A Successful Research Paper


1
A Successful Research Paper
in 12 Easy Steps
2
The Research Paper

• Is a project
• Is a complex project
• Will be worked through step-by-step in our class
• Will involve your own hard work teacher
  feedback and peer editing
• Will be submitted in a pocket folder (you
  provide!) along with evidence of all steps

3
The Steps

• Choose a subject
• Narrow the subject into a manageable topic
• Research your material
• Make source cards
• Make note cards
• Form an expanded thesis

• Make an outline
• Add the references to your paper
• Write the first draft
• Compile the Works Cited page
• Revise your paper
• Write the final copy

4
Samples for Your Viewing Pleasure

• Papers
• http//telecollege.dcccd.edu/library/Module5/Sampl
  e.htm
• http//www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-Daly-MLA.pd
  f
• Online Resources
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01
  /
• Book Resource
• Mcgraw-Hill. Successful Research Papers in 12
  Easy Steps. Columbus OH Glencoe/Mcgraw-Hill
  2000.

5
Choosing a Subject

• Brainstorming
• Asking questions
• Clustering
• Free writing/looping
• Outlining
• Scanning

6
A. Brainstorming

• Brainstorm
• On your own
• With friends/peers
• Think of subjects that interest you.
• Write them down if you wish

7
B. Asking Questions

• Ask other people what they find unusual or
  interesting
• Post questions to a blog or chat board

8
C. Clustering

• Helps you associate new ideas that might work
  with ideas that by themselves totally dont
  work
• Connect ideas that fit together

9
Sample Cluster
Racial discrimination in the work place
Fatdiscriminationin careers
Racial discriminationin Ireland
Racial discrimination
Tolstoi(my cat)
Black
Pit bulls
Animal prejudices
White boxers
10
D. Free writing /or Looping

• FREEWRITING Writing freely about a subject in
  order to figure out if you have anything to say
  about it
• Try this technique for multiple subjects
• LOOPING Free writing with one addition add a
  summary sentence after each free write
• Grammar spelling NOT concerns

11
E. Outlining

• Brief summary of main points of a topic
• As a subject-selection technique enables you to
  see logical progression of ideas that need to be
  researched further

12
F. Scanning

• Consult listsindices tables of content
• Encyclopedia index
• Nonfiction text (on dogs a video game manual
  etc.) index
• Table of contents
• Yellow Pages listings
• Consult items
• Movies in a movie store (titles might spark an
  idea!)
• Video games
• Computer games

13
Step 1 Assignment

• Pick any one of the previous strategies or
  another of your own
• Find up to three strong topics that
• Interest you
• Seem researchable
• Seem write-about-able
• Be prepared to discuss these in class with a
  partner
• Be prepared to submit these to me on paper with
  your final research paper

14
Narrowing Your Subject into a Topic

• Easiest method use the 5 Ws H
• What
• Who
• Where
• When
• Why
• How
• Best to start with too many questions then
  cross some out if you cant find corresponding
  information

15
Poem by Rudyard Kiplingfollowing the story
Elephants Child in Just So Stories

• I keep six honest serving-men(They taught me
  all I knew)Their names are What and Why and
  WhenAnd How and Where and Who.I send them
  over land and seaI send them east and
  westBut after they have worked for meI give
  them all a rest.

16
AIDS

• What is AIDSWhat does it involveWhat research
  has been done about AIDSWhat treatments exist
  for AIDSWhat is the life expectancy for someone
  with AIDS
• Who usually has AIDS
• Where do many AIDS victims liveWhere in the
  body does AIDS strike
• When do symptoms start
• Why is knowing about AIDS importantWhy hasnt a
  cure been found
• How is AIDs diagnosed
• How do family members of AIDs victims cope

17
Other Considerations

• Audience classmates children teacher
• Purpose to inform to persuade
• Style Tone formal informal
• The research paper is an academic paper
  reflecting much time and effort therefore it
  should be more formal than a normal essay
  (Meriwether 18).

