Researched Paper Skills Review
CCC Renchen
Research Skills
Introduction Paragraphs
Introduction Paragraph
 Attention Getting Device (AGD) (Think BROAD,
ENGAGING statement or necessary background
information.)
 No questions. None. Stop it.
 Quotes should only be used as AGD if INCREDIBLY relevant
(this means you probably find them within the research
that you found on your topic, not on “Quote Garden” or
any of that nonsense.)
 Narrowing information (Whatever the audience
needs to get from your broad statement to your
specific argument/topic) (Make sure each sentence
flows logically to next)
 Thesis Sentence (Concession + Argument Summary)
Thesis Sentence
 One complex sentence—starting with a concession
and ending in a statement of your argument
 A concession is a sentence that admits something
contrary to your argument (Signal words: although,
despite, even though)
 Should be broad enough to cover all arguments (but
NO LISTING)
 Should make clear what you are arguing.
Example Thesis
 Bad example:
 Despite the many advantages of nuclear power, there are more
disadvantages to this type of power.
(This is bad because it doesn’t take a strong stance and isn’t very
specific. Word choice is general)
 Better examples:
 Even though chemical weapons provide protection to weaker
countries that have no other means to protect themselves, these
weapons must be restricted to protect the world from the risk of
death and destruction.
 Although cloning human beings could prove to be beneficial in
dealing with health issues, the risks and ethics involved make
human cloning too dangerous to pursue.
Further Examples
BEST EXAMPLES: thorough, specific, strong concession
 Although the media has led society to believe that
using medication to treat children with ADHD does
more harm than good, doctors should prescribe the
drug to children with ADHD because of the positive
impact the drug will have on the child.
 Although the donations are overtly insufficient for
the demand, the destructive nature of organ markets
makes them disastrous to the moral and financial
fiber society.
INTRO PARAGRAPH
 Children with ADHD and their families will suffer from the
disease and have to deal with the consequences if doctors
do not prescribe medication to the children. In recent years,
the public has been led to believe that there are too many
side effects of medicating ADHD children and doctors should
not give medication. In truth, some side effects are prevalent
in children taking the ADHD medication, but the benefits
clearly outweigh the risk. Although the media has led
society to believe that using medication to treat children
with ADHD does more harm than good, doctors should
prescribe the drugs to children with ADHD because of the
positive impact the drug will have on the child.
Research Skills
Body Paragraphs
Each paragraph starts with a
Topic Sentence
 Encompass entire paragraph (state the topic of that
paragraph)
 Make arguments connected to thesis statement—
your reasons
The best writers…
 Use complex sentences to transition between
arguments
Using Topic Sentences to
Transition…
 Link ideas in a specific way
 don’t rely on generic transitions that could be inserted
anywhere
 Highlight key phrases from preceding paragraph in
following paragraph to create a logical progression
 Use transitions that could only connect one specific
paragraph/idea to another specific paragraph/idea
Topic Sentences that Transition
BAD Example:
Last sentence of P1: Overall, Management Systems International
has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a
significant rise in third-quarter profits.
Topic/Transition: Another important thing to note is that the
corporation had expanded its international influence.
Revised Topic/Transition: These impressive profits are largely
due to the corporation's expanded international influence.
OR: While impressive profits have been recorded, this would not
have been possible without the corporations new focus on
international influence.
After Topic/Transition Sentence…
 Each paragraph should work through the logic behind
one of your “reasons.”
 This will be in the form of your own conclusions and
the research you’ve found.
 It is generally beneficial to end each paragraph by
summarizing your argument.
Research Skills
Integrating Research
What is the difference between
paraphrasing and quoting?
Quotes come WORD FOR WORD from your source.
 Quotes are indicated by the use of quotation marks.
 An in-text citation MUST follow each quote.
Paraphrases come from your source, but are put into
YOUR OWN WORDS.
 Paraphrases do not use quotation marks.
 An in-text citation MUST follow each quote.
The Steps to Quoting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduce source/context of quote
Include quote
Add an in-text citation after the quote.
Explain in a few sentences how the quote supports
your argument and/or the significance of the quote
INTRODUCE QUOTE: give source/
context, give any background info
 If referencing an idea or statistic that might be
confusing, explain some background info
 If referencing a person or group that the reader may
be unfamiliar with, explain why they are credible.
 Set us up to understand the quote, even before we
read it!
INTRODUCE QUOTE: give source/
context, give any background info
Bad EX: Mike Burita said,…
OK EX: McDonald’s has made their nutritional information readily
available to customers. As Mike Burita, the communications director
for the Center for Consumer Freedom, explains,…
EX: Fast food restaurants have taken measures to improve their
customer’s health, illustrating that they have indeed made efforts to
prevent obesity. In response to the lawsuits and accusations being
hurled at it, McDonald’s has made their nutritional information readily
available to customers. As Mike Burita, the communications director
for the Center for Consumer Freedom, explains,…
Include Quote
After you introduce the quote, you need either a comma or colon
 When your introduction is NOT a complete sentence, there should
be a COMMA , before the quote
 When your introduction is a complete sentence, there should be a
COLON : before the quote.
