The purpose of a research paper can be to explain, or to analyze, or to persuade. Often the student uses all three of these techniques to prove his thesis statement. In writing this paper the student becomes a "researcher," one who reads in depth about his topic, takes notes and analyzes the information, and then presents a convincing conclusion. The student must give credit to his sources by documenting the facts that he uses in his paper. However, the student’s own ideas and their development are of primary importance.

1. Select a narrow TOPIC which interests you. Formulate a preliminary thesis statement based on this topic.

2. At the library and online, prepare a WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY of possible SOURCES.

4. Using your outline and sources read and take NOTES. You can paraphrase, or quote directly, or summarize the relevant facts from the source.

5.WRITE AND DOCUMENT THE PAPER. Using the note cards and outline, write a ROUGH DRAFT of the paper. Since the material in your research paper comes largely from the work of others, you need to give proper credit by citing your sources. Failure to do this for all borrowed information is plagiarism.

6. REVISE, TYPE your FINAL DRAFT, and PROOFREAD.

7. Alphabetize your source cards and type the Works Cited page.

TOPIC SELECTION

Moving from a general topic to a thesis statement:

Example 1:

General topic – Scientific advances in the future

Narrow topic - Genetic engineering can affect crop and animal production.

Thesis statement – The use of genetic engineering is justified in order to feed the world’s

population in the 21st century.

Example 2:

General topic – Monsters in literature

Narrow topic - Mary Shelley describes the creation of a monster in her novel Frankenstein.

Thesis statement – The real "monster" in Frankenstein is the doctor who attempted to create

life.

LIBRARY: has both print and electronic resources. Use the online catalogue to begin your search by choosing author, title or subject . You can also do more sophisticated searches by calling up a list of all works that contain a keyword or topic in their titles.

Types of REFERENCE WORKS to consult:

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, biographical sources give basic information about topics.

Indexes and bibliographies give information about research materials and sources. Examples: Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, National Newspaper Index.

Many reference works are available in electronic form, as databases, which are available online or on CD-ROM.

Since anyone can publish anything on the Web, in order to find reliable online sources use these criteria.

Consider the accuracy, objectivity, currency, coverage of the information on the web site, as well as the qualifications of the author.

Ask yourself these questions about the information from a web site:

Is there an author? Is the author qualified or an expert?

Is the sponsor of the page reputable?

If the page includes neither an author nor sponsor, is there any other way to determine its origin? Look for the header or footer, or look at the URL and the domain.

Is the page dated? Make sure that the information is current if that is relative to your topic.

How in-depth is the material?

Is the information presented in an objective manner or is it biased?

Your teacher or a librarian can help you find reputable and valuable Internet sites for your research.

Some general-purpose search sites include:

www.brittanica.com

www.excite.com

www.alltheweb.com

www.google.com

www.northernlight.com

www.yahoo.com

A WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY is a list of books, articles and other sources that relate to your topic. This working bibliography will change as you add new titles and omit sources that were not useful. This list of sources will become your WORKS CITED list at the end of the paper.

Each SOURCE CARD names a book, article, or other source, which has information on your topic. You can also do the working bibliography using the computer by creating a file for all the sources.

1. Use a separate 3x5 index card for each book, article or online source.

2. Give each source a code number (1,2,3,...) and circle it in the upper right hand corner of the card.

3. If the source has a call number, place it in the upper left hand corner of the card.

4. Use MLA style for each card. Be sure to copy all the publication information in the correct order and to punctuate accurately.

555.5253 1 932 2

Stevens, William K. The Change in the Johnson, Paul. The Civilization of Ancient

Weather. New York: Random Egypt. New York: Harper Collins,

House, 1999. 1998.

3

Jackson, Shirley. "Charles." The Short Story and You.

Ed. John S. Simmons and Malcolm E. Stern.

Lincolnwood, Illinois: National Textbook, 1988. 57-60.

4

Davis, A. "Arthur, King of the Britons." U.S. News and

World Report 31 Aug. 1998: 10.

5

Ferrara, Jerry L. "Why Vultures Make Good Neighbors."

