1. HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER CGHS Language Arts

2. STEP 1: CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC  1. Ask yourself important questions.  Most Important Step!  Is there enough research available on the topic?  Is the topic current?  Is the topic pertinent to the assigned task?

3. STEP 1: SOME CONSIDERATIONS  2. Pick a topic that you find interesting.  3. If you can’t find any relevant research, MODIFY YOUR TOPIC!  You must either change your topic or narrow the focus.  4. Keep it original  Your ideas about the topic should be unique, which means that your resources should differ from your classmates’.

4. STEP 2: RESEARCHING  1. Begin your research:  Forms include:  Web pages  Journal articles  Books  Encyclopedias  Interviews  Blog posts

5. STEP 2: RESEARCHING  2. Look for empirical research:  These are articles or books written by experts in their respective fields.  We can trust that this information has been fact-checked and peer reviewed.  Safe websites usually end in .edu .gov .org

6. STEP 2: WHERE TO LOOK?  3. Primary v. Secondary Sources  4. Hard Copies: Books and Journals  Found in Media Center or Public Library  5. Use Academic Databases  Found on GCPS Online Research Library located at Student Portal Found on GCPS Online Research Library located at Student Portal

7. STEP 3: ANNOTATE  1. Once you’ve gathered all your research:  Print it out  Save to PDF  2. Re-read and annotate your articles  Use the annotation tool to identify any information that relates to your topic.  This includes identifying main ideas and supporting details that best relate to your topic.

8. STEP 3: ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES  Now that you have annotated your articles, place all of your highlighted phrases and ideas into categories based on topic.  **Topics assigned by grade level  Example:  Topic: Analyzing a famous work of literature  Create a list of notes on each sub-topic 1.) characters 2.) certain points in the plot 3.) symbols the author presents

9. TAKE A MOMENT…  What questions do you have about the research process so far?  What experience might you already have with this process that the class can benefit from?  Why do you think research is important to our community? (academic and/or social)

10. IF YOU DON’T DOCUMENT YOUR SOURCES…  You’re likely to receive this reaction…   Which leads us to Step 4…

11. STEP 4: CONSTRUCT A PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY / WORKS CITED PAGE  As you go through your notes, mark down the author, page number you got the information from, title, and publishing information for each article.  This will come in handy when you craft your bibliography, source cards, and works cited page later in the process.

12. STEP 4: SOURCE CARDS

13. THE BEST RESEARCHERS LOOK LIKE THIS…

15. STEP 5: FACT CARDS

16. STEP 6: DEVELOP YOUR THESIS  The thesis statement is a 1-2 sentence statement in your introductory paragraph (last sentence) that states the main goal or argument of your paper.  Thesis should express the main idea of your paper  Your body paragraphs will relate back to your thesis  How to develop a thesis:  Create a focus question that you intend to prove in your paper. (What is this paper about?) Consolidate your ideas into a few main points.  The answer to your focus question, when constructed as a statement, will be your thesis statement.

17. STEP6: THESIS EXAMPLE  Focus Question: What impact does the teaching of multicultural literature in high school have on students? Thesis: The teaching of multicultural literature to high school students results in a capacity for empathy for others.  (answer to focus question)

18. STEP 7: DETERMINE YOUR MAIN IDEAS  Go through your research and annotations to determine what points are the most pivotal in your argument.  What ideas can you write whole paragraphs about?  Which ideas to you have plenty of firm facts and research to back with evidence?  Make sure that your main ideas are directly related to your thesis statement!

19. STEP 7: MAIN POINTS  Justify main points to the left, and indent subsections and notes from your research below each.  Word to the Wise: Make sure to include in-text citations at the end of each point, so that you don’t have to constantly refer back to your research when writing your draft.

20. STEP 8: WRITING YOUR PAPER  Introduction  Pertinent background information about the topic.  Thesis statement.  Body Paragraphs  Make sure all topic sentences support your thesis  Support every statement you make with evidence from the text  Avoid using many long, direct quotes  Paraphrase  Conclusion

21. STEP 8: MLA FORMAT  Heading  In-text citations  Double spaced  12pt. Times New Roman font  Works Cited page

22. CREATING THE FINAL DRAFT  Edit your Rough Draft  Topic Sentences/Main Ideas support THESIS  Proofread for grammar errors  In text citations  Works Cited page