18
Step 2 Assignment Part A

• From the subject that you have tentatively chosen
  for your paper make a diagram or list of ideas
  that you immediately associate with the subject
• From the diagram choose one subject with which
  you think you might be able to work
• Develop a 5 Ws H list now for that subject

19
Step 2 Assignment Part B

• Purpose
• Write a tentative purpose for your paper
• Define whether your paper will be persuasive or
  informative
• Style Tone
• Define the style and tone you think most
  appropriate
• Share your findings from Step 2 Assignment Parts
  A B with a partnerhelp each other to decide if
  all parts seem reasonable

20
Research Your Material

• Plan your time (see Timetable)
• Identify potential information sources
• Determine whether a source is CARS

21
Our Tentative Timetable
22
Information Sources

• To be explained in the library.

23
What is CARS

• The source
• seems Credible
• seems Accurate
• seems Reasonable
• provides Support

24
Credible

• Is there evidence of the Authors Credentials
• Look for biographical information that shows
  education training or experience
• Contact information (i.e. email address phone
  and/or fax number)
• Job title or position with company/organization
• GOOGLE the author to find out who he/she
  really is!
• You will use the authors credentials in your
  signal phrase later!
• Indicators of Lack of Credibility
• Anonymity
• Bad grammar or spelling

25
Accurate

• Is the information
• Factual
• Exact
• Detailed
• Up-to-date
• Comprehensive

FEDUC
26
Indicators of a Lack of Accuracy

• No date on the documentor old date on
  information known to change rapidly
• Vague or sweeping generalizations
• Very one sided view that does not acknowledge
  opposing views or respond to them

27
Reasonable

• Is the information
• Fair
• Consider tone calmness
• Objective
• Who gains if you believe
• Moderate
• Realistic or ridiculous
• Demand evidence!
• Consistent
• Does not contradict self

28
Indicators of Lack of Reasonableness

• Wild tone or language
• stupid jerks
• shrill cries of my extremist opponents)
• Over-claims
• Thousands of children are murdered every day in
  the United States.
• Sweeping statements
• This is the most important idea ever
  conceived!)
• Conflict of Interest
• Welcome to the Old Stogie Tobacco Company Home
  Page. To read our report Cigarettes Make You
  Live Longer click here.

29
Support

• Are sources documented
• Can you verify any of the sources
• Are the sources reasonable
• K.K.K. example

30
Annotated Source Cards

• Annotation
• (1) evaluate for CARS on back of card
• (2) include brief summary of sourceWhat is it
  What is it about
• Source cards contain all of the info. on your
  Works Cited page
• Info. from each source basically the same
• Write down all info. as you do your research
• Document EVERY source just in case X out the
  whole card later if its definitely not used

31
Citation Generators

• We WILL use citation generators
• You MUST know what information to PUT INTO the
  citation generator or it wont work

32
A Note on Citation Machines

• Very basic generatorgreat for cell Internet use
• http//www.palomar.edu/dsps/actc/mla/
• More complexdoes APA MLA and Turabian/Chicago
• http//citationcenter.net/ctool.php5
• http//www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php
  
• My favorite
• http//www.bibme.org/
• http//www.easybib.com

33
Info. Needed

• Name of the author editor compiler or
  translator of the source
• Reversed for alphabetization Lee Jamie M.
• If no author is given begin with the title
• Title A or B only
• (in Quotation Marks) of poem short story
  article or essay within scholarly project
  database or periodical
• (underlined) of book scholarly project or
  database

34
Info. Needed (Cont.)

• Name of the editor compiler or translator of
  the text
• (if relevant and different from person(s) cited
  in item 1)
• Ed. for editor Trans. for translator Comp. for
  compiler
• Publication info. for a print source
• Publishing company
• City of publication plus state if city is
  obscure

35
Info. Needed (Cont.)

• Title of the scholarly project database
  periodical or professional or personal site
  (underlined)
• Name of the editor of the scholarly project or
  database (if available)
• Version of the source including vol. issue
  etc. (especially for periodical)
• Date of electronic publication OR of latest
  update

36
Info. Needed (Cont.)

• For a work from a subscription service the name
  of the service (i.e. GaleGroup or EBSCOHost) and
  the name city of the library from which it was
  accessed
• Name of institution or organization who sponsors
  or is associated with the website
• Date when you accessed the source
• Website
• Be sure to use the persistent link if you
  accessed it via a library database!!!

37
Quick Tip

• For a book source copy the ISBN number exactly
• Many citation generators fill in ALL relevant
  information for you so you dont have to look it
  up!

