THE RESEARCH PAPER

THE RESEARCH PAPER

Let the journey begin…..

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PAPER?

A research paper is a carefully planned essay that shares information or proves a point.

Choose a topic What do you already know about that

topic? Create a Research Question DO THE RESEARCH Begin organizing your information Create an outline for your paper Write a first draft of your paper Revise and edit your draft Type final draft Create a Works Consulted and cover page Reflect on your research

CHOOSING THE TOPIC Hardest part…picking the topic

Pick three topics from the list provided and write them down

Take a few minutes and list everything you know about the topics

THE CHOSEN TOPIC

Ask yourself and write down:

Why am I interested in this topic? What will I want to learn from this

paper? Why am I choosing this topic? What will I learn from this topic?

CHOOSING AND NARROWING A TOPIC

General: Genocide Focus: Genocide in Somalia and the effects on

citizens in the country

General: American views on war Focus: Vietnam: before and after the conflict

THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF YOUR PAPER! YOU HAVE BEEN BRAINSTORMING AND ESSENTIALLY STARTED WRITING YOUR PAPER!

SEARCHING TIPS

Begin by writing some basic questions you would like to answer in you paper.

Any time you find information that answers a question, take notes on it.

TAKING NOTES

Direct quote- copies information verbatim

Paraphrase Summarize

PARAPHRASING A paraphrase is your “translation” of

the source text in YOUR OWN words. A paraphrase is about the same length as the source.

SUMMARIZING A summary condenses the ideas from

the source in a briefer version. It should be very short.

RULE You must document these in your

paper.

When in doubt, always make sure you document. Seriously.

Even if it is after every sentence…

EXAMPLE: Since 1969, when Tolkien sold the

rights to Houghton Mifflin, more than 100 million Tolkien books have been sold worldwide and merchandising was in its infancy (Zellar 23).

PRIMARY

Original sources:DiaryPersonEventSurveyEtc.

TYPES OF INFORMATION

SECONDARY

Not original sources:Magazine article

Web siteEncyclopedia,

journal, etc.Documentary

SOURCE CARD Source # ______Using your MLA Source Guide, write down the source’s important information in MLA format.

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NOTE CARD # _______ Source # ______Page number: ________



NOTE CARD Source # ______Using your MLA Source Guide, write down the source’s important information in MLA format.

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EVALUATING THE INFORMATION

Is the information current? Is the information complete? Is the information accurate? Is the source an expert? Is your source biased?

INFORMATION

GIVING PROPER CREDIT

MLA Documentation

- Source and note cards- Works consulted- Parenthetical documentation

TYPES OF SOURCES Peer-reviewed or scholarly sources by

professional experts in the field General Audience sources for non-

experts Cosmopolitan, Newsweek English Journal, Journal of American

Medical Association, Cell

SOURCE CARDS

5Olsen, Shawn M. Chocolate Lover’s Guide. Hayti: Charger Publishing, 1987.

Notice the periods after the author’s name, the title of the book, and the end of the source.

Year published

Author’s name Title of book

City published

Publishing company

2Heck, Alice M., Kosmo M. Haley, and James G. Winn. “Further Analysis of the Llama’s Sleeping patterns.” Zoo Psychology 6 (2007): 215-240.

Notice the periods after the author’s name, the title of the book, and the end of the source.

Volume, year, page numbers for the article

Names in ABC order

Underlined journal Quoted article name

7World History Fact Book 2004-2005. Dec. 2004. World University. 9 Aug. 2005 <http://factbook.worldu.edu/fbook04/emroll/fall.shtm l>.

Notice the website address is in brackets and NOT underlined or different color.

Period at end of website.

Name of Institution and/or author Publication date

Date accessed

NOTE CARDS

ON A NOTE CARD,

Record details, information, quotations

Record page number where information can be found

Use descriptive wording or headings at top

5Delicious ways to enjoy chocolate

-a handful of chocolate chips-chocolate ice cream with Hershey's syrup-“Chocolate/chocolate cake at Café is the BEST!”-Ghiradelli hot chocolate-homemade brownies

Take notes on the index card.

