Research Paper
Handbook
Research Paper Guidelines
1. The paper itself (not including the heading or Works Cited page) is to be a
minimum of 1200 words and a maximum of 1600 words. Anything
outside of this range will result in a loss of points.
2. The paper must follow strict MLA guidelines. They will be covered in
detail throughout the course of this paper.
3. One goal of this research paper is to acquire information and expand your
knowledge in an area that interests YOU. All topics must be approved by
me, but you will find that I am open to just about anything.
4. Everyone must research a different specific topic. This means that three
students may end up writing about “gun control,” but only one individual
out of the three will be examining pistol permit laws in the state of New
York.
5. Your final copy must be typed using the MLA style. I will not accept any
handwritten final drafts.
6. You must have a minimum of five sources. Three of the initial five sources
must have originally appeared in print.
7. Some sources are prohibited because of their basic nature or lack of
credibility. General encyclopedias and Wikipedia should not be used as
final sources of information and should be starting points only; no research
paper should cite information from them. Sites associated with Demand
Media, or that bear strong similarity to Demand Media sites, should not be
used under any circumstances.
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Research Paper Grade
Your grade on the research paper will be distributed as follows:
Topic
5
Note Cards
10
Outline
5
Rough Draft
15
Final Copy
65
Total
100
In addition, the grade on your final paper will be distributed as follows:
Content
25
MLA Style
15
Mechanics
15
Works Cited
10
Points are earned on the date that each section is due. For example, if you do not
have your note cards finished on _______________, you will not earn those 10
points.
Due Dates
Topic
__________
Note Cards
__________
Outline
__________
Rough Draft
__________
Final Copy
__________
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Bibliography Cards
You must complete a bibliography card for every source you use. A bibliography
card contains all the information you will need to complete your “Works Cited”
page. Complete a bibliography card before you take any notes from a source.
A sample bibliography card for a book:
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Crick, Bernard. George Orwell: A Life. Boston: Little,
1980.
PR 6029.R8 Z627 1980
Necessary Information:
Source #
MLA Style Citation
Call # (If the source is a library book.)
*Complete a bibliography card BEFORE you begin to take notes from a source!
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Suggestions for Note Taking
1. All notes should be taken on cards, one item to a card, on one side only.
The note cards will be used in the outlining process, and it is easier if all of
the information is on a single side of the card.
2. Number each note card to match the appropriate bibliography card. This
allows you quickly and accurately record the source of the note.
3. Be sure to include page numbers for notes if the source is more than one
page long. If your original source is not paginated, you will not need page
numbers.
4. Types of note taking:
a) Summarize-This allows you to record the general idea of a large
amount of information.
b) Paraphrase-i.e. put the information into your own words-This
should be used when you desire detailed information, but you do not
require the author’s original phrasing.
c) Quote- This should only be used to capture author’s individual
ideas, unusual style, etc. Direct quotes would not normally be
appropriate for basic facts or commonly held knowledge.
Sample Note Card
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Outlines
Your outline must be in the traditional, formal style. The order of characters
should be as follows:
I.
A.
1.
a.
b.
2.
B.
II.
**Logically, you cannot have a “1” without a “2”, an “a” without a “b”, etc.
***Parallelism is required. Parallelism refers to items being similar in grammar
and structure. We will discuss this in class before you begin outlining.
Tip:
Many people find it helpful to use their note cards to assist them with the
outlining process. If you group all your cards together by sub topic, regardless of
source, you will usually begin to see patterns form. These sub topics will play a
large role in the organization of your paper. We’ll discuss this in more depth
when we get ready to outline.
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Sample Formal Outline
Thesis: Food irradiation, a frequently misunderstood process, may provide an
innovative way of prolonging shelf life.
I.
Introduction
A. Definition
B. Controversy
II.
Explanation
A. Basic process
B. Radiation measurement
C. Effects of radiation
1. Effects of the nutrients
2. Formation of new compounds
III.
History
A. Beginning stages (1983)
B. Middle stages (1984-1990)
C. Contemporary events
D. Possibilities in the future
IV.
Studies involved
A. Safety issues
B. Radiation detection
V.
Environmental concerns
VI.
Opposition groups
VII.
Uses
VIII. Conclusion
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Parenthetical Documentation Information
Remember as you take notes (and later when you do your rough draft and final
copy), you will need to document the following:
1. Direct quotes
2. Paraphrased information
3. Summarized information
You do not need to document commonly accepted knowledge. An example of
common knowledge would be that dogs are mammals.
How to Document Information in a Research Paper
Note: There are other methods by which you can document information, but this
is the most commonly used in most high schools and colleges. It is referred to as
MLA style.
The parenthetical documentation should be included right in the text of your
paper. Its basic form is (author’s last name page #). Note that there is only a
space separating the author’s last name and the page number. Also note that the
end punctuation falls after the parenthetical reference.