38
Sample Source Card

• Source 2 Website
• Facts on Tourettes Syndrome. 30 Nov. 1996.
  NAMI (Nations Voice on Mental Illness). 13
  July 1999
• tourette.html.

39
Make Note Cards

• Two Types
• Paraphrase putting the meaning of a passage in
  your own words
• Quotation direct words
• BOTH give credit to the original source

40
Sample Paraphrase Card

• Note Card 3 Source 2 (Website)
• Children with Tourette Syndrome are often teased.
  It is important that these children are assured
  that when bullies tease them it is the bullies
  fault and not because the TS child is flawed
  (194).

41
Sample Quotation Card

• Note Card 4 Source 2 (Website)
• Teachers and principals must explain to other
  children that TS symptoms are not under your
  childs control and that teasing will not be
  tolerated in school (194).

42
Step 5 Assignment

• Select one of the childrens books from the
  basket in the front of the room
• Work by yourself to create 2 separate cards a
  quotation card and a paraphrase card
• Share them and check them with a partner
• Partners should then pair up with another set to
  explain findings
• Each group will have the chance to recreate their
  cards on the board

43
Forming an Expanded Thesis

• THESIS A statement of your main belief
• Focus of your entire research paper
• EXPANDED THESIS Contains your plan of
  development
• Both the thesis and plan of development are
  NECESSARY so you MUST have an EXPANDED THESIS in
  your research paper

44
Thesis vs. Expanded Thesis

• Thesis The boxer is a phenomenal breed of dog
  and makes a great addition to any family.
• Expanded Thesis Due to its protective nature
  easy care and grooming and famous intelligence
  the boxer is a phenomenal breed of dog and makes
  a great addition to any family.

1
2
3
45
Steps to Form an Expanded Thesis

• Brainstorm record any ideas that you can think
  about your topic
• Look back at your 5 Ws H questions that you
  used to help you narrow your topic. Create more
  questions now if need be.
• Be as specific as you can.
• Create an antithesis (counter thesis) to prove
  that your statement is purposeful/takes a stance.
• Make sure you can find research to support each
  item in your plan of development.
• Accept that your thesis may change as you work
  through the research process.

46
Step 6 Activity

• Review the former.
• Create a potential expanded thesis statement now.
• Share your statement with a partner. Check each
  others statement according to these
  requirements Does the thesis
• Have one major point to defend
• Seem like it will have enough research available
• Reflect a position statement even if the paper
  is informative (Test this by verbally creating
  an antithesis together.)

47
Outline Creation

• Organization structure for yourself
• Includes
• Introduction paragraph
• Con/antithesis paragraph (optional)
• Body paragraphs
• Conclusion paragraph
• Helps to keep your essay focusedif its not in
  your outline it probably doesnt need to be in
  your paper

48
How to Create an Outline

• Label each note card with a title
• Death Statistics for Measles Before Vaccine
• Other Health Statistics for Measles Before
  Vaccine
• Measles Statistics Since Vaccine
• Vaccine Cost
• Vaccine Recommended Use

49
2 Types of Outlines

• Topic Outlineheadings only
• Sentence Outlinesingle sentence to describe each
  topic

50
Step 7 Activity Part A

• By now you have done some research and created
  note cards.
• Physically organize your cards on your desk in a
  way that matches your plan of development.

51
Step 7 Activity B

• Create a written outline by copying the topic
  titles on the note cards you arranged.
• Remember to start the written outline with your
  tentative title and expanded thesis statement.

52
Documenting Sources IN Your Paper (In-text
Citations)

• Direct Quotation
• Signal statement
• Quotation marks
• Parenthetical citation
• Paraphrasing
• Signal statement
• Parenthetical citation
• Extras
• Quoting someone who is quoting someone else
• Adding something
• Taking something out
• Citing a mistake
• Adding an extended quotation

53
What is an in-text citation

• Brief note to let the reader know that you
  borrowed information
• Lets the reader know where to find full
  information in your Works Cited (bibliography)

54
What Goes Into a Citation

• SIGNAL STATEMENT Provide info. about the author
  source (book website etc.) or more
• According to Jane Smith Supervisor of Medicine
  at Deer Park Hospital
• Al Pacino starring in Scarface screamed
• PARENTHETICAL CITATION Then in (parentheses) at
  the end of your quotation or paraphrased
  material
• Add the page
• Add n.p.
• Or add the par.

