The Research Paper: (%40)
What is a Research Paper?
An argumentative research paper is a paper in which the writer presents and supports
a thesis concerning a significant issue in a major field. The writer attempts to
persuade the reading audience to accept his/her position or judgement on the
controversial issue.
Why Do We Write Research Papers?
Learning how to write a good research paper does not only improve a student's
academic performance but also sharpens the critical thinking skills needed in most
careers. Almost every professional writes research papers to produce annual reports,
product evaluations, proposals, etc. The ability to locate accurate sources, evaluate
evidence, and interpret findings is essential for success in any field.
What is My Task?
In this assignment you are asked to write an 8-10 pages (Typed, Times New Roman ,
font size 12, double- spaced )of an argumentative research paper on a debatable
topic in which you cite, summarize, and synthesize a topic. This research paper will
follow the process based writing approach. Therefore it is broken into several phases.
a) Topic Selection: Choose a topic either from the provided list or come up with your
own topic of your own interest. Make sure your topic is not too broad. Don't
confuse a topic (a focused research idea) with a subject (a very broad research
area). The subject should be narrowed down to a topic. Then narrow the topic into
a question which will help you further focus.
b) Research: Conduct library/internet search and find at least SIX relevant sources
and bring them to class to share it with your instructor and friends to check
whether sources are appropriate and relevant. You are also expected to collect
data by either conducting interviews, distributing questionnaires, and/or analyzing
some related current case studies such as from relevant literature, TV talk shows,
interviewing field experts.
c) Research Proposal and Initial Reference Bibliography (%5): The research
proposal can serve many useful functions. The most important is that it helps you to
think out the research project you are about to undertake and predict any difficulties
that might arise. When writing the annotated bibliography, make a list of the texts you
plan to consult
d) Thesis Statement & Outline: The thesis statement forces you to concentrate on
just one answer to your research question. Once you are clear about your stance,
you should collect evidence for your thesis. Your reader demand to know"Why?
What are your reasons?"
Outline: Using your sources, write an outline that will help you start your paper.
It should include the main points supporting details, and the references to the
sources. Hand in your typed outline your instructor to get feedback.
e) First Draft of the Paper : Unless you are a very unusual writer whose papers
come out thoroughly developed and structured, and flawlessly phrased the first
time you write, you will need to revise and develop your research paper further.
Submit your first draft to your instructor for further revision.
f) Final Paper (35%): Once you get feedback from your peers and/or instructor,
you will probably add more points, more supporting material to each of your main
1
points as you find more evidence through research in to your paper to render it
more convincing.
g) Editing: Before you submit the final version of the paper, do some editing which
involves changes such as correcting punctuation, spelling, and mechanical errors,
checking grammar, working on stylistic concerns including eliminating wordiness
or repetition, clarifying your tone.
Citation: Plagiarism is a serious academic crime. Citations, footnotes, bibliographies,
and works cited provide records that can be checked; they are assurances that reports
are original. The issue is credibility. Refer to MLA style to assist you with format. In
your paper there should be reference to at least five sources properly cited within the
body paragraphs and in the bibliography in the end. No more than two websites can
be included.
RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST:
Before submitting your paper, review these questions:
1) Does your paper have a clearly stated thesis?
2) Is your introduction interesting? Does it give a clear sense of what the paper is
about?
3) Do you refute counter arguments?
4) Do you provide sufficient evidence (Anecdotes, Data & Facts , Statistics, Quotes
from authority/expert testimony, Examples , Personal Experience, Case studies) to
support your thesis?
5) Is the body of your paper well organized and developed logically? Is it unified and
coherent?
6) Have you documented all the borrowed words, facts, and ideas you have used?
7) Is your tone appropriate for the subject and the audience?
8) Does your conclusion end the paper effectively?
Common Misconceptions:
A Research paper is not a summary of everything you can find about your topic.
The goal in writing a research paper is not to present a collection of facts and quotes
about a topic but to state a clear thesis supported by evidence. The goal is to present
carefully selected evidence that supports your thesis.
A Research Paper does not simply repeat what others have written Research
writers not only collect but also evaluate and interpret evidence. They critique the
quality and the quantity of the sources selected.
A Research Paper does not merely support a preconceived point of view. True
research begins with a topic or question. You should only reach a conclusion and
develop a thesis after carefully examining the evidence. Taking the ideas of others out
of context to support your position is not research. View issues from different sides
and take the opposite viewpoints into serious consideration.
A Research Paper does not include the ideas of others without documentation.
Including the ideas and words of others in your text without attribution is plagiarism.
Whenever you add facts, quotes, and summaries from outside sources, you must
acknowledge them.
2
Topics
Choose one of the groups listed above which are generally considered to be terrorists. As you
write, keep the statement that 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter' in mind as
public opion on the nature of many of these groups is very much different.
