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Research 101English 1301
Organizing Your Paper
Thesis StatementAfter you take your notes, you need to write a
thesis statement. Your thesis statement will be the last
sentence of your first paragraph.
How to write a thesis statement step 1What are the main points you researched?
List them.
Thesis Statement Step 2What did you discover about your three-four
main points as you researched? Write a statement about it. This will be your
thesis statement.
ExampleTopics studied:Social structureMarriageWorkEducation as they happened in the working
class
Thesis StatementThe social structure of the middle class in
Medieval England underwent many changes, especially in the areas of marriage, work, and education.
OutlineOutline your main points
Arrange NotecardsArrange your notecards in the order you will
write your paper.
Writing the PaperIntroductionWrite a couple of sentences to introduce the
topicYou could open up with an interesting
anecdoteGive a little background infoFinish the introductory paragraph with your
thesis statement.
Body ParagraphsWrite a topic sentence that introduces your
first main point.Then, start giving the information that you
have gathered directly from your notecards.Cite the source as soon as you enter the
information off your notecard.
How to Cite Info from your sourcesAlways use author’s last name and page number (if
using a book)Ex. The climber recalls problems he encountered when
attempting to climb Devil’s Thumb, including “a ribbon of frozen meltwater had ended three-hundred feet up and was followed by a crumbly armor of frost feathers” (Krakauer 143).
Anything you paraphrase must also be cited. If you are not sure if you need to cite it, then cite it.
You have to cite anytime you have a new topic or a different idea, even if it is by the same author. If this occurs, then just cite the page number, not the author’s name.
When citing from data bases or web sitesIf there are no page numbers, then just use
the author’s last name.(Krakauer)If there is no author, then use the first work
in the title.Ex: if your title is “Effects of Mercury in
Fish,” then you would use (“Effects”) as your citation
Block QuotesIf you have a direct quote in your paper that is
longer than 4 typed lines, you must block quote it.You hit enter to begin the quote on a brand new
line, and then you indent on that line 10 spaces. Hit the tab key two times to achieve this. Then you type to the end of the line, then hit tab two more times for each new line.
At the end of the quote you put a period, then you cite the author’s last name and page number in ( ) with no period at the end. Ex. “This is the end of my blocked quote by an amazing author.” (Krakauer 82)
Definition of ResearchAccording to MLA, anything that requires you to go “beyond your own personal knowledge” is defined as research.
Differences between personal and research papers
Personal ResearchPersonal essays that
present your thoughts, feelings, and opinions about experiences.
This can also define analytical essays about books or texts that you read and write about; even if you quote them, they are not research papers
Happens when we explore an idea, look at all elements of an issue, solve a problem, or make an argument
We need to read what experts have written about these things in order to form an educated opinion—this is research
Types of Research SourcesPrimary SecondaryHistorical documentsLiterary textsFilm or performance of a
playConducting a surveyLab experiment
Using what other researchers have already written about your subject
Literary criticismHistory booksMost academic papers
depend on secondary research
Goals of ResearchGoal # 1—Increase
your knowledge and understanding of a subject
Goal # 2—Continue learning and inquiring about your subject, hopefully after the paper is finished
Goal # 3—the synthesis of several different sources into a coherent, cohesive paper
Plagiarism
Definition of PlagiarismFrom the Latin word that means “kidnapper”“to commit literary theft”“to present as new and original an idea or
product that comes from an existing source”
Two Forms of PlagiarismType # 1 Type # 2
Using another person’s ideas, information, or expressions without acknowledging that person’s work is intellectual fraud
Passing off another person’s ideas, information, or expressions as your own for some type of gain is also considered fraud.
Plagiarism is usually a moral and ethical offense rather than a legal one.
Avoiding Plagiarism Make sure to cite direct quotes.You must also cite anything that you
paraphrase.If the idea belongs to the author, then you
must cite that as well.When in doubt, cite!
Common KnowledgeInformation and ideas that are widely
accepted as fact by scholars do not need to be cited. This includes
Basic biographical information of an authorDates of historical events
Steps for Effective Research
Step # 1--TopicYour topic should be in the form of a question
that you will answer through consulting research.
Step # 2—Find Sources1. Locate a source that you think may answer
part of your question.2. Use www.easybib.com to create a citation
for your source.
Step # 3—Take NotesRead your source and take notes.Paraphrase what you read. Use only very interesting direct quotes.Make sure you record page numbers.Do not copy and paste from a data base to a
note card. This increases your chances of committing unintentional plagiarism. It will also cause more work when you are actually writing your paper.