SERIES 1:

OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

PROCESS

SJCC READING & WRITING CENTER

RESEARCH WORKSHOP

Exploring

Organizing and Analyzing Information

Ready to Outline and Write the Paper

Review of the Research Paper Process: What stage are you at?

Understand Your Assignment

Due dateLength of the paperTopic guidelinesStyleSources requiredAudiencePurposeOther guidelines or

requirements

What a Research Paper Can Look Like

A closer look at the Works Cited page . . .

TOPIC SELECTION

CHOOSE TOPICS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN! (If you are not interested in the topic, it will be harder to write an essay about it.)

If you have an open topic:Consider issues or concerns you

have in your daily life Hobbies Interests Favorite books/magazines/blogs/TV

showsObserve current trends that you

would like to research more (e.g. Social Networking, iPhone vs. Droid, Green Business, etc.).

EXPLORE YOUR TOPIC

Use prewriting strategies such as brainstorming, free writing, and diagramming/clustering.

Read about your topic in an encyclopedia, other reference guides.

Create a list of important issues, concepts, definitions, or facts to get to know your topic.

Make a list of words that commonly appear in your topic to use later as search terms.

Once you have a direction . . .

The next step is to find any valid sources that have been written or produced on your topic.

Explore ASAP because you want to make sure your topic is not a dead end. For example, you can’t find enough valid sources about elephants that paint.

Common Sources for Research Papers

Articles from the library database Scholarly vs. Popular Newspaper articles Trade or organization

publicationsBooks

Preview chapters and index if applicable

Do not read an entire book if you do not have to.

Websites The Wikipedia Talk .gov/.edu/.org/.com

Reference WorksQuick answers to factual questions and basic research tools, such as almanacs, dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Found in the reference section of the library.

Good place to start your search to gather more information and possible keywords to use in a database search.

Field Research Interviews Contacting Organizations

POPULAR MAGAZINES SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

TRADE JOURNALSNEWSPAPERS

Consider Your Purpose, cont.

Early on, narrow your topic to a controlling idea, purpose, or tentative thesis.

Topic + Your Claim = Working Thesis

From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic

Use words to show relationships or action to give your topic a direction: Childhood obesity in the

United States compared to other developing nations.

Acupuncture's effectiveness in treating depression in adults.

More words: develop, contribute, cause, influence, etc.

From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic

• Topic: I am studying_______________

•Question: because I want to find out what/why/how_____________________

•Significance: in order to help my reader understand________________________ Source: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, et al.(2008).

From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic

• Topic: I am studying cell phones in prison

•Question: because I want to find out what/why/how is the government reacting to the situation.

•Significance: in order to help my reader understand how effective is the government at policing its own prison systems.

Source: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, et al.(2008).

Consider Your Purpose

Compare/Contrast Cause and Effect Explanatory (informing

readers about a topic) Argumentative (argue a

claim about a topic) Persuasive (convince others

of your point of view) Analysis (identifying and

explaining the parts of a thing or idea and how it works)

Or, any combination of the above examples best suited to express your purpose.

Series 1 Review

Remember . . .

Know your assignment requirements.

Choose a topic that interests you.

Visit the library in person or online to find valid sources.

Narrow your topic to a manageable size.

Ask for help at the Reading & Writing Center (L103) if you have any questions.