Basic Guide to Writing an Undergrad Research Paper

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Basic Guide to Writing an Undergrad Research Paper

• Based on Notes taken from material in Michael
  Harveys little black book
• The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing

Presentation by Connie Steel
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Why is my professor asking for a research paper?

• Your professor is trying to help you develop
• knowledge
• critical thinking skills
• research skills
• analytical skills and
• writing skills!

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What does my professor want?

• Your professor is looking for three key things
• Accuracythe quality of your research balanced
  sources appropriate references to your sources
  and analysis
• Economywriting clearly and concisely on the
  topic in an organized way
• Elegancethe style and voice of your writing

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How to allocate your time
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Steps One and Two with
time saving tips in italics
10Steps to Developing your Paper

• Formulate your research question and answer.
  This will become your thesis. Find out your
  length and format requirements!
• 2. Conduct a literature review to put your topic
  in context. Keep track of the sources you review
  on your computer using the same word processing
  program and format that you will use to write
  your paper. This is your working bibliography.
  It will save time later when you cut and paste it
  onto the end of your paper as your works cited
  list or bibliography.

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Steps Three and Four
10Steps to Developing your Paper

• Brainstorm counterarguments and viewpoints that
  could be used to attack your idea.
• Start your research. Type your thoughts and
  notes in a computer document. Organize your
  notes in a systematic way according to source and
  page number to save time when you are writing.
  Continue to add new sources to your reference
  list.

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Steps Five and Six
10Steps to Developing your Paper

• Adjust or refocus your thesis statement
  incorporating your new knowledge on the topic.
• Create an outline of the major points of the
  argument being sure to include the
  counter-viewpoints. Use your outline to estimate
  your pages of content. If you are a little short
  try to find another source or two with new
  information.

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Steps Seven and Eight
10Steps to Developing your Paper

• Cut and paste your notes into your outline making
  sure to bring your references and page numbers
  over as well.
• Make coffee. Write your first draft using your
  outline as a guide. Turn your notes and thoughts
  into complete sentences and paragraphs paying
  special attention to the beginning (for
  organization) and the ending (for analysis).

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Steps Nine and Ten
10Steps to Developing your Paper

• Check the accuracy of your draft. Re-write and
  deepen content where needed. Make sure to
  reference materials from your sources and paste
  your works cited onto the end! You can use this
  checklist to help you as you review.
• Print your draft and check for grammar, spelling
  and punctuation. Correct these items and then
  read the paper aloud for clarity and concision.
  Here are more tools to help you.

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Sourcesthe two main types

• Primary Sourcesthis category includes
  newspapers, studies, original statistics,
  original theory work, the classics and works of
  art and literature.
• Secondary Sourcesthese are works that interpret
  other works. For example a journal article that
  analyzes someone elses theory or a literature
  review.

See p.56 in Michael Harveys The Nuts and Bolts
of College Writing.
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10 tips on Finding and Evaluating Sources (from
Chapter 6)

• Critically examine internet resources. Sometimes
  the opinions you find are interesting but there
  are no quality control mechanisms. Use
  electronic journals and databases instead like
  the ones on the Drexel library website.
• Read the bibliographies of your text books and
  journal articles. These will lead you to more
  source material.

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Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.

• Ask an expert or scholar. Take advantage of your
  professors and research librarians.
• To find out more about the author of a source,
  you can google them. This will give you a
  sense as to their reputation and will help you
  discover any potential slant to their work.
• For classic works age doesnt matter. Platos
  Republic is still Platos Republic.

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Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.

• For works involving data, statistics or current
  events, use either the newest data or the data
  pertinent to the time period you are discussing.
• Peer-reviewed publications, journals and academic
  presses carry more weight, use them!
• Look at literature reviews in scholarly journals
  for more sources.

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Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.

• When possible, go to the original source of
  statistics that you find cited in a work. This
  way you can make sure that the use of the
  statistic stays in context when you quote it.
• Dont be afraid to use analysis tools and
  frameworks to make your interpretation of
  resources more focused and relevant.

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Using Paragraphs (Chapter 7)

• According to Harvey there are four main paragraph
  functions (74-75).

Example Description
Narration Definition
I would also add these three functions
Thesis Organization Analysis
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Paragraphs represent units of thought within an
argument (Harvey 74)

• Say Goodbye to the Five-paragraph essay.
• Although the idea of organizing your paper into
  functional sections still applies, your paper
  will need a more sophisticated paragraph
  structure to express your ideas.
• Start using sentence techniques to link your
  paragraphs together
• Use an opening sentence
• Link to the previous paragraph by repeating a
  choice word or phrase
• Use conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs as
  listed in Chapter 3, pages 31-33.

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Quotes, Footnotes and References

• Harvey does a wonderful job of explaining how to
  incorporate QFR into your writing on pages
  58-68.
• There is an appendix in the end of the book which
  gives the three major formats for 37 different
  types of sources.
• When in doubt, reference it!
• Duke and Colorado state have great on-line tools!
• http//library.duke.edu/research/citing/
• http//writing.colostate.edu/guides/sources/docume
  nt/index.cfm

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A Note on Honesty the Active Voice

• On page twenty, Harvey asserts that the passive
  voice is frequently used to disguise, distract or
  change the connotation of statements by
  redirecting emphasis from the agent (subject) to
  the acted upon (direct object). Avoid this
  problem by using active verbs in the active
  voice. See the rest of page twenty for more
  advice.
• Remember that you are writing a research paper
  for a professor and not a memo for Enron! Your
  job is to reveal what you have learned and not to
  conceal what you dont want others to know.

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Beginning your paper

• It can be hard to get started. Here are some
  things to do when beginning your paper
• State your thesis
• Explain the context to the reader
• Explain the relevance of the topic
• Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and how you will
  address them and
• Establish the organizational structure of you
  paper.

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Ending your paper

• If you are stumped on how to end your paper here
  are some things to think about
• Return to your thesis
• Summarize some major developments in the argument
  and relate them to the broader context
• You may wish to write about your own original
  ideas and thoughts on the topic
• Address any paradoxes you may have found while
  doing your research and
• Suggest future exploration ideas or research if
  appropriate.

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Resources and Links

• The Drexel Library http//www.library.drexel.edu/
• The Drexel Writing Center
• http//www.drexel.edu/academics/coas/writingcenter
  /
• Drexel Center for Learning and Academic
  Excellence (215.895.2523) Located in Main
  Building, Room 308, this federally funded program
  provides support services, tutoring and
  counseling to students who are low income, first
  generation, or disabled. Programs include
  Student Success Services, ACT 101, Vanguard
  Scholars, STAR, and the Alliance of Minority
  Participation as well as the Drexel Learning
  Center, pre-college and graduate school
  initiatives. www.drexel.edu/dclae
• Drexel Learning Center (215-895-2598) Located in
  the Creese Student Union Complex, Room 050, the
  main tutorial and learning assistance center at
  Drexel University. The Drexel Learning Center
  provides individual tutoring for all Drexel
  undergraduate students in all areas with the
  exception of English writing.
• It also coordinates a Supplemental
  Instruction program for freshmen and sophomore
  TDEC courses, as well as, courses in Math,
  Business Statistics and Science. Students can
  make appointments with a tutor online at
  www.drexel.edu/dlc

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Work Cited

• Michael Harvey, The Nuts and Bolts of College
  Writing. Hackett Publishing Company, 2003.