Example:
…due to scientific basis (Smith 43).
If there is no author simply use the title of the source in place of the author’s last
name:
…due to scientific basis (“Society’s Problems” 43).
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Successfully Incorporating Quotations in Your Writing
While quotations are useful, the bulk of the information in your paper should be
paraphrased or summarized. I would recommend no more than 20% of your
information be quoted. Second, it is important to remember that a quotation
should never form a complete sentence in and of itself and should be integrated
smoothly into your writing. Consider the following examples:
Incorrect:
“There are already 700,000 arrests each year in the U.S. for marijuana offenses”
(Thomas 67).
Correct:
According to a recent U.S. government report, “there are already 700,000 arrests
each year in the U.S. for marijuana offenses” (Thomas 67).
Additional Information Regarding the Use of Quotations
Generally, a quotation must be used exactly as it was written in the original
source. There are, however, a few ways in which a quotation may be modified so
as to better fit the paper. The use of ellipses is the most common and the most
useful.
Ellipses-If you wish to omit a word or words from a quotation, the omission
should be indicated by an ellipsis, the use of three periods contained within
brackets.
Ex:
Original quote: “There are already 700,000 arrests each year in the U.S.
for marijuana offenses” (Thomas 67).
Final sentence: According to a recent U.S. government report, “there are
already 700,000 arrests each year […] for marijuana offenses” (Thomas
67).
Be sure that you do not change the intent of the quotation by omitting
words. You must make every attempt to remain true to the author’s
intentions.
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Developing a Works Cited Page
You must include a Works Cited page with you research paper. A Works Cited
page is a list of the various sources you referred to in your paper.
Examine the following example. Note that the heading “Works Cited” is
centered at the top of the page. Also note that the entries are alphabetized by the
authors’ last names and that the entries use a hanging indent, i.e. the first line of
each entry is at the left margin and each subsequent line of that entry is indented
one tab.
Conley 5
Works Cited
Cauwels, Janice M. Bulimia: The Binge-Purge Compulsion. Garden City:
Doubleday and Company, 1983.
Matthew, John R. Eating Disorders. New York: Facts on File, 1991.
Nardo, Don. Eating Disorders. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1991.
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Citing Works in the MLA Style
All of the below information was taken from the MLA Handbook of Writers of
Research Papers, 7th Edition.
ONLINE SOURCES
Citing an Online Newspaper Article
Author’s name. “Title of article.” Name of newspaper. Date of issue (Day Month Year).
Page Number(s) on which the article originally appeared. Web. Date accessed. <URL>
Example:
Feder, Barnaby J. “For Job Seekers, a Toll-Free Gift of Expert Advice.” The New York Times. 30
Dec. 1993. D1+. Web. 27 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/30/business/for-job-seekers-a-toll-free-gift-ofexpert-advice.html>
Citing a Magazine Article Accessed through a Subscription Database
Author’s Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Date: Pages. Online Database Name.
Web. Date of Access.
Example:
Frank, Michael. “The Wild, Wild West.” Architectural Digest June 1993:180.
Masterfile Select. Web. 25 Jan. 2001.
Citing a Webpage
Author’s Name (if available). “Title of Web Page.” Title of Web Site. Publisher or sponsor,
Date. Web. Date of Access. <Web Address (URL)>.
Example:
Harris, David A. “Driving While Black: Racial Profiling on Our Nation’s Highways.”
American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, 7 Jun. 1999. Web. 25 Dec. 2010.
<http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-ournations-highways>
Hooker, Richard. “What Is Science? A Baseline Definition.” World Civilizations. Washington
State University, 6 Jun. 1999. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/SCIENCE/BASELINE.HTM>
***If no publisher or sponsor is available, put the abbreviation n.p. in that place.
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Print and Miscellaneous Sources
Citing Books:
Author’s (or Authors’)name(or names). Title of the book. Place of publication (city):
Name of publisher, Year of publication. Print.
Examples:
Kaku, Michio. Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universes, Time
warps, and the Tenth Dimension. New York: Oxford UP, 1994. Print.
Jakobson, Roman, and Linda R. Waugh. The Sound Shape of Language. Bloomington:
Indiana UP, 1979. Print.
Citing Printed Periodicals:
Author’s name. “Title of article.” Title of magazine Date of issue (Day Month Year):
Pages on which article appears. Print.
Examples:
Bazell, Robert. “Science and Society: Growth Industry.” New Republic 15 Mar. 1993:
13-14. Print.
Frank, Michael. “The Wild, Wild, West.” Architectural Digest June 1993: 180+. Print.
Note: Use the “+” when an article is NOT printed on consecutive pages.
Citing an Interview You Conducted:
Name of person interviewed. Type of interview (personal or telephone). Date.
Example:
Brzezinski, Randy. Personal interview. 15 Nov. 2010.
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