102 Research Paper Topics











ETA
Neo Nazis
Palestine Liberation Front
IRA
Abu Nidal
ASALA
Green Jackets (Denmark)
PKK/KADEK
Hizbullah
Hamas
Ku Klux Klan
Others:
USA and Terrorism- September 11Chechnya
USA-Iraq War
Carlos the Jackal??
ASALA and the Others THE AIM To realize the confession of the Turkish State to the socalled Armenian genocide that they claimed took place in Turkey in 1915. Forcing Turkey to
pay for the compensation of this so-called genocide. To realize the return of the land within our
Eastern and South-Eastern Anatolia which they claim has been occupied by Turkey, to their socalled legal owners, namely the Armenian, and for this purpose: To form an independent
Armenian state on this land. To convert this land into a republic attached to the Armenian
Republic.
Terror Organisations in Europe
C.C.C (Belgium)
CCC is a Marxist-Leninist terrorist organisation in Belgium. It was founded in 1982 and it
claims it struggles with unequal incomes, wars and every kind or armaments. Between October
1984 and December 1985, CCC has undertaken 28 bomb attacks in Belgium. CCC made its
actions against NATO bases, banks and companies. The organisation tries to save the lives of
the civil people and informs its actions beforehand. The Belgium Police thinks CCC has
connections with French Action Directe and RAF in Germany. Pierre Carette and the other
leading members of CCC were captured on 16 December 1985, in Namur. From this date on,
the actions of the terrorist organisation have been paused.
IRA
Abu Nidal
3
200 Palestinians from France, Italy, Spain and Austria established this organisation on
November 22nd, 1974. Their aim was to free Palestine from the Zionist occupation, and to
establish a new Palestine state instead of the Zionist State.
November 17 -http://www.teror.gen.tr/english/organisations/17november.html
November 17's first sensational act was the assassination of Richard WELCH, Chief of the CIA
Station in Athens, in 1975. Since then, November 17 has made many attacks on Turkish
Missions in Greece.
The aims of the organisation are to put an end to the existing regime of Greece and to establish
a socialist system and government, to dismiss Greece from NATO, to close all American bases
in Greece, to end alleged Turkish occupation in Cyprus, and to sever Greece's relations with
USA, NATO, and the EU
Hizbullah_This organization which is openly backed by the Iranian administration, divides the
world into countries belonging to the “Muslim World” (ruled by Islamic law) and not belonging
to the “Muslim World” (not ruled by Islamic law). Any kind of action against the latter
countries is a very essential religious obligation for Hizbullah.
Hamas (Egypt-Palestine)
Hamas is known to be established in Palestine in the end of 1987 by former members of
Muslim Brotherhood Organization founded under the leadership of Hassan EL-BENNA in
Egypt. This organization is known as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood
Organization. HAMAS believes that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PIO) does not
represent the Palestinians and Muslims and that the PLO is not actively enough fighting against
Israel. They support the idea of an armed Holy war (Jihad), what brings them into conflict with
the more moderate parts of the Muslim Brotherhood Organization. HAMAS disagrees with the
Palestinian Liberation Organization’s peace policy and the efforts to come to an agreement with
Israel, since in the eyes of this organization Palestine is still under Israeli occupation and no
change has taken place at all. Therefore HAMAS does not follow the call of the PLO for
unification
Terror Organisations in Europe
ETA (Spain)
Bask Separatist Movement (ETA) was founded by the militants who separated from EKIN
group, in 1962. They claim that they are fighting for freedom of the Bask Region, in Spain.
Since its beginning, the leftist students of the University of Madrid formed guerrilla units.
Every unit is made of approximately 200 students. They adopt hit and run tactic and they
combat with the police. In fact, the aim of this terrorist movement was to end Franco Regime in
Spain and replace it with a socialist system, but today it aims to separate Bask from Spain and
to establish a free state. The Spanish government has taken serious measurements against
terrorism in Bask and by bringing the terrorist to justice, trailed them in military courts. Spanish
jurisprudence convicts the terrorists with major punishments.
Neo Nazis (Germany)
4
This organisation is founded by extremely German racist youth and they are active in Hamburg,
Hannover, and Ruhi. The Skinheads attacks to all the foreigners in Germany but their initial
targets are the Turks and they are famous for their enmity against the Turks. The initial target of
the Skinheads is to dispel every foreign originated person from Germany. They began their
actions against the Turks in 1985
Terror Organisations in Europe
Green Jackets (Denmark)
BZ is a terrorist organisation founded in the beginning of 1987, in Denmark. One of the
statements of Erik Ninn Hansen, the Minister of Justice of Denmark revealed that BZ is a youth
organisation, which becomes increasingly dangerous for the democracy. The racists are
contacting with the Green Jackets and they make armed actions against foreign labourers and
refugees in Denmark. Many foreign workers moved their houses to different districts to run
away from harassment of Green Jackets.
USA and Terrorism- September 11
Palestine Liberation Front
5