 Surround the quote with “ ”
 Quotes should only include the most essential information
EX: “There’s nutritional content available on the chart, it’s
available on the wall, it’s available in literature behind the
counter, it’s available on the Internet. Anybody that wants to
know the nutritional content of a Big Mac or fries or a shake can
readily have it at their fingertips. To suggest that information
isn’t there is just ridiculous”
Include Quotes
 Anything that is changed in a quote should be in [brackets].
 If you take anything out of a quote, use an ellipses […]
 If your quote is longer than 4 lines, remove the quotations, set
the quote as a new paragraph tabbed over (see me with
questions)
In-text Citation for Quote
What goes in the parentheses??????
1. The first significant word from the Works Cited page
2. The page # in parentheses. If there is no page # put n.pag.
 Place punctuation after the parentheses.
GENERAL FORMAT:
Lead in, “QUOTE” (Smith 5).
Lead in: “QUOTE” (Smith 5).
Quote Examples
 In an interview with Newsweek, Mrs. Renchen said, “I’m
unsure why I’m being interviewed” (Smith 23).
 Studies conducted by Harvard’s Psychology program
indicated that “approximately 50% of humans are female”
(Jones n.pag.).
 It’s clear from Johnson’s article that early start times detract
from the educational goals of schools: “80% of high schools
starting before 7:30 experience lower test scores than
schools of similar demographics but later start times” (67).
EXPLAIN QUOTE: Explain what it means, why
it is important, and how it relates to your
argument
 Should be at least as long, if not 2xs the length, of quote
EX: Not only has McDonald’s provided nutritional information to
consumers, they have also incorporated healthy items and portion sizes
into their menu. Salads, grilled chicken sandwiches, and a variety of
other low calorie meals are offered for health conscious consumers.
McDonald’s has also removed their trademark “supersize” option from
their menu, which provided larger portions of French fries and soft
drinks for only a few cents extra cost. This cutback demonstrates
McDonald’s dedication to preventing obesity, as does their decision to
stop using trans-fats in cooking oil. Given these efforts to increase the
nutritious value of their meals, it seems unfair to declare fast food
restaurants the cause of obesity.
Put it all together…
 In the book, Are Americans Overmedicated?, parent E.
Clarke Ross explains that he has had first-hand
experience with ADHD when his son suffered from
the disease: “The reality that children and
adolescents can and do suffer from AD/HD…is finally
being recognized” (Hiber 59). Since the scientific
community has reached out to those who are
suffering from this disease, society is starting to
understand how terrible this disease is.
Put it all together…
Fast food restaurants have taken measures to improve their customer’s health,
illustrating that they have indeed made efforts to prevent obesity. In response to the
lawsuits and accusations being hurled at it, McDonald’s has made their nutritional
information readily available to customers. As Mike Burita, the communications
director for the Center for Consumer Freedom, explains, “There’s nutritional content
available on the chart, it’s available on the wall, it’s available in literature behind the
counter, it’s available on the Internet. Anybody that wants to know the nutritional
content of a Big Mac or fries or a shake can readily have it at their fingertips. To
suggest that information isn’t there is just ridiculous” (n.pag.) Not only has
McDonald’s provided nutritional information to consumers, they have also
incorporated healthy items and portion sizes into their menu. Salads, grilled chicken
sandwiches, and a variety of other low calorie meals are offered for health conscious
consumers. McDonald’s has also removed their trademark “supersize” option from
their menu, which provided larger portions of French fries and soft drinks for only a
few cents extra cost. This cutback demonstrates McDonald’s dedication to
preventing obesity, as does their decision to stop using trans-fats in cooking oil.
Given these efforts to increase the nutritious value of their meals, it seems unfair to
declare fast food restaurants the cause of obesity.
Paraphrasing
 Using researched information in own words
 Still need to cite source
 When to paraphrase
 When quote is difficult to integrate because of the style
(may be confusing, or clash with your writing)
 When the quotation is long and wordy
 When the reader would get the same effect even if it was
reworded
 When it is background information essential for
understanding, but you would rather condense it into a
couple of sentences.
Paraphrasing Example
The original passage:
 Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they
overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your
final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should
strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking
notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
A plagiarized version:
 Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in
too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of
the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit
the amount of source material copied while taking notes.
A acceptable paraphrase:
 In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted
material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during
note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 4647).
An acceptable paraphrase:
 Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help
minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).
Research Skills
Words and Phrases
Transition within a Paragraph
 Link ideas in a specific way
 Should work within paragraphs to move reader from
one idea to the next in a logical way
Don’t rely on generic transitions that could be inserted
anywhere. While these are fine when used occasionally,
they are not as effective as more specific and original
transitions.
Transition within a Paragraph
BAD Example: Overall, Management Systems International has logged
increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in thirdquarter profits. Another important thing to note is that the
corporation had expanded its international influence.
Stronger transition: Overall, Management Systems International has
logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in
third-quarter profits. These impressive profits are largely due to the
corporation's expanded international influence.
