Piecing Together a Research Paper Stitching the Quilt Piecing Together a Research Paper

Working Thesis to Outline Use Your Working Thesis Statement to Construct a Topical Outline Use the Sample Topical Outline Document as a Template Add as Many “Levels” to Your Outline as Necessary to Prove Your Working Thesis Ideally, Each Item in the Outline Will Become a Paragraph of the Research Paper

Taking Notes Begin With the Sources You Know Best Read as Much of Each Source as Necessary to Provide the Information You Need Paraphrase Summarize Check and Re-Check Accuracy of Paraphrases and Summaries Make Sure You’ve Translated Paraphrases and Summaries Into Your Style Use Quotations Only When Almost Unavoidable Keep Track of Where You Found Each Piece of Information

Cloth and Thread: Information Into Paragraphs Using Your Topical Outline, Compose Paragraphs by Placing Summaries, Paraphrases and Quotations in a Logical Order Use Transition Sentences (First and/or Last Sentences of Paragraphs) to “Stitch” Paragraphs to One Another and Guide Us Through the Document Remember That Everything Taken From a Source Must Be Cited in the Text of Your Research Paper Except for the Introduction and Conclusion of Your Research Paper, Every Other Paragraph Must Contain Researched Information, and, Therefore, at Least One Citation

Final Thoughts Work on the Research Paper Patiently and Steadily Remember to Use the Document Design Required in Your Style Sheet Check for Accuracy, Clarity, and Substance Over and Over