Research PapersRe=back

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What is a research paper?

• A research paper is a summary of what others have already said or written on a given subject.

The only originality is:

• Your selection and organization of the material.

• Your presentation and expression.

• Your general conclusion.

The research paper is a presentation of facts which are:

• Based upon reading or consulting several specified sources.

• Presented according to a standard method or procedure (process).

• Limited to a relatively narrow phase of a subject.

• Original in selection, evaluation, expression, and conclusion.

Seven Steps in the Process of Writing a Research Paper

• Select a topic and limit it.• Works cited.• Preliminary outlines.• Reading and taking notes.• Assembling notes into final outline.• Rough draft.• Final draft with parenthetical

documentation and works cited.

Parts of a Research Paper

• Title Page: Front page of paper containing information required by the teacher.

• Introduction: First paragraph of the paper.• Thesis Statement: Part of the introduction; a statement

that is one statement about your paper in general.• Body: The main part of a research paper; main topics

with subtopics and details.• Conclusion: The last paragraph which may state your

opinion.• Works Cited: List of the sources that you used to write

your paper.

Types of Sources

• General Encyclopedia: Book that contains general information about many topics.

• Dictionary: Book containing alphabetically arranged words and their definitions/usages.

• Thesaurus: Lists of synonyms and antonyms.• Autobiography: Book about someone’s life

written by that same person.

More Sources

• Biography: Book about someone’s life written by another person.

• Atlas: Book of maps• Almanac: Annual book with calendars,

weather forecasts, astronomical info. and other facts

• Encyclopedia Yearbook: Book containing general information about a certain year.

Still More Sources

• Interview: Personal meeting in which info. is obtained from a person with subject knowledge.

• Quotation Resource: Book with famous quotations by various people.

• Biographical Reference Book: Contains brief biographical info. on a person.

And Still More Sources

• Electronic Card Catalog: Electronic database of info.within the media center.

• Internet: World Wide Web (evaluate carefully!)

• Writers’ Handbooks.

• Instruction Sheets and Notes from Class.

Research Helpers

• Copyright Page: Lists the publisher and date when a book was published. (Use the latest date.)

• Table of Contents: List of info. in the book in sequential order.

• Index: Alphabetical list of all the topics covered in a book with the page numbers listed.

• Cross Reference: An entry that tells you to see other topics for add’t./related info. See also:

Are You Ready For Some Research?

Stay on task!

Meet all deadlines!

Be responsible!

You CAN do it!!!