Remember, to keep the number from the source to keep everything in order.

ADDING DIRECT QUOTES TO NOTE CARDS

5 2

“The average American consumes approximately 11.7 pounds of chocolate each year” (26).

The “2” beside the “5” keeps the cards in order. You can have many cards for one source.

Make sure you write down page number

JOURNAL

Write everything you have learned over the past three days on your topic. I want HALF a page.

GETTING STARTED...

The Writing Process

MLA FORMAT FOR AN OUTLINE: The Roman Numerals (I, II, III) designate paragraphs and

main topics for paragraphs.

The capital letters (A, B, C) give information about the paragraph’s main topic.

The numbers (1, 2, 3) give specific details about the information.

You may have more than just an A and B main topic. Use as many letters as necessary to cover your information. Same rule goes for numbers. Use as many as you need.

Two-point rule: If you have an A, you must have a

B. If you have a 1, you must have a 2.

Outline example

WHERE DO I START? Gather all your research or notes on

the topic Review it all and decide what your

research/information is telling you about your topic.

Begin to select the information and in what order you want to present it.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH: TWO MAIN COMPONENTS

First: You must introduce your paper on a broad scale in the first few sentences. For example, you may use an anecdote (story) or an intriguing statistic to engage your reader.

Second: You must transition from your broad anecdote (story) or statistic to a more precise statement that provides a blueprint for your entire research paper— your paper’s working thesis statement!

YOUR INTRODUCTIONVisual Reference

Engage your reader here. Provide a brief anecdote or an interesting statistic from your research that will catch the reader’s attention.

Your thesis statement should be the last sentence or last two sentences of your introductory paragraph. This is the “blueprint” for your body paragraphs.

Smoothly transition between introductory anecdote and thesis statement.

SAMPLE OPENERS FOR ESSAY

Teenagers in many American cities have been involved in more gangs in the last five years than ever before. These gangs of teens have been committing a lot of violent crimes. The victims of these crimes are both gang members and people outside of gangs. Many people do not want to travel to areas in our cities because of the danger from this problem. For this terrible situation to stop, it is going to take a combined effort on the part of many people. Excellent, supervised after-school programs, more jobs available for teens, and healthy family relationships will go a long way towards ending this crisis in our society.

During the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East there was much armed conflict between Christians and Muslims. Christians called these conflicts the Crusades because they were fighting under the sign of the cross to save the holy lands of the Bible from being desecrated by non-Christians. However, the true reason for fighting for these lands was less than holy. It was mainly a desire for economic gain that prompted the Christian leaders to send soldiers to fight in the Holy Land.

It is amazing how many languages one hears while visiting a big city. Your hearing is not only overwhelmed by the constant surrounding noise, the strain to hear and understand when someone is giving you directions, but it also picks up the many different languages and dialects spoken around you. Language not only highlights and defines a geographic area but also the culture of that particular area. You are seeing so many new places, faces, and your hearing is in the same situation. You immerse yourself in the culture by eating the food, buying the traditional souvenirs, sightseeing and participating in local activities. You wish you understood the language and try to listen to the dialogue exchanged between the people who live there. For once English is not the dominant language. You are now considered the immigrant; what do you do?

Call It Sleep by Henry Roth is both a multilingual and multicultural novel about the son of an immigrant family. It is a multilingual novel through the narrative strategies Roth uses for the American reader who does not understand any language but English. Multilingualism is used throughout this novel to encompass communicative skills in more than one language, even if it is active or passive (McWhorter 36). John McWhorter states, “when two or more languages are rolled around in the same mouths, they merge. Linguists have found there is no such thing as languages coexisting without affecting one another” (36-37). Roth wrote Call It Sleep from the inside perspective of David Schearl’s psyche and his personal journey for a personal and cultural identity. The entire novel is written in third person but through David’s eyes; therefore, David does not reveal anything he is not comfortable revealing. Roth wrote the novel in an early twentieth-century inner-city. The inner-city, like the Lower East Side of New York City, became something to suppress immigrant’s roots and origins (Giles 11). David lives with his mother and father in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and later on New York’s East Side. David is the protagonist and speaks two languages throughout the multicultural and multilingual novel.