OR: Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased
sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter
profits. While impressive profits have been recorded, this would not
have been possible without the corporations new focus on
international influence.
Transition within a Paragraph
Weak Example (transition is vague): Fearing for the loss of
Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck,
effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War. But
then something else significant happened. The Swedish
intervention began.
Revision (connects 2 specific ideas): Fearing for the loss of
more Danish lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck,
effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30 Years War.
Shortly after Danish forces withdrew, the Swedish intervention
began.
Transitions
Weak Example: Amy Tan became a famous author after her
novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.
There are other things to note about Tan as well. Amy Tan also
participates in the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom
Remainders with Stephen King and Dave Barry.
Revision: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel,
The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list. Though
her fiction is well known, her work with the satirical garage
band the Rock Bottom Remainders receives far less publicity.
Edge words—strengthen that
language!
Affected
Because
improved
transformed
Evolved
changed
led to
altered
effects
supports
impacted
which effected
shaped
resulted
demonstrates
_____shows the influence of _____
_____ resulted in _______
_____ created a greater need for ______
influenced
caused
as a result of
illustrates
developed
Research Skills
Counter Argument and
Response/Rebuttal
What are they?
Counter argument:
 A paragraph devoted to explaining a misconception
OR an opposing argument
Response to Counter Argument (aka Rebuttal):
 A paragraph that either concedes or refutes.
 Should point out why the writer’s opinion is still valid
even in light of the counter argument.
Why Include Counter Argument?
 Shows that you have considered both sides of the
issue
 Strengthens your argument because you have a
chance to anticipate and answer reader’s questions
 Develops your ETHOS
Counter Argument Paragraph
 One paragraph devoted to the STRONGEST ARGUMENT
AGAINST your position
EX: If I’m arguing FOR abortion, the strongest argument AGAINST my
side is that abortion is murder.
 Signal the beginning of the counter argument with a phrase like:
Many people [believe/argue/feel/think/suppose] that…
It is often [thought/imagined/supposed] that…
[It would be easy to/One could easily] [think/believe/imagine/
suppose/etc] that…
It might [seem/appear/look] as if…
Then explain what the argument is and using research to support
that argument.
Refute/Concession Paragraph
After presenting counter argument, you need to concede or
refute…
Concede: where you admit that the counter argument is true
BUT continue by discussing why your argument is MORE
TRUE or OUTWEIGHS concerns
Refute: “prove” through logic or research that counter
argument is false, illogical, irrelevant, etc.
First sentence of Response Paragraph
should use a Topic/Transition sentence…
To start your Concession paragraph
 While it is true that [counter
argument], one must consider….
 This view is plausible, but fails to
consider the importance of…
 The core of this claim is true, yet…
 This concern is undeniable, yet it
fails to consider how invaluable…
To start your Refuting paragraph
 What this argument
[overlooks/fails to consider/does
not take into account] is ...
 This view [seems/looks/sounds]
[convincing/plausible/persuasive]
at first, but ...
 While this position is popular, it is
[not supported by the facts/not
logical/impractical] because…
 Although the core of this claim is
valid, it suffers from a flaw in its
[reasoning/application]
because…
Concede if…
 The counter argument is true/verified/valid.
Refute if…
Faulty Factual Assumption
 Counter argument: Racism is a thing of the past; therefore,
students don’t need to bother with it.
 Makes the assumption that racism is in the past—refute with
current examples
 Makes the assumption that we don’t need to bother with past
things—show how past can still be important
Refute if…
Faulty Analytical Assumption
 Counter argument: Learning about racism might make students
more racist.
 Assumes that learning about racism=racism
 Refute by explaining that learning about a problem is not the same
as causing the problem
Refute if…
Faulty Values
 Counter argument: Who cares if students are racist?
 Based on an assumed value that it’s okay to be racist
 Refute by pointing out value and explaining why it is flawed
Refute if…
True but Irrelevant
 Counter argument: Students are already familiar with racism;
they don’t need to study it in school.
 True, yes, but argument is not about students being familiar with
the concept, it’s about being familiar with causes.
 Also, being familiar with something doesn’t meant that you know
EVERYTHING you need to know.
Research Paper Skills
Other
Potential Outlines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction
Supporting point #1
Supporting point #2
Supporting point #3
Supporting point #4
Counter-argument
6. Rebuttal
7. Conclusion
1.
Counter-argument, which
also serves as
introduction…ending in
thesis
2. Rebuttal, which starts with
strong statement of
argument
3. Supporting point #1
4. Supporting point #2
5. Supporting point #3
6. Supporting point #4
7. Conclusion
Where should I give background
info?
 In your introduction paragraph?
 In a short paragraph right after your introduction?
 Little by little throughout the paper?
Works Cited Page
 MLA format—can use online generator, but check
formatting
 Alphabetize entries—this is EASY, but frequently
forgotten
 Double spaced
 Hanging indent (Type ALL sources. Then highlight
sources and hit Ctrl T)
 Highlight, then highlight in paper the info that came
from that source in the same color.