How to Write a Research Paper

Ms. GouletSpring 2010

Getting started…Pick a subject

English, Psychology, BiologyPick a topic

Read a little background to see possibilitiesJoy Luck Club, Schizophrenia, River dolphins

Find an advisorSomeone you get along with/communicate well

with, BONUS if they know something about the topic

Supporting Questions (SQs)Heading: your topicList 20-25 minor questions (brainstorm)

Who?What?Why?WhenWhere?How?How many?

Gather sourcesInternet

.edu and .orgDatabases

LibraryBooksMagazines

DAA staffParents

Source Card (Book) Mock, Tony. Why I Love Being a Principal. Dubai: DAA Printing, 1901.

1

Source Card (Web) Augeri, Stephen. “Why I Love Cats.” Sep 4, 2007. Dubai American Academy. May 13, 2009 <http://

www.daa.sch.ae>.

2

Source Card (online newspaper) Wilkins, Ann. “My Life as a Gamer.” New York Times Sep 4, 2009 New York Times Online. Online. Jan 13, 2010

<http://www.nytimes.com>.

3

Source Card (PDF file) Morris, Justin. “Why I Celebrate Christmas in My Shorts.” Durban News Dec 4, 2009 Durban News

Online. PDF file. Jan 13, 2010 <http://www.durbannews.

com>.

4

Source Card (YouTube) Rasmussen, Anne. “Why I was the Best in the High School Play.” YouTube.com Dec 15, 2009. DAA Tech

Club. Jan 120, 2010 <http://www.youtube.com>.

5

NotecardTopic 1• don’t plagiarize; use your own words; nutshell; bullets

• abbreviate: w/, w/o, ex, thru, =, +, 1st (like IMing)

• only put info on one topic per notecard

• put the topic in the upper left corner, Source No in right

• when rdg bks: use index, chptr titles, pics to help (skim)

• only record new info

• omit words like “the” and “a/n”

Note-takingWorld War One lasted from 1914 to 1918. The

Allied Powers of Great Britain, France, and Russia were pitted against the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. Italy remained neutral until 1915, when it joined the Allies. Eventually some thirty nations took sides in what became known as the Great War. The US remained neutral until German insisted on using unrestricted submarine warfare. Finally in 1917 the US entered the war. The next year, on November 11, at 11:00 am, the Central Powers surrendered.

Group notecards togetherPut all the ones that have the same topic in a

pileMore than 10-15 cards- split up the topics into

sub-piles?No cards should be alone- either combine or

MORE RESEARCH NEEDED

Put topics in order for your paperWhat will you talk about first, second, third?Logical order (chrono, big to small, small to big)

OutlineI. IntroductionII. Topic of Pile 1III. Topic of Pile 2

I. Subtopic?II. Subtopic?

IV. Topic of Pile 3V. Topic of Pile 4VI. Topic of Pile 5…VII.Conclusion

OutlineI. IntroductionII. Background

Ms Goulet: best teacher (4) Super nice(5) Funny(4) Great dresser, sense of style(1)

III. Explanation of Question “If you aren’t the lead sled dog, the

view never changes.” (1)

Topic of Pile 1

Topic of Pile 2

Source card

numbers

Leave blank for now Will write last (hardest

paragraph)

When you are done- we should be able to burn your

notecards

Notes from

notecards

Write your draftSkip intro, go straight into the body

Write your intro LAST complete with strong thesis statement (answer to your

question)

Convert outline into sentences, paragraphs, sectionsInclude citation info after every sentence. (1)Ms. Travis says to “use these if it is a direct

quote.” (3)Topics into subheadings (temporary?)

Can be useful when you are working (organization)

Keep on Truckin’More research

Continue to collect sourcesTake notes directly into outline

Tweak questionNot enough info? Broaden your questionToo much info? Narrow your focus

Complete researchAre there any holes in your outline?

Writing a Research QuestionInterestingWorth answering (controversial)New, unique, fresh look at somethingHAS TO BE A QUESTION (hint: ends with

a ?)Answerable Not too big, not too small: just right

Research QuestionWhat knowledge are you adding to the world?

a) Is Ms Goulet a good teacher?b) What does Ms Goulet teach?

c) Who was Joan of Arc? d) Was Joan of Arc a nutcase?

e) What was the Spanish Inquisition?f) Was there anything good about the Spanish

Inquisition?

Source Cards to Works CitedPut in alphabetical orderType up carefully

Punctuation . , : “ ” IndentationUnderlineCapital Letters for Important Words

ABC order

Title should be centered on the first line. Do not underline.

Check spelling

Each citation

must end with a period

First line of each

citation is flush with

the left margin

Additional lines are indented

Capitalize all major words

Pay attention to punctuation

Use a consistent date

format

(Source 1) to (Firstword). The Genie Awards is a talent

show but, just like the rest of DAA, it is the best in the UAE (Carter). It is a show that has been built almost entirely by students and has become an event that is eagerly anticipated by everyone (“DAA does). Kids work on their acts for months before the show and their dedication shows when audition time rolls around. The Genie Awards gives the students of DAA an opportunity to showcase their extraordinary talent and have fun while doing so (“DAA rocks).

Used first two words

to distinguish

between sources

Put (source) before the full stop.

This info

came from the

same source as the next

sentence

Citations must be

found at the end of each paragraph

March 1, 2:50: 1st Draft Due Points Earned Points Possible Criteria

5 Title page

10 Abstract

5 Contents Page

5 Numbered Pages

5 Introduction (outline of ideas minimal)

10 Minimum of 3000 words completed

10 Properly cited paraphrased ideas (parenthetical documentation, footnotes)

5 Conclusion (outline of ideas minimal)

10 Variety of sources (i.e. encyclopedias, dictionaries, websites, books, databases, journals)

10 Works Cited

Late penalty (-10 per day late)

75 TOTAL

Meet with advisor, March 1-4Talk through outline

I’m going to talk about this first…then….then…. What do you think?

Research Question What can I do with this? What do you think about? Too big? Too small?

Plan of attack through March 28

Running headerFlush left

Full titleCentered

Student’s Full Name

CenteredSession dateEE

Word CountCandidate NumberCentered

Title page

Running header flush right

Abstract centered

RQ, investigation summary, conclusion

300 words maxInclude word

countAbstract

Page 2

Centered Title

Heading and page number

separated by

…………..

Page no

should be

lined up

straight

EditingOrganization

Is there an introduction with a thesis statement (what the paper proves)? Should answer/refer to your research question

Is it in a logical order? Big to small (country, city, house, person) Chronological (in order of occurrence)

Is there a conclusion that summarizes the paper and gives the reader something else to think about?

Write the topic of

each paragraph in the margin

Underline the Thesis

EditingParagraphs

Is each paragraph about one thing ONLY? Is there a topic sentence (first) that describes

what the paragraph is about? Is there a summary sentence (end) that

reminded the readers what they just read?Sentences

Look for ROS, IS, correct punctuation (.,? “”)No first person (I, we, you) except in

intro/conclusionNo contractions (can’t, won’t, ain’t)

Good place to get some

peer help!

Final TouchesWriting

Does it sound like you? Did you use powerful language?Does it look consistent?

Times New Roman 12 Black ink One inch margins Subheadings flush with left hand margin