WHAT IS A THESIS? A thesis statement declares what you believe

and what you intend to prove. A good thesis statement makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts.

The thesis statement is typically located at the end of your opening paragraph.

Remember, your reader will be looking for your thesis. Make it clear, strong, and easy to find.

SIMPLE EQUATIONS FOR A THESIS

clearly identifies the subject of the paper;

makes an assertion about that subject, one that allows for a range of discussion;

predicts the logical order you will follow in your discussion.

Assertion: support, reason, examples

THESIS EXAMPLES Despite never playing sports, young John

Doe achieved unusual physical fitness on his Montana cattle ranch. Subject--John Doe and his physical fitnessAssertion--fitness was "unusual"Order--sports history of the time, your definition of "unusual" fitness, the way in which John Doe achieved fitness

ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD THESIS It should be contestable, proposing an arguable point with

which people could reasonably disagree. A strong thesis is provocative; it takes a stand and justifies the discussion you will present.

It is specific and focused. A strong thesis proves a point without discussing “everything about …” Instead of music, think "American jazz in the 1930s" and your argument about it.

It clearly asserts your own conclusion based on evidence. It is perfectly okay to change your thesis!

It provides the reader with a map to guide him/her through your work.

It avoids vague language (like "it seems"). It avoids the first person. ("I believe," "In my opinion")

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT…

A specific subject+

a particular stand, feeling, or feature

= an effective thesis statement

THESIS CHECKLIST

Meets the requirements of assignment

• Identifies a limited, specific subject

• Focuses on a particular feature or feeling about a subject

• Supported with convincing facts and details

• Stated in a clear, direct sentence

SAMPLE THESIS:

Writing assignment: Research paper about social issueSubject: Homeless peopleThesis statement: Who are the homeless (SUBJECT)

and what are the reasons for their predicament?(FEATURE)

Writing assignment: Research paper about human growth and development

Subject: Personality traitsThesis statement: Certain personality traits(SUBJECT)

are shaped primarily by the person’s peer group. (POSITION)

LOOKING AT YOUR RESEARCH… As you read look for: Interesting contrasts or comparisons or

patterns emerging in the information Is there something about the topic that

surprises you? Do you encounter ideas that make you wonder

why? Does something an "expert" says make you

respond, "no way! That can be right!" or "Yes, absolutely. I agree!"

EXAMPLE OF BRAINSTORMING A THESIS:

Select a topic: television violence and children Ask an interesting question: What are the

effects of television violence on children? Revise the question into a thesis: Violence on

television increases aggressive behavior in preschool children.

Remember this argument is your “preliminary” or “working” thesis. As you read you may discover evidence that may affect your stance. It is okay to revise your thesis!

THESIS EXAMPLES Topic: The History of Fencing and

Learning how to play Fencing history and learning how to play the

game go hand-in-hand Topic: lung Cancer- types, causes,

preventions, treatments, latest research/advancements Lung cancer, one of the deadliest forms of

cancer today, has many types, causes, methods of prevention, and treatments, which arise with each new day.

Grab your folder and write a complete sentence about your research paper

Then, get out another sheet of paper and write 1-4 and bonus on your sheet. POP QUIZ

POP QUIZ Why is there not “real” page

requirement for this research paper? What are we focusing on?

With what materials do you make an outline?

What is a thesis statement? Where does the thesis statement go in

your paper?Bonus 10 points: According the Ms.

LeCroy, an introduction should resemble what shape?

DECEMBER 8, 2010 Look at your outline and read over it.

Now, look at your thesis. Is you paper covering this sentence? Is this sentence the best or the most specific for your entire paper? If I graded you on your sentence alone, would it pass?

Take a minute or two and revise if needed.

TITLE You’re working so hard, so I’m giving you

the fun part. At the top of your outline and draft, write your title! Make it original and fun!