National Wildlife June-July 1987: 16-20.

If pages are not consecutive, put the first page and a +.

6

Kuntz, Tom. "Word for Word: Titanic Disaster."

New York Times 28 Dec. 1997,

late ed.: A8+.

Source code number

7

Smith, Russell. "Edgar Allan Poe." Encyclopedia

Britannica. 1996 ed.

8

"Solar Energy." Compton’s Encyclopedia. 1999 ed.

9

Titanic: Breaking New Ground. FOX Network. WNYW, New York.

20 Feb. 1998.

Title. Director. Writer, Performers, Producer. Distributor, Year of release.

10

Modern Times. Dir. Charles Chaplin. Perf. Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

United Artists, 1936.

Source Code Number

11

"India." Britanica Online. Vers. 97.1.1. Mar. 1997.

Encyclopedia Britannica. 4 May 1998

<http:// www.eb.com: 190>.

12

Landsburg, Steven. "Who Shall Inherit the Earth?"

Slate 1 May 1997 <http:// www. Slate.com/

Economics/97-05-01/.asp>

Publication: Publisher, Electronic publication date.

13

"Albatross." The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed.

CD-ROM. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995.

Use your sources to read and learn about your topic so that you can write a preliminary OUTLINE of the main ideas that you will need to discuss in your paper. Keep in mind that it might change as you do your research.

Harvard Outline:

I. INTRODUCTION

A._____________________

B.______________________

C. THESIS STATEMENT

II. FIRST SUB TOPIC ____________

A._______________________

B._______________________

III SECOND SUB TOPIC _________

A._______________________

B._______________________

IV. THIRD SUB TOPIC ___________

A._______________________

B. _______________________

V. CONCLUSION

Sample OUTLINE for proving the thesis that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table actually existed.

I. Introduction

A. Tales of King Arthur and his knights have existed for a long time

B. Could such a hero as Arthur have existed?

C. Thesis: Evidence indicates that King Arthur most likely existed.

II. Archaeological evidence

A. Arthur’s grave in Glastonbury

B. Camelot

III. Arthur as a brave leader of the Christian Celts in wars against the Saxons- give examples.

IV. Oral stories, manuscripts and literary evidence

A. Sixth century poem

B. In the twelfth century Jeffrey Monmouth describes Arthur in his history of Britain

C. Malory’s Morte d’Arthur in the fifteenth century

V. Conclusion- Therefore, a hero similar to the King in the Arthur legends most likely existed, but as a warlord who fought for kings.

As you read your sources, look for facts that fit under the sub topics in your outline. Put the fact in your own words on the 4x6 note card with the sub topic as the heading. If you copy the wording directly, use quotation marks. Put the source number in the right hand corner and the page number of the fact on the bottom right hand corner. Use only ONE note, or one or two related notes per card. If you have a comment about the note put it on bottom.

If you are using a computer, create a file of notes for each sub topic in your outline. Paraphrase the notes. Be sure to indicate the source and page number for the note. Later you will transfer the material from these note files to the text file.

PARAPHRASE means to change the wording of the passages to your own. Use paraphrase to rewrite in your words the ideas of someone else. In summary and paraphrase be sure to change the wording to your own. Otherwise it is PLAGIARISM. This is using another person’s ideas as your own without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism can result in a zero for the paper or loss of credit for a course in college.

Use DIRECT QUOTATION only for a very important comment or fact. Copy the words exactly from the source and enclose them in quotation marks. Include the author of the quote.

Include also NOTES which record your own thoughts, ideas, and conclusions in response to your research. These cards will have sub topic headings, but no source numbers or page numbers.

Note taking examples based on the thesis statement- The dramatic works of Shakespeare are relevant today because his themes address timeless issues.

3 5

II. Romeo and Juliet I. Introduction

Juliet and Romeo fall in love Shakespeare wrote 37 plays- comedies,

only to learn their families are in histories, and tragedies

a feud. p. 46 p.12

(wide variety of themes)

1. Group the cards together that have the same heading or sub topic from your outline.

2. Take one group of cards and spread them out so that you can read them. Then put them in an order that will make logical sense in a paragraph. If certain cards do not fit under that topic, omit them or place them under a more appropriate topic. Organize all the groups of cards this way. These "groups" will become the basis for your paragraphs.

