Research Paper

1
Research Paper

• Dr. Alan Haffa

2
What is the Research Paper?

• Rechercher to investigate hence, research
  requires exploration of the resources of a
  library
• Conventional Format MLA (Modern Language
  Association) or APA (American Philological
  Association), or other placement of title,
  margins, punctuation, and listing of references.

3
MLA Parenthetical Documentation

• Citation to a quoted work is given in parenthesis
  in the text, rather than in a footnote or
  endnote.
• The advantage simpler and a source only needs to
  be cited once, rather than twice.

4
Library Resources

• Databases Information stored in thematically
  organized electronic files that are accessed by
  computer.
• May be stored in a CD-Rom, DVD, or in an online
  source.

5
Online Databases

• Check out the MPC Library http//www.mpc.edu/libr
  ary/Pages/default.aspx
• CQ Researcher Issues oriented monthly themes
• Current Issues up to date articles on current
  events and issues
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Newspaper EbscoHost 25 National and 200 regional
  newspapers.
• Newbank New York Times and Monterey Herald
• Health Related Databases if working on Health
  Care issues

6
Internet

• Use this as a last resort
• Databases are collected by librarians and
  researchers and are held to some standards of
  quality
• Any fool, madman, or genius may post information
  on the internet
• If you use the internet, the better hosts are EDU
  and in some cases ORG. Make sure it isnt a
  student page. Consider possible slanting if it
  is an ORG.
• Specialist Organizations May be good but keep
  in mind their own slant.
• Government Agencies Department of Immigration
  and Naturalization Taxes Congressional Budget
  Office

7
Other Means of Evaluation

• Check the writers tone is it calm and
  reasonable? Does it acknowledge differences of
  viewpoint? Is it full of insulting language?
• Check the opinions of the writer you can search
  the writers name to see what else they have
  written.
• Writers credentials

8
Examples of Specialist Organizations

• Health, American Medical Association web site
• Education, National Education Association PTA
  NEA
• International Affairs United Nations
• Social Security and Medicare American
  Association of Retired People
• Racism and Affirmative Action NAACP LULAC
• Civil Liberties ACLU

9
Governmental Agencies (gov)

• Health and Human Resources
• Congressional Budget Office
• Immigration and Naturalization
• State of California
• County
• City
• School District

10
Search Engines

• Use a variety and if you dont find what you
  want, rephrase your search or try a different
  search engine
• Use quotation marks to search a specific phrase
  and and to find two or more phrases or words
• www.google.com
• www.yahoo.com
• www.altavista.com
• www.infoseek.com
• www.lycos.com
• www.askjeeves.com searches other engines too
• www.metacrawler.com also searches others
• www.achoo.com for medical topics only

11
Magazines

• Newsweek
• Time http//www.time.com/time/
• USA TODAY http//www.usatoday.com/
• World News Sources http//www.world-newspapers.co
  m/europe.html
• http//www.aljazeera.com/fn689.asp
• http//www.bbc.co.uk/
• http//mondediplo.com/
• http//www.plenglish.com/

12
Other Useful Internet Sources

• My Virtual Reference Desk www.refdesk.com
• www.encyclopedia.com
• Online Dictionaries www.onelook.com
• Internet Public Library www.ipl.org
• Research Paper Writing www.researchpaper.com
  web hot spots and writers corner

13
Traditional Sources

• Books look at chapter headings or check index
  for specific page numbers
• Reference Books Encyclopedias and Almanacs for
  specific facts

14
Note Cards

• As you research, have 4 by 6 inch note cards
  ready at hand.
• In top right corner put the topic of the note.
• In top left corner, the bibliographical reference
• If a quote, be sure to put in quotation marks

15
More Note Card Suggestions

• One card per idea
• In copying or paraphrasing from more than one
  page in an original source, indicate all relevant
  pages.
• Write notes legibly

16
Quote versus paraphrase versus summary

• Quote if the sentence is to well put that you
  could never put it better or apply it better to
  your topic or, you wan authoritative support for
  a statement of your own. Always follow up an
  extended quote with a short paraphrase to put it
  into your own words and to clarify its meaning in
  the context of your paper.
• Paraphrase means to restate an original source in
  your own words using nearly the same amount of
  space. (check examples on pages 538-9)
• Summary if the relevant quote is very long.

17
Evaluate the Evidence

• Check one opinion against another
• Notice the publication date of the source
• Bear in mind the credentials of the writers
• Beware of statistics they can be out of date,
  inaccurate, or misapplied
• Check to see who published the source (Library
  Market Place or Book Review Digest)

18
Avoid String of Pearls Effect

• Dont string together one quote after another
  without clarifying comments and without applying
  to your paragraph or essay thesis.
• You must assimilate the quoted or paraphrased
  material. It doesnt speak for you.

19
Avoid Plagiarism

• It is not enough to give the citation
• It is not enough to change a few, incidental
  words
• You must change the principal words and
  organization of the original to make it your own.

20
Documentation

• Use the handouts for the MLA style provided by
  the library.
• Include a works cited page and use parenthetical
  notation.

21
Documentation Requirements

• Variety of sources and source types
• At least 7 Sources cited in Works Cited
• At least 10 parenthetical citations in text.
• Makes sure that you do NOT consult ALL liberal or
  ALL conservative sources.
• Your sources should come from a variety of media

22
Timeline

• Outline due Wednesday, April 23
• Rough Draft Due Friday, April 28
• Final Paper, Outline, and Rough Draft due on Wed.
  May 5

23
Topic

• Education
• No Child Left Behind
• Charter Schools
• Vouchers and Private Schools
• Teaching Evolution or Intelligent Design
• High School Exit Exams
• School Funding
• Bi-Lingual or Dual Language Programs or English
  Only
• Importance of Music and Art Programs
• Honors Education GATE
• Special Education