THE RESEARCH PAPER

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THE RESEARCH PAPER
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What is a research paper?

• A research paper is a carefully planned essay
  that shares information or proves a point.

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Choosing a research topic

• Am I truly interested in the subject?
• Does it meet the requirements of the assignment?
• Do I have access to enough information?
• Is the subject limited enough?

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Getting Started

• Choose a topic based on requirements.
• Ask yourself questions
• What do I know about the topic?
• What would I like to learn?
• What will others learn from reading my paper?

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Formulate a Question

• Decide what question you want to answer with your
  research.
• Formulate a Question the answer to the question
  becomes your thesis question.
• For example
• How does exercise improve someones mental
  health?
• What are the effects of violent video games on
  elementary school children?
• What was the impact of Cubism on early twentieth
  century culture?
• Should elementary schools provide more
  programming in the arts?

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Starting Your Research

• Decide what kind of information that you need
  based on your research assignment.
• The information will be determined by your topic
  and assignment requirements
• Current or historical or both
• Biographical information
• Criticism and analysis
• Statistics
• And More

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Writing a thesis statement

• A specific subject
• a particular stand, feeling, or feature

an effective thesis statement
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Thesis Checklist

• Identifies a limited, specific subject

• Focuses on a particular feature or feeling
  about a subject

• Supported with convincing facts and details

• Stated in a clear, direct sentence (or sentences)

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Sample thesis

• Writing assignment Research paper about social
  issue
• Subject Homeless people
• Thesis question Who are the homeless
  (SUBJECT) and what are the reasons for their
  predicament?(FEATURE)
• Writing assignment Research paper about human
  growth and development
• Subject Personality traits
• Thesis statement Certain personality
  traits(SUBJECT) are shaped primarily by the
  persons peer group. (POSITION)

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Searching Tips

• Begin by writing some basic questions that you
  would like to answer in you report.
• Any time you find information that answers a
  question, take notes on it.

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Information PACKAGES

• Personal sources
• Books
• Reference works
• Periodicals
• Audiovisual
• E-mail
• Government or business publications

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EVALUATINGthe INFORMATION

• Is the information current?
• Is the information complete?
• Is the information accurate?
• Is the source an expert?
• Is your source biased?

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OUTLINES

• Outlines organize your research material.
  Without it you would not know what areas of your
  research are lacking or the order you need to go
  in when you write your drafts.

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Bibliography Cards

• Use to keep track of sources
• Organize by authors last name
• Number each entry in the upper right hand corner
  of the card

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Summary/Quote cards

• Note cards
• Record details, information, quotations
• Record page number where information can be found
• Use descriptive word or heading at top

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Writing the draft

• When you are writing nonfiction, theres no use
  getting into a writing schedule until youve done
  the research and you have the material.
• -Tom Wolfe

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Getting started...
Arrange your note cards into their most logical
order.
Construct an outline---a writing plan
Search for any additional information needed
to develop thesis
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1. Developing your research question and research
   content-

2. Writing the outline-
3. Writing the first draft -
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4. Revising-
5. Proofreading and Editing-
6. MLA Documentation-
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Giving proper credit

• MLA documentation theres a certain way to
  cite or give credit to your sources. MLA is
  one of many formats for citing information both
  parenthetically (in parentheses) and in your
  Works Cited

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AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
-the act of presenting someone elses ideas as
your own.
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Final copy requirements-

• Title page
• Outline
• Heading
• Page numbering
• Body
• Works Cited

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Example of a completed research paper
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