Writing a Writing a Research Research

PaperPaperGetting StartedGetting Started

Taken from:Taken from:Goldenberg, Phyllis. Goldenberg, Phyllis. A A

Student Guide to Student Guide to Writing a Research Writing a Research PaperPaper. New York: . New York: Sadlier-Oxford, 1997.Sadlier-Oxford, 1997.

Types of research papersTypes of research papers InformationalInformational – – summarizes factual summarizes factual

information from a variety of sources. information from a variety of sources. Focus on a topic, find the information, Focus on a topic, find the information, produce an organized and coherent produce an organized and coherent paper.paper.

Analytical Analytical -- -- analyzes the information analyzes the information and presents conclusions. Displays and presents conclusions. Displays some elements of persuasive writing some elements of persuasive writing since it states the writer’s opinions since it states the writer’s opinions and supports it with detailed evidence.and supports it with detailed evidence.

BrainstormBrainstorm Pre-writing Pre-writing

strategiesstrategies

Alvin Ailey

Biographical Information

Birth/deathfamily

educationTraining

early interest in dancing

formal training

Career

first jobsmaking it

big

significant influences

Getting StartedGetting Started Make sure you understand your Make sure you understand your

assignmentassignment Choose a workable topic that meets all Choose a workable topic that meets all

requirements for a research paper requirements for a research paper topic:topic: You can find enough material on the topic.You can find enough material on the topic. The topic interests you, and you think you The topic interests you, and you think you

can make it interest your audience.can make it interest your audience. The topic is objective, not subjective.The topic is objective, not subjective. The topic is limited enough to cover The topic is limited enough to cover

adequately in the space provided.adequately in the space provided.

Begin your researchBegin your research Evaluate the sources you find.Evaluate the sources you find. Record complete information for every Record complete information for every

source you think you will use.source you think you will use. Write each bibliography entry according to Write each bibliography entry according to

the style your teacher requires.the style your teacher requires. Explore library resources:Explore library resources:

Use Athena (card catalog) to locate books in the Use Athena (card catalog) to locate books in the librarylibrary

Use the reference section to find information and Use the reference section to find information and sourcessources

Use academic databases – including reference Use academic databases – including reference tabs, magazines, newspapers, multimediatabs, magazines, newspapers, multimedia

Taking NotesTaking Notes

Before you start taking notes, make a Before you start taking notes, make a working outline.working outline.

Skim each source to locate Skim each source to locate information for your paper.information for your paper.

Take notes in your own words.Take notes in your own words. Enclose a direct quotation (the Enclose a direct quotation (the

author’s exact wording) in quotation author’s exact wording) in quotation marks.marks.

HintHint

In your finished paper, keep direct quotations brief and use them

sparingly. No more than one-fifth of your total paper should be

direct quotations.

Guidelines for taking notesGuidelines for taking notes Write the source number and name of the Write the source number and name of the

source in the upper right-hand corner of source in the upper right-hand corner of your 3 x 5 card.your 3 x 5 card.

Write only on one side of each card, and Write only on one side of each card, and write about only one main idea.write about only one main idea.

Write a heading – a key word or phrase – Write a heading – a key word or phrase – at the top of the note card.at the top of the note card.

Make a conscious effort to use your own Make a conscious effort to use your own words when you take notes.words when you take notes.

Enclose direct quotations in large Enclose direct quotations in large quotation marks.quotation marks.

At the bottom of each note card, write the At the bottom of each note card, write the page number(s) where you found the page number(s) where you found the information.information.

Sample notecardSample notecard

What mountain climbers need

4

Survival

GuideInterview w. Sir Edmund Hillary (first to climb Mt. Everest, 5/29/53)

1. Strong motivation

2. Technical skill

3. Good planning

4. Sense of humorp. 65

headingSource name and number

Page number in source

Three types of notesThree types of notes Direct quotationDirect quotation -- copy the quote -- copy the quote

EXACTLY – word for word– and enclose the EXACTLY – word for word– and enclose the quoted material in quotation marks.quoted material in quotation marks.

ParaphrasingParaphrasing – restate the writer’s ideas in – restate the writer’s ideas in your own words. A paraphrase covers your own words. A paraphrase covers every idea in the same order as in the every idea in the same order as in the original but is usually shorter.original but is usually shorter.

Summarizing Summarizing – restate the MAIN ideas in – restate the MAIN ideas in your own words. A summary does not your own words. A summary does not give all the details – only the most give all the details – only the most important ones.important ones.

Organizing and Evaluating Organizing and Evaluating Note cardsNote cards

Sort note cards into stacks having Sort note cards into stacks having same headingsame heading

Evaluate note cardsEvaluate note cards Be selective – too much information on Be selective – too much information on

one subject??one subject?? Fill in the gaps – not enough Fill in the gaps – not enough

information. Go find more sources.information. Go find more sources. What’s this doing here? -- not sure why What’s this doing here? -- not sure why

you took this noteyou took this note

HintHintYou should end up with a stack of note

cards for each heading and subheading in your working outline. If you don’t have at least two cards for each section of the outline, you may

not have enough information.

Unity and CoherenceUnity and Coherence Make sure that all information fits the Make sure that all information fits the

scope of your paper.scope of your paper. Arrange the information in a way that Arrange the information in a way that

readers will easily understand.readers will easily understand. 1. Chronological – the order of events in 1. Chronological – the order of events in

timetime 2. Spatial – describing a place or object2. Spatial – describing a place or object 3. Order of importance – ideas and 3. Order of importance – ideas and

details arranged from most to least details arranged from most to least important or vice versaimportant or vice versa

4. OR in a clear and logical way4. OR in a clear and logical way

Thesis StatementThesis Statement Draft a working thesis statement that Draft a working thesis statement that

tells what you will cover in your paper.tells what you will cover in your paper. A thesis statement is a single sentence. It A thesis statement is a single sentence. It

should not be expressed as a question.should not be expressed as a question. It is a preview of what the paper is about. It It is a preview of what the paper is about. It

states the topic and the writer’s focus. states the topic and the writer’s focus. (Do (Do not begin with “The purpose of my paper not begin with “The purpose of my paper is…” or “In this paper I will write about…”)is…” or “In this paper I will write about…”)

It should have a confident tone. It should have a confident tone. Avoid Avoid using words such as using words such as probably, might, I probably, might, I think, seems, apparently, it seems to me, think, seems, apparently, it seems to me, etc.etc.