3. Follow your outline and begin writing your introductory paragraph, which includes your thesis statement. Write the rest of your rough draft by developing paragraphs based on your ideas and research for each sub topic. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and facts and evidence to support it from your note cards. Be sure to paraphrase the material from sources. Include your comments and conclusions based on the facts. Check off the note cards as you use them.

4. As you use your research notes in the paper, YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT TO YOUR SOURCES WITH CITATIONS. CITATIONS TELL THE READER WHERE YOU GOT THE INFORMATION. YOU MUST DOCUMENT OR CITE ALL FACTS OR IDEAS FROM ANY SOURCE THAT YOU HAVE QUOTED, PARAPHRASED OR SUMMARIZED. If you fail to cite a source you are guilty of PLAGIARISM.

DO document: 1. All quotations 2. Details 3. All editorializing or opinions of others

A parenthetical CITATION contains the AUTHOR’S LAST NAME AND THE PAGE NUMBER of the material used from that source. It follows in parentheses directly after the paraphrased, summarized, or quoted fact. Punctuation of the sentence follows the citation.

To do the citations use your source cards and note cards. When you use a note, refer to

the code number in the right hand corner and find the correct source card. Then use the author from the source card and the page number from the bottom right of the note card for your citation. Do not add extra information. A citation in MLA style contains only enough information to enable the reader to find the source on the Works Cited list at the end of the paper.

This citation tells the reader that the information in this sentence was found on page 22 of a book written by Ludowyk.

This citation uses the author’s name in the sentence and therefore only requires page numbers in the parentheses.

If there is no author of the article, use a shortened form of the title of the article and the page number.

This citation indicates that there was no author for this online article, and that there was no page number.

If two or more online articles have the same title, add the search site.

The ominous bird repeats the word "Nevermore" to the narrator (Poe, "Raven" 15).

This citation includes a shortened form of the title of the work because more than one work by Poe is used in the paper.

1. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Joseph Gibaldi- Fifth Edition

or http://www.mla.org/style/htm.

2. Bud’s Easy Research Paper Computer Manual

Jessica Marelli

Professor Martin

English 2310

4 May 2001

Shakespeare has a Message for Each of Us

William Shakespeare is an author whom most people know about, but whose works many people are hesitant to read. They think that his writing is too difficult or boring or is outdated. This, however, is far from the truth. The dramatic works of Shakespeare are relevant today because his themes address timeless issues.

In the sixteenth century Shakespeare was writing about people who were very different from people living today (Keller 16). However, Shakespeare knew human nature and this is evident in his many different characters ("Shakespeare" Britannica OL). He wrote about people motivated by greed, jealousy, and revenge, as well as those motivated by love, loyalty, and goodness. Since human nature does not change, we can relate to his various characters. For example, we can identify with the conflict between parent and child as found in King Lear when Lear is treated coldly and ungratefully by his elder daughters (Adelman 71). The conflict between Lear and his youngest daughter is resolved when he begs for her forgiveness. They become close once again (Shakespeare, Lear 67). In today’s world we see parents not treated well by their grown children, and we also know of parents who misjudge their children in certain situations. Therefore King Lear is still relevant to us today.

Another example is found in the drama Romeo and Juliet. Present day teenagers can easily identify with the love between Romeo and Juliet and their desire to be together despite their parents’ objections. The intense feud between the Montagues and Capulets can be updated for any current two groups of people who hate each other ("Shakespeare’s Tragedies"). Therefore Shakespeare’s insight into human nature is as true today as it was in the 1600’s. Since we can identify with his characters, his plays continue to have meaning for us in the twenty-first century.

REVISE

Reread your rough draft. In revising your paper for the final draft you may add, omit, or rearrange your material. You may need to clarify or develop certain ideas by adding more sentences. Eliminate any material that is unimportant or repetitive. Your ideas should be presented in a logical, clear, and convincing manner.

