Ten Steps in Writing the Research Paper

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Ten Steps in Writing the Research Paper

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STEP 1 Find a subject

•         Interesting
• Related to former readings or studies
• Related to prospective studies or profession
• Something to awaken your personal curiosity
• Something tied to your hobbies
•         Manageable
• Not too broad, not too narrow
• Not overly exploited
• Availability of resource material
• Within your competence

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STEP 2 Read an article on the subject (general
books, encyclopaedias, internet)

• See which aspects of the subject could be
  investigated further
• Narrow down the general subject to a specific
  topic (the newest, or the least obvious, or the
  least explored).
• Find an instructor interested in your subject
  and discuss possibilities and approaches

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STEP 3 Decide on an approach

• o      Working with primary sources
• o      Working with secondary sources
• o      Textual analysis
• o      Study of a typology
• o      Thematic studies
• o      Psychoanalytic, feminist, postcolonial
  approach
• o      Cultural studies approach
• o      Study of images
• o      Biography
• o      Study of influences
• o      Reception studies
• o      Comparison
• o      Translation, editing

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STEP 4 Formulate a temporary thesis and a
temporary outline

•         Choose a facet of your topic you want to
  clarify or substantiate
•         Crystallize it into a sentence stating
  the opinion you have formed so far and want to
  demonstrate
•         Find a temporary title
• Check with your instructor

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STEP 5 Read a guide on how to write a research
paper

• Umberto Eco
• James D. Lester Writing Research Papers A
  Complete Guide (ask D. Badin)
• or consult your instructor)

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STEP 6 Prepare a preliminary bibliography

• o       See the bibliography of an authoritative
  book or two on the subject
• o       Search library catalogue
• o       Search MLA bibliography on computers in
  Library
• o       Consult Journals in Periodical Reading
  Room
• o       Search bibliographies of other libraries
• o       Order necessary books
• o       Seek the help of your librarian
• o       Search Internet and download what could
  be useful.
• BEWARE! Many of the articles on Internet are by
  students such as yourself. Check authorship of
  articles you want to use and make sure they are
  by reliable and authoritative scholars
• When you take a book or download information make
  a full entry of the bibliographical data.

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STEP 7 Take notes from relevant sources

•    Identify your source in your notes (Author
  and page)
•    Clearly set out any idea or words you take
  from a specific source.
•    Direct quotations within quotation marks.
  Copy exactly. Mark ellipses, changes
•    Paraphrase (re-write in your own words)
  points-of-view, ideas, information, still making
  a note of the source.

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STEP 8 Write the first draft of the paper or
section of the paper

• o Revise your thesis and outline. Do they still
  make sense after your readings?
• o Write the body of your paper first, weaving in
  quotations and paraphrases, identifying them
  within the text or in footnote, as per
  instructions.
• o Use academically agreed conventions to indicate
  sources.
• o Translate parts that need translating
• o Number the pages
• o Revise and proof-read carefully before you show
  your draft to the instructor.

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STEP 9 Make sure you have avoided plagiarism.

• Everything (words or concepts) you have borrowed
  from books or the Web must be acknowledged.

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STEP 10 Write final draft.

• Decide on a final title
• Add introduction and conclusion
• Check in-text references and add footnotes when
  necessary
• Add bibliography
• Add index in longer papers
• Revise and proof-read carefully
• Make title page

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CONGRATULATIONS