Terms for Research Papers

1
Terms for Research Papers

• Using MLA Documentation
• Definitions taken in part from Simon Schusters
  Handbook for Writers, 1990.

2
Paraphrase

• A detailed restatement of someone elses
  statement expressed in your own words and your
  own sentence structure (Simon and Schuster 580).

3
Summary

• A condensed statement of the main points of
  someone elses passage expressed in your own
  words and sentence structure (Simon and Schuster
  580).

4
Quotation Marks

• These marks are placed around any text that you
  directly copy from a source.

5
Quotation

• Exact words of a source set off in quotation
  marks (Simon and Schuster 580).

6
Plagiarism

• To present another persons words or ideas as if
  they were your own (Simon and Schuster 581).

7
Common Knowledge

• Information that most educated people know
  (Simon and Schuster 581).

8
Your Own Thinking

• Examples Thesis Statement, organizing
  sentences, comments, transitional sentences,
  call to action paragraphs (Simon and Schuster
  582). These do not need to be documented.

9
Documentation

• Acknowledging your sources by giving full and
  accurate information about the author, title,
  date of publication and related facts (Simon and
  Schuster 583).

10
Works Cited

• Resource and publication information found at the
  end of a research paper.

11
Direct Quote

• Exact words of a source set off in quotation
  marks.

12
Thesis Statement

• A focused sentence. It contains the main point
  of your paper. It usually appears as the last
  sentence of your first paragraph. This sentence
  should be your own thinking.