Be concise and precise in your wording. Use language and vocabulary which are appropriate for your "audience." Consult a thesaurus to expand your vocabulary. Vary your sentence length and structure.

Use transitions when appropriate to relate ideas and for emphasis.

first consequently certainly

in the first place moreover also

second as a result likewise

next thus furthermore

last then yet

in addition therefore accordingly

finally similarly besides

however on the contrary for example

on the other hand nevertheless

Have an interesting introduction, which includes your thesis statement.

Make sure that your facts are relevant and accurate.

Include your own ideas and conclusions based on the facts.

When you use exact quotations explain their relevance to the topic.

PAPER: Use only white 8.5 by 11 inch paper.

PRINTING: Choose a standard, easily readable font such as Times New Roman or Courier. Use 12 point for the size of the print. Do not justify the lines of your paper.

SPACING: Double-space throughout the paper, including quotations and the Works Cited list.

MARGINS: Have one inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides of each page, except for the page numbers. Page numbers go in the upper right hand corner of each page, one-half inch from the top and ending where the right hand margin begins (see sample first page of term paper). Type your last name before the page number and have no period after it.

Indent the first word of each paragraph one-half inch or one tab from the left margin.

Indent any quotations which are longer than four typed lines by setting them off one inch from the left hand margin. Do not use quotation marks on these long quotations. In this case, the citation follows the period at the end of the quotation.

HEADING AND TITLE: A research paper does not need a separate title page. Begin one inch from the top of the first page, next to the left margin and type your name, your instructor’s name, the course number, and the date below each other with double-spacing. Then center and double-space the title below the heading. Do not underline the title, and capitalize only the important words.

ILLUSTRATIONS: Place tables and illustrations as close as possible to the parts of the test to which they relate. Any illustration (photograph, map, graph, or chart) should be labeled Fig.and assigned a number and given a title or caption explaining what it is. This information appears below the illustration.

Be sure to proofread carefully and correct any errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage. Check that all your sentences are complete sentences.

Although spell check and grammar check are useful tools, they are not always correct in your context. Therefore YOU must proofread and correct your paper yourself.

As you correct the text, be sure to save the changes on your disk.

Make sure that all information used from a source has a citation.

Works Cited is a bibliography of the sources that you have cited in your paper. It is an alphabetical list and contains all the publication information (author, title, place and date of publication, online network address or URL, etc.) for each source that you used in the paper. Each entry is alphabetized by the author’s last name. If there is no author use the first word of the title (not a, an, or the). The first line of each entry should be on the left margin and the second and following lines should be double spaced and indented one half inch. Double space between entries also.

A sample Works Cited page for a paper about Edgar Allan Poe:

Works Cited

Bonnert, Suzanne. Edgar Allan Poe. New York: Chelsea House, 1992.

Random House, 1938.

—. "The Fall of the House of Usher." The American Experience. Englewood Cliffs:

Prentice Hall, 1996. 208-220.

McGraw: 1978. 38-40.

28 Dec. 1998. < http://raven.ubalt.edu/features/poebiog.htm>.

Quinn, Irwin. The Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Philadelphia: Chilton Company, 1963.

Regan, Amanda. "Poe’s Gothic Fiction." 2 Feb. 1997. 7 pp. 3 Jan. 1999.

< http://members.aol,com/mikecohen/poe.edgarallan.html>.

Smith, Russell. "Edgar Allan Poe." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1996 ed.

Travers, Terrell. "The Poe Short Story." The English Journal. 22 May 1995: 89-102.

Baron, Alvin. Bud’s Easy Research Paper Computer Manual. Lawrence, N.Y.:

Lawrence House Publishers, 1997.

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed. New York:

Modern Language Association of America, 1999.

Hodges, John C. and Mary E. Whitten. Harbrace College Handbook. 9th ed. New York:

Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1984.

Lester, James D., Sr. and James D. Lester, Jr. The Research Paper Handbook. Glenview,

Illinois: Scott, Foresman, 1992.

Miller, Irene and Carole Rosenthal. The Sachem Handbook for Research. 1995.