A Step by Step Guide for A Step by Step Guide for Research PapersResearch Papers

Steve WoodTCCC

A Successful Investigation A Successful Investigation andand

Research AssignmentResearch AssignmentA successful investigation has three stages:

– Ask questions– Find answers– Present those answers

A successful investigation/research paper is successful on all three accounts: interesting questions are asked, solid answers are found, and those findings are clearly presented.

Research Papers vs. Regular Research Papers vs. Regular EssaysEssays

It is the presence of the researched information that makes a paper a research paper, not the mere presence of footnotes or quotations.

In most respects, a research paper is exactly like the other essays you’ve written this semester.

Step One: QuestionsStep One: Questions

Choose a good topic. “Good” in this case means interesting to you.

Ask questions about that topic, based on what you know, or what you would like to know about that topic.

Have a childlike attitude towards asking questions. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Step One ExerciseStep One Exercise

Choose a more specific topic related to animal rights, the Internet or another topic. Make a list of

questions relating to that topic. Include both questions relating to what you would like to know as

well as what you think an average reader might need to know.

Step Two: Search StrategyStep Two: Search Strategy

Make a plan for research your topic and answering your questions.

Base this plan on:– The types of resources available to you– The types of resources typically used for your

topic

Step Two ExerciseStep Two Exercise

Write out a plan for answering your research questions.

Step Three: Working Step Three: Working BibliographyBibliography

A working bibliography is a list of the possible sources for a research paper.

Since you will be unsure of what research materials will best fit into your paper, make a note of any promising source.

Depending on the type of source, you will need to note different information.

Step Three (continued)Step Three (continued)

Books -- author, title, publisher, year of publication, call number

Magazines -- author, title of article, title of magazine, issue number, page numbers, call number or URL

Internet source -- author (if available), name of site, name of page, URL, date accessed

Step Three ExerciseStep Three Exercise

Collect a list of at least three possible sources for your working bibliography.

Step Four: ResearchStep Four: ResearchLook for resources based upon your plan.Don’t judge your sources prematurely, but

at the same time remember Sturgeon’s Law.Sturgeon’s Law: 90% of everything is crap.With a selection of books, magazine

articles, interviews, internet resources, etc. that fall in the 10% category, then proceed to ….

Step Five: Taking NotesStep Five: Taking Notes

As you research your sources and look for answers to the questions you posed (as well as any other questions that occur to you in the process), take good notes.

Good notes generally take one of three forms: quotation, summary, or paraphrase.

Step Five (continued)Step Five (continued)

Quotation -- take what is written or said in your source and copy it exactly word for word into your notes.

Summary -- in your own words, write the main points of the research material.

Paraphrase -- put the source material completely in your own words.

Step Five (continued)Step Five (continued)

There are many methods for taking notes.Two of the most common are:

– Note cards (which allow the materials to be easily sorted)

– Computer notes (which are easily copied and pasted into the final report)

Step Five ExerciseStep Five Exercise

Takes notes from your sources in whatever format you find most comfortable.

Step Six: Make an ArgumentStep Six: Make an Argument

Decide on the thesis statement (which will be the major claim for your argument).

Decide how you will support your claim (which types of appeals you will use, which research items you might include).

Remember, most of the process of doing a research paper is exactly like writing a regular essay. That certainly applies to this step.

Step Six ExerciseStep Six Exercise

Review the PowerPoint Presentation on making arguments and then write out a rough outline of the ideas you want to cover in making your argument.

Step Seven: Cite SourcesStep Seven: Cite Sources

This is the step that gives people the most trouble, but it will be pretty straightforward if you keep in mind that in academic writing, you can steal from any source, as long as you tell the reader that you have borrowed that information.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)

Failing to inform the reader that a piece of information is borrowed is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is copying someone else’s words or ideas and passing it off as your own.

Many people assume that putting an idea into your own words avoids plagiarism, but that is not the case.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)

To avoid plagiarism, it is necessary to follow a stylesheet.

A stylesheet is a system for giving credit, in effect, a system for writing research papers.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)

There are many stylesheets. The three major ones are the Modern Language Association (MLA) stylesheet, the American Psychological Association (APA) stylesheet, and the Chicago Manual of Style stylesheet.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)

The stylesheet used in this course is the MLA stylesheet.

You will be given a handout with the particulars of the MLA system. That information is also in the Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers as well as most grammar handbooks.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)How do you know if you should cite the

source for a particular piece of information?First, ask yourself if the information is your

own personal knowledge, common or general knowledge, or documentable knowledge.

Then, look at the actual format of the info: quotation, paraphrase or summary.

Step Seven (continued)Step Seven (continued)Type of Info Definition Cite it?

Your info Your own personal knowledge

No

Common or general info

Factual info that is readily accessible to most people and is not disputed

If a direct quotation, yes.Otherwise, no.

Documentable info Info from a source that is subjective or disputed or info whose source is important

Yes

Step EightStep Eight

Bask in the glory of your completed assignment.