THE RESEARCH PAPER
Let the journey begin…..
What is a research paper?
• A research paper is a
carefully planned
essay that shares
information or proves
a point.
Choosing a topic
• Am I truly interested
in the subject?
• Does it meet the
requirements of the
assignment?
• Do I have access to
enough information?
• Is the subject limited
enough?
Writing a thesis statement…
A specific subject
+
a particular stand, feeling, or feature
= an effective thesis statement
Thesis Checklist
•Identifies a limited, specific subject
• Meets the requirements of assignment
•Focuses on a particular feature or feeling
about a subject
•Supported with convincing facts and details
•Stated in a clear, direct sentence (or sentences)
Sample thesis:
Writing assignment: Research paper about social issue
Subject: Homeless people
Thesis statement: Who are the homeless (SUBJECT) and
what are the reasons for their predicament?(FEATURE)
Writing assignment: Research paper about human growth
and development
Subject: Personality traits
Thesis statement: Certain personality traits(SUBJECT) are
shaped primarily by the person’s peer group. (POSITION)
Searching Tips
• Begin by writing some basic questions that
you would like to answer in you report.
• Any time you find information that answers
a question, take notes on it.
TYPES of INFORMATION
An original source:
Diary
PRIMARY
Person
Event
Survey
Etc.
Not an original source:
Magazine article
Web site
Encyclopedia,
SECONDARY
journal, etc.
Documentary
Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Personal sources
Books
Reference works
Periodicals
Audiovisual
Electronic Mail
Government or
business publications
PACKAGES
EVALUATING
the
INFORMATION
Is the information current?
Is the information complete?
Is the information accurate?
Is the source an expert?
Is your source biased?
Bibliography Cards
5
Olsen, Shawn
M. to
Chocolate
Lover’s
• Use
keep track
ofGuide.
sources
Hayti: Charger Publishing, 1987.
• Organize by author’s last name
• Number each entry in the upper
right hand corner of the card
Note cards:
• Note cards:
5
Delicious ways to enjoy chocolate
– Record details, information, quotations
-a handful of chocolate chips
-chocolate ice cream with Hershey's syrup
-“Chocolate/chocolate
at Café
is the BEST!”
– Record
page numbercake
where
information
can be
-Ghiradelli hot chocolate
found
-homemade brownies
– Use descriptive word or heading at top
Writing the draft
• “When you are writing
nonfiction, there’s no
use getting into a
writing schedule until
you’ve done the
research and you have
the material.”
-Tom Wolfe
Getting started...
Arrange your note cards into their most
logical order.
Construct an outline---a writing plan
Search for any additional information
needed to develop thesis
1. Developing your introduction-
2. Writing the body-
3. Writing the conclusion-
4. Revising-
5. Proofreading and Editing-
6. MLA Documentation-
Giving proper credit
MLA documentation
Writer’s Inc.
AVOIDING
PLAGIARISM
-the act of presenting someone else’s
ideas as your own.
Final copy requirementsTitle page
Outline
Heading
Page numbering
Body
Works Cited