1. Writing a Research Paper
COACH HATHCOCK

2. Choose a Topic - What is the length? - What type of research paper?
Make sure you understand your assignment
- What is the length?
five paragraphs / 750 word minimum
- What type of research paper?
* Analytical– the material is summarized and the writer analyzes it and presents his or her conclusions

3. Manage your time Draw up a project schedule
Avoid a time trap: A research paper is a long-term assignment. In order to see it through successfully, you will need to plan and keep to a schedule.
Keep plugging away: Don’t get bogged down in one stage of the writing process. If you keep plugging away at your assignment, you will be able to meet your deadline.

4. Choose a topic
Choose a workable topic that meets all of the following requirements
Can you find enough material on the topic?
Does the topic interest you and can you make it interest your audience?
Is your topic objective, not subjective? An objective topic is factual – in a research paper you are not writing about your opinions, experiences, family, or feelings.
Is the topic limited enough to be covered in the available space?

5. Thesis Statement A good thesis statement IS NOT A statement of fact
Merely the expression of a personal opinion
A vague generalization
A question

6. Thesis Statement A good thesis statement IS
A declarative sentence that states clearly and concisely the main point that the author wishes to make.
Usually a sentence that embodies a judgment, evaluation, or criticism, often apparent in its use of value terms, e.g., good, better, best, valuable, worthwhile, desirable.
A statement you consider significant, so that if someone says, “So what?” you can answer that question

7. Thesis Statement A good thesis statement MAY also
Suggest a comparison or a contrast
Focus primarily on the causes or effects of a particular event, condition, or change
Propose a solution to a problem of recommend a policy

8. Thesis Statement An excellent thesis statement
Is a judgment, criticism, or evaluation that research can support
Is NOT a statement of fact, a personal opinion, a vague generalization, or a question
Is a declarative statement that states the main point of the essay
Is something worth saying

9. SUPPORTING TOPICS To find support for your thesis statement:
Write down the tentative thesis statement
List as many supporting topics as you can
Select the ones that seem the most promising
Do preliminary reading to locate supporting information for your major topics
As you read, add or drop major topics, depending on what you find

10. Locate Sources There are two types of sources – primary and secondary
A primary source is an original text, document, interview, speech, or letter. It is not someone’s comments on or analysis of a text; it is the text itself.
A secondary source is NOT an original text or document; rather, it is someone’s comments or an analysis of a primary source

11. Locate Sources Explore library sources
Use the online catalog to locate books in the library
Use the reference section to find information and sources: encyclopedias, biographical information, atlases, almanacs, dictionaries, quotations, specialized books
Look for relevant newspaper and magazine articles
Evaluate internet sources

12. Internet Sources Evaluate internet sources carefully
Who wrote the Web page? How qualified or knowledgeable is the writer? Is the writer an expert or a professional working in the area the Web site discusses?

13. Internet Sources - #2
How accurate is the information? Does the Web page give facts or just the writer’s opinions? Verify the given information.
How up-to-date is the information?
Is the information biased (slanted toward one point of view), or are both sides of an issue presented objectively and fairly?

14. Bibliography
Record complete information for every source you think you will use. Make a bibliography for every source you consult. On each, you will record the author, title, and publishing information (place of publication, publisher, date of publication, researcher’s source number).

15. Note cards Use 3”x5” or 4”x6” cards (or pieces of paper)
Write the source number in the upper-right-hand corner of the card. On each card take notes from only one source.
Write on only one side of each card, and write about only one main idea. (You will then be able to arrange and rearrange your note cards easily according to their main ideas.)

16. Note cards - #2
Write a heading – a key word or phrase – at the top of the note card and underline it. The heading indicates the main idea discussed on the note card. Usually the heading is one of the topics you will use in your working outline.
Make a conscious effort to use your own words when you take notes. Use abbreviations and symbols.

17. Note cards - #3
Enclose direct quotations in large quotation marks. Make sure you have quoted word for word, EXACTLY as the author wrote it. If you wish to leave out material, you must do so by inserting ellipses (…) at the appropriate point.
At the bottom of each note card, write the page number where you found the information

18. Note cards - #4
Double check each note card to see that you have written the source number and page numbers. Without these the material will be useless because you may not find the information again.

19. Preliminary Outline This is a temporary outline
It is a method of structuring your paper and your search for information
Your outline and structure will be tentative and rough in form
It should include some major areas of research
You are now ready to evaluate your note cards

20. Evaluate Note Cards
Sort your note cards into stacks having the same heading
Some stacks may be short, some tall. If you have a great many cards under one heading, perhaps you should divide them into two or three more manageable subheadings
Take time to reread each note card. Make sure your headings are right. You may find cards that might better be classified under different headings.

21. Evaluate Note Cards - #2 Evaluate your note cards
Be selective: Do you have too much information on one subject? Use only the best – the most interesting, the most pertinent, the most persuasive.
Fill in the gaps: If there is not enough information in some stacks go back to the library and find more sources and take more notes.

22. Write a First Draft: The Introduction
Write an introduction that attracts your reader’s attention and clearly indicates what your paper will be about. Include your thesis statement in your introduction.

23. Write a First Draft: The Body
Write the body of you paper.
Keep very careful track of your sources. Insert your bibliography source card number after ideas or quotations that need to be acknowledged.
Write in the present tense. Use the past tense only to refer to historical events.
Each paragraph in the body should include a topic sentence that states a main idea. The rest of the sentences should provide supporting details.

24. Write a First Draft: The Conclusion
Write a conclusion that brings your paper to a satisfying conclusion and says something worthwhile.

25. Works Cited List
Your Works Cited list should be an alphabetical list of all the sources you have referred to in your paper.
The Works Cited list should be at the end of your research paper.
AKA Bibliography page

26. Revise Draft
You should ask yourself the following questions when you revise your paper:
How can I improve my word choice? Have I used dull, trite, childish, and overworked words? Have I used empty adverbs like obviously, certainly, and simply? Have I avoided clichés, e.g., last but not least?

27. Revise Draft - #2
Have I chosen the best verbs for the job? Have I used strong action verbs instead of verbs of being, e.g., crashed instead of is down, participates instead of is in? Have I used active rather than passive verbs, e.g., “I made a mistake” rather than “Mistakes were made.”

28. Revise Draft - #3
Do my sentences show variety in length and structure?
Do any of my sentences sound awkward when I read them aloud?
Do I show instead of tell, by providing vivid descriptive details, figurative language, examples, or anecdotes?

29. Revise Draft - #4
Have I used transitions – words like however, then, on the other hand – to improve the coherence and flow of my writing?

30. Revise Draft - #5
Have I paid attention to the basic rules of expository writing? Does my introductory paragraph include a clear, concise thesis statement and a method of development? Do my topic sentences connect to my thesis statement? Do my body paragraphs support my thesis statement? Does my conclusion remind the reader of my thesis statement?

31. Revise Draft - #6 When using borrowed material, have I provided:
A lead-in, identifying the speaker or situation?
An accurate quotation?
Follow-up, a comment or analysis of the quotation?

32. Revise Draft - #7
Have I observed the rules of grammar and usage avoiding run-ons, fragments, misplaced modifiers, passive voice, and lack of agreement between subjects and verbs, pronouns and antecedents?
Have I paid attention to mechanics, making sure that my capitalization and punctuation are correct?
Have I checked my spelling carefully?

33. Final Manuscript Use 8 ½” x 11” white paper
Print on only one side of each piece of paper
Use 1 inch margins a the top, bottom, and sides of you paper
Indent each paragraph ½ inch (5 spaces) from the left margin
Place your Works Cited page at the end

34. GOOD LUCK!!!