55
Signal Statement

• Statement or phrase that signals to the reader
  that you are about to share borrowed information
• Complete signal
• Includes authors/organizations credentials
• First time in paper
• Brief signal
• Includes authors/organizations name
• Used after the first time a source has been
  introduced

56
The Parenthetical Citation

• In (parenthesis)
• Direct Quote period goes AFTER
• Paraphrase period goes AFTER
• Extended/block Quotation period goes BEFORE

57
Sample In-Text Citation(Direct Quotation)
Raymond Hedin author of The American Slave
Narrative The Justification of the Picaro
proclaims that Both the necessity of accepting
limits and the ability to transcend them were
. legacies of the slave narrative to the
post-emancipation black writer (645).
PAGE CITATION
58
Example Dr. Seuss (One-page Citation)Direct
Quotation
In The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss the narrator
complains The sun did not shine. It was too
wet to play. So we sat in the house all that
cold cold wet day (1).
59
Example Dr. Seuss Multi-Page CitationDirect
Quotation
Sally and I exclaimed We saw ALL the things
fall! And our fish came down too. He fell into
a pot! (21-22).
60
Example WITHOUT a Page NumberParaphrase
In Poohs Touch and Feel Visit authors A.A.
Milne and Ernest H. Shepard report that Poohs
honey is sticky (n.p.).
THE FACT THAT THE SOURCE DID NOT HAVE A PAGE
NUMBER IS NOTED FOR THE READER
61
Citing Paragraph Numbers

• Sometimes articles websites or other sources
  have paragraphs but no page numbers
• When this happens try to cite the paragraph
  number

62
Example Citing a Paragraph Number--Paraphrase
In the online newspaper Midstate Living
Assistant Principal Brian Smith explains that
Caesar Rodney High School knows the feeling of
being overshadowed (par. 3).
63
Full Parenthetical Citation

• After youve already introduced a source you can
  just place the authors information within the
  parenthetical citation.
• (Johnson et. al. 357-58)
• (Smith par. 4)
• (Pacino n.p.)

64
Quoting Someone Who is Quoting Someone Else

• In your parenthetical citation add (qtd. in)
• David Hemenway director of the Harvard School
  of Public Health believes that keeping a gun
  loaded and unlocked at home is a potentially
  dangerous practice (qtd. in Jacobs 105).
• Only cite YOUR source in your bibliographyi.e.
  Hemenway NOT Jacobs

65
Using the Title Instead

• If your source has no author(s) or
  organization(s) use the title
• If the title is too long use a shortened version
• Most Martians dislike purple water (Martian
  Report 33).

66
Adding Something

• If you feel you MUST clarify add a word or
  phrase in brackets
• Do this when
• There is no easy way to use a signal phrase
• You feel a term must be clarified
• The teens were treated with Effexor an
  antidepressant for three months in the trial
  study (Steuben et. al. 37).

67
Omitting Something

• You may want to combine information from multiple
  sections
• As long as these sections are from the same
  source thats fine
• Use brackets with periods inside to show that you
  omitted information
• 3 periods means you omitted a word or phrase
• 4 periods means you omitted at least a sentence
  or more
• Most children need more sleep than adults
  and should have approximately 8.5 hours per
  night (MayoClinic n.p.).

68
What if the author made a mistake

• Use the abbreviation sic in brackets to
  indicate that the mistake in your quotation is
  not YOUR mis-typing
• In the dessert sic a camel can live for eight
  days without water (Caravan of Light par. 4).

