Writing a Research Paper

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Writing a Research Paper
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Purpose of Research Paper

• You will be taking a stand on an issue and
  providing support or evidence gained from your
  research to back up your position.
• Any type of writing where research and citations
  are required
• Essays, case studies, etc.

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Dont Get Overwhelmed!

• Break it down to step-by-step process

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Step 1 Clarify Assignment

• Is topic specified?
• Length of paper required?
• What citation format is required?
• MLA Modern Language Association
• Used in the Humanities
• APA - American Psychological Association
• Used in the Social Sciences, Education, and
  Behavioral Sciences
• Ask mentor any questions you may have at
  beginning of process!

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Step 2 Develop a Research Question

• Provides focus for research and paper
• OWN YOUR TOPIC!
• What interests you the most about the topic?
• Make a listing of questions you would like to
  have answered about the topic
• What would capture the interest of the reader?
• Pick issue that can be researched
• Make sure topic is not too broad or narrow in
  scope
• Resource
• www.esc.edu/writer - Go to the Research Room

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Step 3 Begin Doing Research

• ESC Online Library
• http//www.esc.edu/- Click on My ESC, then
  Library and Learning Resources go to Find Info
  Quick Start Tutorial
• Peer-reviewed articles vs. Google search
• Accuracy/Bias
• Authority
• Currency
• Avoid certain sources i.e., Wickipedia,
  unsubstantiated sources such as blogs, statements
  from non-experts.

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Academic Integrity
Stop

• Cite all of your sources
• Never represent the ideas or words of another as
  your own plagiarism can result in student
  dismissal!
• Use index cards when doing research
• Direct Quote put in quotation marks
• Summary condenses information and puts it in
  your own words
• Paraphrase roughly same length as original, but
  information is stated in your own words.
• All of the above need to be cited put citation
  information on back of card for future reference.

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Citation States Where you Got the Information

• Two styles used most often APA and MLA.
• Author, year of publication, title of work, page,
  name of journal, or publisher.
• APA and MLA style guidelines and much more in the
  Bedford Handbook or A Writers Reference by Diana
  Hacker.

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Example Quotation

• In most vital organizations, there is a common
  bond of interdependence, mutual interest,
  interlocking contributions, and simple joy. Part
  of the art of leadership is to see that this
  common bond is maintained and strengthened, a
  task certainly requiring good communication.
• The direct quotation comes from page 101 of a
  book entitled Leadership is an Art, by Max DePree.

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Proper Way to Cite

• APA Format
• In most vital organizations, there is a common
  bond of interdependence, mutual interest,
  interlocking contributions, and simple joy. Part
  of the art of leadership is to see that this
  common bond is maintained and strengthened, a
  task certainly requiring good communication
  (Depree, 1989, p. 101).
• MLA Format
• Paragraph as above followed by (Depree 101).

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Paraphrase

• Besides quoting directly, the following is also
  an acceptable way to use and acknowledge the
  DePree material
• As DePree (1989) noted, leadership requires good
  communication skills that maintain and strengthen
  the bonds of interdependence, mutual interest,
  joy, and interlocking contributions that exist in
  most vital organizations (p. 101). APA
• As DePree noted, in most vital organizations
  (101). MLA

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Unacceptable

• If there was no reference to the source, the
  following use of the DePree material would be
  unacceptable
• Most organizations have common bonds, and part
  of being a leader is to see that common bonds are
  maintained and strengthened. Good communication
  skills are required for this task. (Paraphrased
  but with no citation).

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Acceptable

• Most organizations have common bonds, and part of
  being a leader is to see that common bonds are
  maintained and strengthened. Good communication
  skills are required for this task (DePree, 1989,
  p. 101).
• Paraphrased with proper citation.

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Step 4 Develop a Thesis Statement

• Purpose focuses your ideas and information
  within the paper and provides guidance to the
  reader
• TOPIC YOUR POSITION ON THAT TOPIC THESIS
  STATEMENT
• Example
• Adult students returning to college make up a
  higher percentage of entering students than they
  did twenty years ago because of a number of
  statistical, economic, and social reasons.

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Step 5 Organize Your Ideas

• Use mapping, outlining, or arranging of your
  research index cards to place your ideas in a
  logical sequence.
• (Refer to handout for examples)
• Sequence of ideas is sometimes determined by
  thesis statement.

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Step 6 - Create a First Draft

• Three major parts to good research paper
• Introduction
• Opportunity to capture interest of reader
• Allows you to present thesis statement
• Body
• Paragraphs that provide evidence supporting your
  thesis statement
• Conclusion
• Allows you to provide summary of main points and
  should make reader think about implications of
  topic discussed.
• May conclude by making a prediction or offering
  specific advice.

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Step 7 Begin Revisions Proofreading

• Revision
• Have you said what you wanted to say in a clear
  and effective way?
• Have you provided enough evidence to support your
  thesis?
• Is information presented in most effective order?
• Does it flow?
• Do you leave any questions in the mind of the
  reader?

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• Proofreading
• Checking your paper for grammar and spelling
  errors
• Are you using consistent verb tense?
• Are you using variation in your use of words?
• Is there any way you can tighten your sentences?
• Did you use spell-check or a dictionary?
• Have you used proper punctuation?
• Resource
• www.esc.edu/writer - Research Room - Revising and
  Proofreading the Draft

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Step 8 Document Your Sources and Create Works
Cited Page

• Find a good handbook (such as the Bedford
  Handbook by Diane Hacker) or a website (such as
  www.esc.edu/citations or www.bedfordstmartin.com/o
  nline) that will demonstrate proper citation
  formats.
• Provide in-text citations for your research
  findings.

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References or Work Cited Page

• References (APA) or Works Cited page (MLA) should
  follow at end of paper
• Example of entry
• DePree, M. (1989) Leadership is an art. New York
  Doubleday. (APA format)
• DePree, M. Leadership is an Art. New York
  Doubleday, 1989. (MLA format)
• All entries listed in alphabetical order

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Step 9 Do Final Reading Make Last Minute
Revisions

• Always take time to do final reading
• Read paper slowly out-loud to listen for errors
• Ask someone else to read through paper to make
  sure you have expressed yourself clearly
• No corrections are trivial take the time to
  present yourself in best possible light.

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Step 10 Submit Paper!

• Make sure you have adhered to all of the
  formatting requirements of your mentor and submit
  your paper.
• Always keep a copy of your paper on file and in
  hard copy.

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Additional Tips

• Never Use Personal Pronouns in Research Papers.
  I think, You will agree, etc. If youre citing
  the works of a group of researchers, dont state
  they found. State instead, The group
  concluded, or It was determined. Remain
  totally objective - your credibility is at stake.
  
• If you cite research that supports your thesis,
  then you should also cite works that support the
  opposition.