Choose an original title for your paper. Examples are from ProQuest: Art of Forgiveness Forgiveness: A Path to a Better You Tender and Tough: Praying for Enemies Forgiveness as a Human Strength

HERE’S MINE…Call It Sleep: David the Protagonist,

David the Jewish boy, David the American

BODY PARAGRAPHS: THREE MAIN COMPONENTS• First: You must support the thesis presented

in your introduction with research you gathered last week in the library.

• Second: You must have in each paragraph a topic sentence that proves your thesis statement. You must have at least 3 supporting sentences that proves your topic sentence for the specified paragraph for your paper. You must also have a summary sentence to wrap up everything in the paragraph before moving on to the next paragraph.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH Cape Cod is unique. A peninsula which stands

farther out to sea than any other portion of our Atlantic coast, it was created, geologists say, by mile-high glaciers which dropped deposits here in the last Ice Age—about 11,000 years ago. It was then molded for more than 100 centuries by winds, waves, tides and currents. You can see mile after mile of original glacial deposits sliced by the elements into clean-sloping cliffs. Layers, some as distinct as in a cake, show the advances and retreats of the ice. You can even pick up pebbles brought by glaciers from the Laurentian Mountains in Canada.

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH Transitional expressions emphasize the relationships between ideas, so they help readers follow your train of thought or see connections that they might otherwise miss or misunderstand. The following paragraph shows how chosen transitions lead the reader smoothly from the introduction to the conclusion of the paragraph.

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, except in two main situations, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas' instinct is to flee, not attack. But there are two situations in which a piranha bite is likely. The first is when a frightened piranha is lifted out of the water—for example, if it has been caught in a fishing net. The second is when the water level in pools where piranhas are living falls too low. A large number of fish may be trapped in a single pool, and if they are hungry, they may attack anything that enters the water.

COMPOSING THE BODY PARAGRAPHS - BASIC PARENTHETICAL CITATION

Two Ways to Quote a Source:1. Use author name in your sentence, put page number at

the end inside parentheses.Example: Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).

2. Put author name and page number at the end of the

sentence in parentheses.Example: Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).

EXAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH WITH PARENTHETICAL CITATION

It is apparent that word-play is an essential aspect to Much Ado About Nothing. William McCollom discusses the importance and the role of the witticisms and puns throughout the course of the play. McCollom states, “the wit of Shakespeare’s plays informs the words spoken by the characters, places the characters themselves as truly witty and intelligent, inappropriately facetious, or ingeniously witless, suggest the lines of action these characters will take” (68). Beatrice and Benedick are the two characters who are considered “witty.” McCollom says that their witty banter is a “merry war” (69). He also comments that the “wittier speakers will prefigure in language the wit or intelligence of their acts. Benedick and Beatrice are the shrewdest in speech and with the Friar are the first to reject the rejection of Hero” (71). McCollom implies that Beatrice and Benedick are wise in thought and action, unlike those who are falsely or weakly-witted such as Claudio. Claudio apparently cannot create his own logical witty remarks and therefore, copies others such as the Prince. His reaction to Hero (accusing her based on flimsy evidence) is also proof of his inability to think properly or critically about situations.

COMPOSING THE BODY PARAGRAPHS - BASIC PARENTHETICAL CITATION

Source: McCollom, William G. “The Role of Wit in

Much Ado About Nothing.” Twentieth Century Interpretations of Much Ado About Nothing. Ed. Walter R. Davis. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969. 67-79.

WORKS CONSULTEDBegley, Sharon, et al. “Mapping the Brain.”

Newsweek. 20 Apr. 1992: 66-67. Mass, Wendy. Teen Drug Abuse. San

Diego: Lucent Books, 1998. Print.

Valkow, Nora. "Trends in teen drug use: good news and bad news." New York Times

Upfront 28 March 2005: 1. Student Edition. NC WiseOwl. Web. 1 Jan. 2010

NOTES ON PUNCTUATION: Do NOT put the ending period inside the quotation marks

at the end of a quote. The period goes AFTER the parentheses with the page or

paragraph number. Do not write "pg." or "page" for page numbers. Simply

WRITE the NUMBER. For paragraphs, write par. and then the number. For Author Names, use the complete first and last name

the FIRST time you mention them in your paper. From then on, use only the LAST name to refer to them.