69
Extended Quotations

• If your quotation is equal to or more than
• 4 lines typed
• 3 lines handwritten
• Use Extended Quotation Formatbest known as
  Block Quotation
• You MUST use a signal phrase
• End it with a colon
• Indent the ENTIRE quotation
• DO NOT USE quotation marks
• Place the parenthetical citation AFTER the final
  period

70
Sample Block Quotation

• Nearly all large breeds make excellent family
  pets. John Shapark veterinarian claims that he
  knows this from first-hand experience

I have been a dog owner for 34 years and a
veterinarian for 18 years. I have owned small
dogs medium-sized breeds and large breeds.
There is no doubt in my mind that the larger the
dog the more likely it is to be a loyal loving
family pet. (222)
71
Step 8 Activity

• What is going on here
• Albert Krushke Pittsburgh D.A. states assault
  weapons are used in 54 of deadly assaults
  (374).
• Albert Krushke Pittsburgh D.A. explains that
  54 of deadly assaults involve weapons (374).
• According to Krushke an assault weapon can be
  defined as any weapon used in an assault on
  another individual (375).
• An assault weapon can be defined as any weapon
  used in an assault on another individual
  (Krushke 375).
• Krushke adds Ninety-four percent of the time
  the assault weapon was a a gun sic (376).

72
Write Your First Draft

• Typing makes it easier to edit
• If writing by hand DOUBLE SPACE so you can edit!
• Insert sources with FULL citations NOW
• Use full essay components
• Intro. w/ attention device background info. and
  extended thesis
• Organized body paragraphs with research and
  explanations
• Strong conclusion that summarizes and adds
  something new

73
The Introduction

• 4 Different Ways
• Funnel Approach
• Broadest to most specific
• Persuasive
• Short Anecdote Approach
• Snags attention
• Can stir readers emotions
• Persuasive or informative
• Quotation or Statistic Approach
• Snags attentionimpresses
• Best for powerful persuasion
• Comparison/Contrast Approach
• Persuasive

74
The Con Paragraph

• Optional but if used
• Immediately follows the introduction
• Antithesis paragraph
• Strongly suggesteddemonstrates your confidence

75
Body Paragraph Organization

• Chronological order
• Spatial order
• Cause effect order
• General to particular order
• Particular to general order
• Comparison/contrast or comparison

76
Chronological Order

• By time
• Past to present or present to past
• Past to present stronger
• Best in informative papers about some form of
  history

77
Spatial Order

• Literally refers to the physical spaces discussed
  in the paper
• Judaism around the world (maybe continent by
  continent in general physical order)
• AIDS in DENew Castle Kent Sussex or Sussex
  Kent New Castle
• Crabbing on the East Coaststate by state N to S
  or S to N

78
Cause Effect Order

• Recommended in research papers
• Starts with cause(s) then looks at effect(s)
  that came from the cause OR
• Starts with effect(s) and looks back to cause(s)
• 4 body paragraphs
• Global warming (effect) of __ __ and __
• Event __ event __ and event __ caused global
  warming

79
After the Introduction

• TRANSITIONS TRANSITIONS TRANSITIONS
• Between paragraphs
• First second third
• Moreover in addition furthermore in contrast
  similarly
• Within paragraphs
• For instance
• For example
• This is supported by ___ who claims
• In summary
• With that in mind

80
General/Particular

• General to Particular
• Broadest information to most detailed
• Drives point home at the end
• Particular to General
• Most detailed or strongest point to general
  support
• Great when you have an incredibly strong point to
  frontload the rest just confirms what youve
  just impressed

81
Comparison/Contrast

• Introduction
• Same A
• Same B
• Different A
• Different B
• Conclusion

• Introduction
• Same A
• Different A
• Same B
• Different B
• Conclusion

82
Writing Your Conclusion

• Finalizes what you just wrote
• About one paragraph long
• Refer back to the thesis to reaffirm your
  position
• Summarizes main points OR
• Emphasizes key words/phrases OR
• Adds a new powerful provocative quotation OR
• Add something new (goals call to action etc.)

83
Step 9 Activity

• Select an introduction method for your essay
• Funnel method
• Anecdote
• Quotation fact or statistic
• Comparison/contrast
• Reread your thesis.
• Select an organization method for your essay
• Chronological order
• Spatial order
• Cause effect order
• General to particular / particular to general
  order
• Comparison/contrast
• Make sure your plan of development matches your
  essays organizational method
• Begin to write your draft

84
Compile the Works Cited Page

• All entries at left-hand side
• Hanging indent on all lines of an entry except
  the first
• Alphabetical order
• Do NOT number your entries

85
Oddities to Works Cited Pages

• 2 Authors
• 3 Authors
• 4 or More Authors
• 2 or More Sources by the Same Author
• Use 3 hyphens followed by a period in lieu of the
  authors name after the first time.

