on plagiarism.
Writing the Thesis Statement
Defining features of a thesis statement:
 A thesis statement is a 1-2 sentence
summary of what your paper will
cover/prove.
 A thesis statement is to your paper, what a
topic sentence is to a paragraph.
 It is placed at or near the end of the
introduction.
 For an argumentative paper, it could
reasonably be argued.
Conducting Research
With the thesis statement completed, you
now have a focus for your essay. Time to
gather material!
 Brainstorm what sources could be used with your topic:
Books, newspapers, magazines, video/audio, interviews,
and the list goes on.
 Where can you go to gather these sources: The school
library, the public library, a local college library, the
Internet
 When can you gather sources: During class time,
before homeroom, study halls and lunches, after school,
at home
 Who can Assist you with Finding Materials: ANY
teacher, librarians, Computer Lab Aide, parents, friends
How to use the library
Your first step in finding research is to
locate book sources that have
information on your topic
•To look for books, use the catalog. A subject search
will be your best bet. Type in keywords – if you are
unsuccessful at first, try different (combinations) of
words, or ask a librarian for guidance.
• Write down the call numbers of the book, then locate it
on the shelf. If the book has a bibliography, you can
use this for additional source material. If the book
cannot be checked out, do a source card for it, then
copy the material you need.
What about videos and tapes?
While you are in the library looking
for books, check for miscellaneous
sources that may aide you in your
search. Some ideas include:
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Videos & DVDs
Audio Tapes & CDs
CD-Roms
AFTER you find books…
Next, try looking for articles that have
been written about your subject.
1. The school library has online databases
with all kinds of newspaper, magazine,
and periodical articles. You must have
the password sheets in order to log-in.
There is a separate sheet for both
school and home.
2. When you find an article that seems
like it has important information, ask
for help with printing. There are
special rules and guidelines that must
be followed.
And LAST…
Now you can search the Internet.
1. Please remember that the Internet
is not referred to as the “WORLD
WIDE WEB” for nothing. Internet
sites are not regulated. Anyone can
create a site about anything – that
means that some of the information
you find, may not be accurate.
Website Evaluation Sheet
2. Once you find a reputable source,
create a source card for it, and ask
for assistance with printing.
The Source Card
• You must use a 4X6 or a 5X7 index card.
• You can call it a source card or a bibliography
card.
• You can use letters or numbers. If possible,
label your source with the same letter or
number you put on the source card.
• You must put your name in the bottom right
hand corner.
• You must start on the far left and write
completely across the page, then indent each of
the following lines.
• Make sure to use appropriate punctuation.
Sample Source Cards
Source Card 1
Hook, Janet. “Raise Standards of
Admission, College Urged.” Newsweek.
You will have to cite the sources of
information you use within your paper,
and you must create a works cited.
Here’s how to do a source card:
May 4, 1998: 17-20.
Source Card 2
“Edgar Allan Poe.” Poets.org. 1997. The
John Smith
Keep in mind, you MUST use
pgs. 3-13 in your MLA book, or
the back of the password sheet,
to understand how to do this!!
Academy of American Poets. 4 NOV
2005.
<http://www.poets.org/poet.php/PRM
pid/130
John Smith
I have my sources, what do I do
with them?
Next you need to take notes. This means you will need to
READ the materials you collected, and create note cards.
Here is how to complete a note card:
• Use 3X5 index cards, put your name in the lower right
hand corner.
• Only one piece of information per card – no paragraphs.
• Each card needs to have a slug, or topic.
• All information must either be in quotation marks or
must be paraphrased (or written in your own words).
• Give the source number or letter from which the info
comes.
• Put your name in the lower right hand corner of each
card, and number them in the lower left hand corner.
Sample Note Cards
Source #
2
Pg. #
32
Slug:
Bio:
Edgar Allan Poe was born in
Fact: summary or quote
Boston, MA, January 19, 1809
Card #
Your Name
1
John Smith
Thinking about the paper
Once you have completed all of your note cards, you must
draft an outline. Outlines are a list of how your paper will
be organized.
You Should:
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Outlines must be typed
Decide which note cards you will use for your paper and group
them by paragraph (which paragraph are you using them in? –
you can label them with the Main Topic Numeral from your
outline if you desire).
Title the outline.
Main ideas are chief points. Label them with Roman numerals
(I, II, III).
Subtopics of main ideas are labeled using capital letters (A, B,
C).
Details for subtopics are labeled with numbers (1, 2, 3).
Follow rules for indenting - see sample on next slide.
Sample Outline
Title of Outline
I. Main Topic
A. Important subtopic
B. Important subtopic
1. Detail
a. Sub-detail
b. Sub-detail
c. Sub-detail
2. Detail
3. Detail
a. Sub-detail
II. Main Topic
See MLA book pg.
28 for sample and
instruction for
heading.
Click here to see
sample outline for
Shakespeare
Writing the Rough Draft
Remember:
• Your paper should be typed, double-spaced
(format, font, line spacing = double), with 1” margins (file,
page set-up, margins = change right and left from 1.25” to 1”).
• Only use Times New Roman or Arial font size
12. Do not bold anything, only underline book
titles (poems and short stories go in quotes).
• Put your last name and page number in the
top right hand corner (view, header and footer, align
right from main toolbar, type last name, space, choose the # sign
from the header toolbar, close)
• Your paper should be an organized paper with
an Intro, body paragraphs and conclusion.
Sample Rough Draft Format
Smith 1
Your name
Teacher’s name
Class
Date
Title
Begin Paper………See MLA book pg. 29 for
Sample.
Adding Internal Citations
Remember to include parenthetical, or internal, citations
when you use information from your note cards. Citations
go in parenthesis at the end of your sentence, but before
the end punctuation. See your MLA handbook pg. 14-21
more info.
The most common ways to cite your source:
1. Cite the author’s last name and the page number where
you found the information = (Smith 2).
2. Use the author’s last name in your sentence, and give the
page number at the end of the sentence = Edgar Wolf
says, “…” (48).
3. For Anonymous works, use the title and page or
paragraph number = (Inherit the Wind 5).
And Finally: The Works Cited
Page
This is where your source cards come into play. If your
source cards are done correctly, you will be able to
transfer the information directly to the works cited. See
your MLA book pg. 35 for sample.
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Skip down five lines after the end of your paper
and center the title: Works Cited Do not bold,
underline or make this any bigger!!!
Only list the works that you have actually cited
in your paper.
List them in alphabetical order.
Indent each line after the first in an entry (5
spaces).
Double-space the works cited, but do not
include any additional spacing between entries.
Do not bold, number or letter the entries.
Edit the Rough Draft
• Once you have typed up your initial
copy of the paper, make sure to give it a
read through. In fact, reading aloud will
help you detect errors you might miss
by reading it silently. Have your
parents, friends or a teacher take a look
as well.
• If you are missing any information, you
may have to go back to your sources, or
even find more sources. Add your new
info, then edit again
Turning in Your Paper
Phew! You’re almost done.
 Do a cover page for your paper. Place the title
in the center of the page, TNR font size 28. Put
your heading in the lower right hand corner,
TNR font size 12. Staple your cover page to
your paper.
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Place the following in a folder to be handed in:
ALL: printed materials, source cards, note
cards, outline, rough draft and final draft.
Missing any of these items will result in a
reduction of points.
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Initial and date the sign-in sheet. That’s It!!!