If you do NOT have an author for a source, use the FIRST WORDS you have on your source card

Example of a completed

research paper

**see handout

"Money Matters." New York Times. 9 Mar. 2004. 3 Dec. 09. Web.

Example Quote: According to "Money Matters," the best

time to shop is "in the middle of the year" (par. 2).

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH A good concluding paragraph will do the

following: 1. Restate the major supporting

points (topic sentences) in the paper.

2. Show how the evidence in the body paragraphs logically leads to the conclusion (thesis statement) that you presented in the introductory paragraph of your paper.

3. Restate the thesis in the conclusion.

Conclusion: Last word?

Your conclusion is your chance to have the last word on the subject. The conclusion allows you to have the final word on the issues you have raised in your paper, to summarize your thoughts, to demonstrate the importance of your ideas, and to propel your reader to a new view of the subject. It is also your opportunity to make a good final impression and to end on a positive note.

SAMPLE CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH #1

By promoting a caring atmosphere in schools, teachers can reduce the likelihood of bullying. Above all, teachers need to inform themselves and the rest of the school community so that together they can develop a policy to discourage bullying. By educating themselves about bullying, teachers and parents have the knowledge to set up effective programs and structures both within the classroom and for the whole school. Furthermore, by removing the opportunity for children to bully, providing children with a stimulating environment, and giving them the tools to deal with conflict appropriately, teachers can reduce children’s inclination to bully. Although bullying will never be fully eradicated and must be dealt with as soon as it occurs, increasing awareness of the problem is making schools a safer and more enjoyable environment in which children can learn.

WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE? A topic sentence organizes an entire

paragraph. It might be helpful to think of a topic

sentence as working in two directions simultaneously.

A topic sentence can be evaluated by asking a few questions: Does the topic sentence present one--

and only one--topic? Is the topic sentence an

overgeneralization? Does the sentence give strong direction

to the whole paragraph?

TRANSITIONS: What in the heck?

Transitions between paragraphs as well as between sentences are essential in order for a paper to be readable, for the reader to fully understand the connections between the points you are trying to make and for the overall coherence of your essay. The use of transitions creates one unified paper instead of several smaller papers all thrown together under a similar larger topic.

Where Do We Need Transitions? Between Sections -- This divides the major ideas or topics of your paper Between Paragraphs -- This divides the minor ideas of your writing because you must show a logical connection between your paragraphs. Between Sentences -- This shows the relationship between your sentences. These transitions are generally only a word or two, and can be done through the use of conjunctions which are words used to combine two sentences and show the relationship between them. Between Parts of a Sentence -- This shows how phrases connect within your sentences.

Remember that if something connects or shows a relationship then it is a transition

You can place a quote or paraphrase in the beginning, body, or end of a paragraph. It all depends on why you feel the information fits where it does, just like any other information you include in other essays you have written.

When you introduce a direct quote or a paraphrase, you may actually tell the reader a little about the source to lend some credibility to the information you include.

According to David Hanes, a noted adolescent psychologist, "Teens eat more when they feel less about themselves" (72).

Experts like David Hanes agree that many teens eat in order to cover up their lack or self confidence (72).

It is not always necessary (or possible) to know about a specific source's background. In fact, sometimes you will only have an article's title.

In fact, last year (2001), "25% of Americans admitted to eating more when they were depressed” about how they felt about themselves ("Disorders").

Research has indicated that many Americans eat more fudge and peanut butter when they have a lower estimation of themselves ("Depression Aids Confectionery Stocks").

When you paraphrase, simply place the parenthetical information at the end of the sentence after you have finished using the source's information.

One last note: don't forget that anytime you paraphrase, you must document the source after you have finished discussing the source's information. Just because it's in your words, doesn't make the idea yours. In fact, this is often one of the leading causes as to why papers fail due to plagiarism.

EXAMPLE: One of the possibilities suggested was that a new system should be derived which will allow students to have academic freedom in choosing their courses while, at the same time making the course they chose more rigorous. The effect of such a system could empower and inspire students at the same time (Jacobson 18).

GRADING RUBRIC

Documents

THE RESEARCH PAPER