86
Oddity Samples
2 Authors Wickersham John and Gerald
Verbrugghe. Greek Historical Documents The
Fourth Century B.C. Toronto Hakket 1973 3
Authors Aiken Michael Lewis A. Ferman and
Harold L. Sheppard. Economic Failure
Alienation and Extremism. Ann Arbor U of
Michigan P 1968. 4 or More Authors Bailyn
Bernard et al. The Great Republic History of
the American People. Lexington Heath 1977.
87
One More Oddity Sample
2 or More Sources by the Same Author Schroeder
Patricia R. The Feminist Possibilities of
Dramatic Realism. Madison Fairleigh Dickinson
UP 1996. ---. The Presence of the Past in
Modern American Drama. Madison Fairleigh
Dickinson UP 1989.
88
http//www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Levi-MLA.pd
f
89
Revising Your Paper 4 Steps

• Check for Content Organization Clarity and
  Referencing
• Check for Grammar and Style
• Check for Spelling Punctuation and
  Capitalization
• Physically make your changes
• Take the time
• Be proud of your final product and your hard
  work!

90
Step 1

• Content
• Did you discuss everything you meant to discuss
  (Try comparing it to your outline.)
• Add or delete as needed
• Clarity
• Are your main points as clear as you meant for
  them to be
• Would they be clear to an outsider
• Referencing
• Did you cite every single bit of information that
  you cited
• Are your citations (in-text and Works Cited)
  correct

91
Step 2

• Grammar (Change check options)
• Sentence fragments
• Run-on sentences
• Comma splices
• Pronoun usage
• Subject-verb agreement
• Wordiness
• Style (Change check options)
• Remove all first and second-person pronouns
• I me my mine we us our ours
• You your yours
• Remove contractions
• Dont arent werent cant wasnt
• Check paragraph length/coherence

92
Spelling Punctuation Capitalization

• One sentence at a time
• Keep a dictionary near you or multi-task to
  www.dictionary.com
• Check homonyms
• Use underlining/italicizing vs. quotation marks
  correctly
• Refer to a good punctuation checklist
• EMC textbook appendix
• Any punctuation manual
• Internet guides
• Me

93
Final Revisions

• Word process the changes that you have made

94
Step 11 Activity

• Get into a group of 3wait for time cues
• Rotate papers to the right
• Check the paper you receive for
• Content
• Clarity
• Referencing
• Rotate again check for
• Grammar
• Style
• Rotate again check for
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Capitalization

95
Prepare the Final Copy

• Physical paper requirements
• Essay formatting
• Works Cited formatting
• Page placement order

96
Physical Paper Requirements

• White paper(unlined)
• 8.5 x 11

97
Essay Formatting

• Double-space throughout
• No extra spacing
• 1 margins on all sides
• Justify essay left

NO EXTRA SPACING
98
More Essay Formatting

• No cover sheet
• Use correct heading
• Your name
• Teachers name
• ENG 9Pd. _
• Date (7 July 2008)

99
Still More Essay Formatting

• Header required Last name Pg.
• Lee 1
• Lee 2
• Lee 3
• Steps
• View Header/Footer
• Right align
• Type your last name
• Click on the Header/Footer pop-up menu

100
How to Edit Your Header
101
Essay Formatting

• Center Title
• DO NOT underline italicize or place it in
  quotation marks

102
Works Cited Formatting

• Continue 1 margins
• Center the words Works Cited at the top of the
  page
• Double-space all
• Do not number entries
• Split website entries only after a / slash / in
  URL
• Alphabetize entries
• Highlight all entries
• Apply hanging indentations

103
Formatting Your Hanging Indent
104
Formatting Your Hanging Indent Continued
105
Organizing Your Submission Portfolio

• Topic brainstorming evidence
• 5 Ws H list
• Purpose/style/tone summary
• Expanded thesis statement

• Outline
• Oldest draft
• Newest draft(s)
• Final essay w/ Works Cited page

BOTTOM
BOTTOM
TOP
TOP
Left
Right
106
Work Cited

• Mcgraw-Hill. Successful Research Papers in 12
  Easy Steps. Columbus OH Glencoe/Mcgraw-Hill
  2000.