Errors in Research Papers

Not presenting the controversy• Don’t just tell the story without the controversy:

Introduction—to lure your readers into your paper, present your topic generally

I. Background—enough that readers can understand the controversyII. Introduce the controversy, briefly listing all of the potential

solutions, possibilities or sidesIII. Side one of the controversy (or the least likely possibility or

solution)IV. Side two of the controversy (the next least likely)V. Etc. as needed, ending with the side/solution/ possibility you think

most likelyConclusion: what YOU think

• Don’t just present ONE SIDE of the controversy. If you only have information on one side, possibility or solution—do some more reading and notetaking—quickly!

Problems in Voice• Research papers need to take a formal tone.

Eliminate all “folksiness,” and imagine yourself a TV commentator, keeping your opinion and voice out of the text EXCEPT in the conclusion, where you are required to voice YOUR opinion.

• All text except the conclusion must be THIRD PERSON ONLY: he/she/it/they NOT I/we/us/you

Example:

• NOT: Physical abuse can really hurt you, especially when you trust your abuser, like your parent. We need to do something to prevent such abuse.

• INSTEAD: Physical abuse can really hurt victims, especially when the abuser is someone the victim trusts, such as a parent. Society needs programs to prevent such abuse.

Indefinite Demonstrative Pronouns• Marked “vague” on your papers• Do not use demonstratives (this/that/these/ those)

or pronouns (It) to refer to entire ideas. In fact, just don’t use these words as subjects!

• NOT: Common learning disabilities, are caused by brain injury, birth injury, genetic defects, and intentional or unintentional neglect in the environment. This will cause children to dislike school because they cannot perform (Smith web).

• INSTEAD: These disabilities, whatever their causes, will force children to dislike school….

Lack of connection between ideas:

• Use transitions of one kind or another, either overt transitions, where sentences or phrases refer back to previous ideas, or pronouns, repetition of terms, or transition words that refer the reader back to previous ideas to connect ideas together seamlessly.

NOT: Many people think seatbelt laws infringe on their civil liberties, so rebel and do not wear seatbelts at all. Other people don’t wear seatbelts because they just do not take the time to “buckle up.”

Traffic accidents can end in death, making safety devices really important. People not wearing seatbelts account for 30% of the deaths from traffic accidents (Jones web).

INSTEAD: Many people think seatbelt laws infringe on their civil liberties, so rebel and do not wear seatbelts at all. Other people don’t wear seatbelts because they just do not take the time to “buckle up.

As a consequence, people not wearing seatbelts account for 30% of the deaths from traffic accidents.

Wrong punctuation of long quotes

• Long quotes (FIVE lines or more) are indented, single spaced with NO quote marks, but with source citation at the end:

Shari Connor was driving peaceably home at the end of a long day when the snowstorm hit. She was driving at speed limit, even though the storm was fierce, because her vehicle was four wheel drive. Witnesses say her car must have hit black ice, because it suddenly began spinning. The unlocked door sprang open, and she was thrown out of the car into the path of an oncoming van. She was hit and died shortly after. A simple buckled seatbelt would have saved her (Smith web).

Problems with source citations!

• Source citations = (last name of author page number if text) “(Smith 45). Web articles: (last name of author) ….alike as well (Jones).

• If no author of your article, use the first word (not the, and, a) of the article title. If you have more than one article with the same title, keep going on your source information until you find something that identifies the article: ….unfortunately not her (Russian).

• YOU NEED SOURCE CITATIONS EVERY TIME YOU USE A FACT, EXAMPLE, STATEMENT, OPINION, OR QUOTE FROM YOUR SOURCE. (Don’t use them ONLY when you use a direct quotation.)

• REPEAT: You MUST cite sources for all facts, figures, examples, stories, opinions—NOT JUST QUOTED MATERIAL.

• Examples:– Studies have shown that 75% of children are

buckled up, but only 35% of adults (Shirmer)– “If only our daughter had worn the shoulder belt,

she might have lived through the accident” (Aikens 45).

– One expert felt that seatbelts not only saved lives, but saved parents’ sanity (Unrestrained).

Source pages

• You MUST have one—no credit without one!• List ONLY the sources you actually use in your

paper. • Collect the source cards from the sources you

used and arrange them in ALPHABETICAL order! Then type the source information in correct order, single spaced, skipping a line between sources

Sources Cited

Amberly, John. “Anastasia Unveiled.” History 20 Jun 2009: 53. History Database. Gale. Web. SHHS. 20 Mar 2010.

Galt, Mary. Russian Revolution. Austin, Tx: Lipinwood Publishing, 2007. Print.

“Russia’s Hidden Princess.” Anastasia Homepage. Friends of Russia. Web. 20 Mar 2010.