The Research Paper: Part 2 Script: Hello everyone! If you’re looking for ideas on how to begin your research paper, please watch part one of this video, there’s a link in the description box to it. If you’re ready to keep going with your paper, go ahead and keep watching, I will be giving you some tips on how to write the body of your research paper. I will give you more advice on how to write an introduction or conclusion in later videos.

Step 1: Organize Your Sources Script: Step 1: Organize Your Sources

Step 1: Organize Your Sources Have them in conversation with each other, and with yourself Organize your sources around the main points Grouping together the sources that are similar in content On paper or computer document Create folders Use paper clips Use different colored highlighters/pens to highlight/underline the information you want to use Designate one color for each one of the main points Script: You will probably be using several sources for this paper. While it may seem tempting to summarize each source in one paragraph each, I would advise you against this. It’s better for you to have your sources in conversation with each other, and with yourself. Therefore, the first thing you can do to understand how you will do this is to organize your sources around the main points that you will cover in your essay. Group together the sources that are similar in content. You can do this on a piece of paper or you can create a document on your computer where you list your sources under your main points. If you have downloaded some of your sources, you can also create folders in your computer where you can place your sources based on what they cover. You can also print out your sources and organize them into folders or hold the ones that go together with paper clips. Maybe you’ll have sources that discuss many of the ideas that you want to cover across your essay, so it would be difficult to put these sources into a specific folder. What you can do instead is, as you read them, use different colored highlighters/pens to highlight/underline the information you want to use in your paper. Designate one color for each one of the main points of your essay and use that color to highlight/underline any information that you think you can include in your paper.

Step 2: Structure of Your Paragraphs Script: Now you can begin working on your paragraphs.

Step 2: Step 2: Structure of Your Paragraphs Three main parts: A topic sentence Sentences that develop/support what your topic sentence claims A concluding sentence Script: Each of your paragraphs will have these three main parts: A topic sentence It can be more than one sentence. Should connect to your thesis statement. It’s often good to begin them with a transition word/phrase because they help your essay flow better and the can help your reader better understand how your ideas are connected. I added a link to a list of these kinds of words/phrases in the description box. Sentences that develop/support what your topic sentence claims These can be sentences that include a quote from one of your sources, a sentence where you paraphrase information from one of your sources, or sentences with your own ideas/evaluation/response. A concluding sentence This can also be more than one sentence

They Say, I Say “they say _______, I say ________” formula give your own ideas in response to the ideas of others Visit my blog to see an example of a paragraph using variations of this formula In their book, Graff and Birkenstein offer one basic formula that you can follow as you write your essay: the “they say _______, I say ________” formula. This formula allows you to give your own ideas in response to the ideas of others. You can use this formula in the middle section of your paragraphs. Visit my blog to see an example of a paragraph using variations of this formula. I’ve added a link in the description box.

Step 3: Cite Your Sources Script: Next, remember to cite your sources!

Step 3: Cite Your Sources Whenever you quote OR paraphrase, you need to cite your source Very important to avoid plagiarism. In-text citations depends on the style guide that you’re being asked to follow MLA? APA? Chicago Style? Read your assignment or check with your teacher to see which format you should follow. Script: Although this is probably also something that you do while you're doing step 2, I made this a separate step because I really want to bring attention to it. Whenever you quote OR paraphrase, you need to cite your source at the end of the sentence. Yes, you still need to do this even when you're paraphrasing because when you put things into your own words, what you're saying is still not your original idea, but someone else’s. It's very important to cite your sources because you don’t want to get in trouble for plagiarism The way you write an in-text citation depends on the style guide that you’re being asked to follow. Read your assignment or check with your teacher to see which format you should follow. In my blog post linked in the description box, I included some links to resources that explain how to write an in-text citation for different style guides, so you can check those out if you need to.

Step 3: Keep Writing! Script: All you have to do now is to keep repeating steps two and three until you finish the body of your essay!

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts Try setting up sessions for writing across a few days Write in chunks of time 30-60 min? Put away all distractions Give yourself breaks Script: A research paper can take some time to write, so try setting up sessions for writing across a few days. Writing in chunks of time will make working on your paper less burdensome. You can choose how long you want your writing sessions to be, but I would recommend they be 30 to 60 min long. During your writing sessions, put away all distractions. If you have a cellphone, turn it off  or put it in a "Do Not Disturb"/airplane mode setting. You can let those around you know that you need a bit of quiet time to focus. You can have several writing sessions in a row, just remember to give yourself  breaks. Sometimes it also helps to write for a while then come back to your work some hours later or a day after with fresh eyes.

Thank You For Watching! Script: I hope these tips have helped you get going with the body of your research paper. In later videos I will give you more advice on how to write an introduction, conclusion, and how to revise/edit your draft. Thank you for watching!