Writing a Research Paper
Purpose of Research Paper
• You will be taking a stand on an issue and providing
support or evidence gained from your research to
back up your position.
• Any type of writing where research and citations are
required:
• Essays, case studies, etc.
Don’t Get Overwhelmed!
• Break it down to step-by-step process
Step 1 – Clarify Assignment
• Is topic specified?
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Length of paper required?
What citation format is required?
– MLA – Modern Language Association
• Used in the Humanities
– APA - American Psychological Association
• Used in the Social Sciences, Education, and
Behavioral Sciences
• Ask mentor any questions you may have at
beginning of process!
Step 2 – Develop a Research
Question
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Provides focus for research and paper
OWN YOUR TOPIC!
– What interests you the most about the topic?
– Make a listing of questions you would like to have answered
about the topic
– What would capture the interest of the reader?
•
Pick issue that can be researched
– Make sure topic is not too broad or narrow in scope
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Resource:
– www.esc.edu/writer - Go to the “Research Room”
Step 3 – Begin Doing Research
• ESC Online Library
• http://www.esc.edu/- Click on My ESC, then Library and
Learning Resources – go to Find Info Quick Start Tutorial
• Peer-reviewed articles vs. Google search
• Accuracy/Bias
• Authority
• Currency
• Avoid certain “sources” i.e., Wickipedia, unsubstantiated
sources such as blogs, statements from non-experts.
Academic Integrity
Stop
• Cite all of your sources
• Never represent the ideas or words of another as your own –
plagiarism can result in student dismissal!
• Use index cards when doing research
• Direct Quote – put in quotation marks
• Summary – condenses information and puts it in your own
words
• Paraphrase – roughly same length as original, but information
is stated in your own words.
• All of the above need to be cited – put citation information on
back of card for future reference.
Citation – States Where you
Got the Information
• Two styles used most often: APA and MLA.
• Author, year of publication, title of work, page, name
of journal, or publisher.
• APA and MLA style guidelines and much more in the
Bedford Handbook or A Writer’s Reference by Diana
Hacker.
Example: Quotation
• “In most vital organizations, there is a common bond
of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking
contributions, and simple joy. Part of the art of
leadership is to see that this common bond is
maintained and strengthened, a task certainly
requiring good communication.”
• The direct quotation comes from page 101 of a book
entitled Leadership is an Art, by Max DePree.
Proper Way to Cite:
APA Format:
• “In most vital organizations, there is a common bond
of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking
contributions, and simple joy. Part of the art of
leadership is to see that this common bond is
maintained and strengthened, a task certainly
requiring good communication” (Depree, 1989, p.
101).
MLA Format:
• Paragraph as above followed by (Depree 101).
Paraphrase
• Besides quoting directly, the following is also an
acceptable way to use and acknowledge the DePree
material:
• As DePree (1989) noted, leadership requires good
communication skills that maintain and strengthen
the bonds of interdependence, mutual interest, joy,
and interlocking contributions that exist in most vital
organizations (p. 101).
APA
• As DePree noted, … in most vital organizations
(101).
MLA
Unacceptable:
• If there was no reference to the source, the following
use of the DePree material would be unacceptable:
Most organizations have common bonds, and part of
being a leader is to see that common bonds are
maintained and strengthened. Good communication
skills are required for this task. (Paraphrased but with
no citation).
Acceptable:
• Most organizations have common bonds, and part of
being a leader is to see that common bonds are
maintained and strengthened. Good communication
skills are required for this task (DePree, 1989, p.
101).
• Paraphrased with proper citation.
Step 4 – Develop a Thesis
Statement
• Purpose: focuses your ideas and information within
the paper and provides guidance to the reader
• TOPIC + YOUR POSITION ON THAT TOPIC =
THESIS STATEMENT
• Example:
• Adult students returning to college make up a higher
percentage of entering students than they did twenty years
ago because of a number of statistical, economic, and social
reasons.
Step 5 – Organize Your Ideas
• Use mapping, outlining, or arranging of your research
index cards to place your ideas in a logical sequence.
(Refer to handout for examples)
• Sequence of ideas is sometimes determined by
thesis statement.
Step 6 - Create a First Draft
• Three major parts to good research paper:
• Introduction
• Opportunity to capture interest of reader
• Allows you to present thesis statement
• Body
• Paragraphs that provide evidence supporting your thesis
statement
• Conclusion
• Allows you to provide summary of main points and should
make reader think about implications of topic discussed.
• May conclude by making a prediction or offering specific
advice.
Step 7 – Begin Revisions
& Proofreading
• Revision
• Have you said what you wanted to say in a clear
and effective way?
• Have you provided enough evidence to support
your thesis?
• Is information presented in most effective order?
• Does it flow?
• Do you leave any questions in the mind of the
reader?
• Proofreading
• Checking your paper for grammar and spelling
errors
•
•
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Are you using consistent verb tense?
Are you using variation in your use of words?
Is there any way you can tighten your sentences?
Did you use spell-check or a dictionary?
Have you used proper punctuation?
• Resource:
• www.esc.edu/writer - Research Room - Revising and
Proofreading the Draft
Step 8 – Document Your Sources
and Create Works Cited Page
• Find a good handbook (such as the Bedford
Handbook by Diane Hacker) or a website (such as
www.esc.edu/citations or
www.bedfordstmartin.com/online) that will
demonstrate proper citation formats.
• Provide in-text citations for your research findings.
References or Work Cited Page
• References (APA) or Works Cited page (MLA) should
follow at end of paper
• Example of entry:
• DePree, M. (1989) Leadership is an art. New York:
Doubleday. (APA format)
• DePree, M. Leadership is an Art. New York:
Doubleday, 1989. (MLA format)
• All entries listed in alphabetical order
Step 9 – Do Final Reading &
Make Last Minute Revisions
• Always take time to do final reading
• Read paper slowly out-loud to listen for errors
• Ask someone else to read through paper to make
sure you have expressed yourself clearly
• No corrections are trivial – take the time to present
yourself in best possible light.
Step 10 – Submit Paper!
• Make sure you have adhered to all of the formatting
requirements of your mentor and submit your paper.
• Always keep a copy of your paper on file and in hard
copy.
Additional Tips:
• Never Use Personal Pronouns in Research Papers. “I
think, You will agree,” etc. If you’re citing the works of
a group of researchers, don’t state “they found.” State
instead, “The group concluded,” or “It was
determined.” Remain totally objective - your credibility
is at stake.
•
If you cite research that supports your thesis, then
you should also cite works that support the
opposition.