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WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS
The writing of a research paper
is a complex process that includes formulating a topic, framing a
tentative thesis, gathering information, sorting and organizing
information, outlining, drafting, and revising.
The following information will
help you:
1. Develop a schedule for
writing a research paper
2. Choose a Research Paper
Topic
3. Locate Print and
Non-print Sources to Use in Research Papers
4. Organize and Present your
research
Developing a schedule for
writing research papers:
College research assignments
provide you with the opportunity to engage in a process of reasoned
inquiry. The research question you pose will take you on a voyage of
discovery and increase your storehouse of knowledge.
Begin by choosing a topic that
genuinely interests you and that will allow you to satisfy your
intellectual curiosity. The professor assigning the research paper will
usually give you some latitude or choice of topic within the rubrics or
guidelines of the course, so really think about what interests you the
most about the general topic.
If you have been assigned a long
research paper, then you will need to begin the research process early
in the semester. Never wait until the last minute to begin a research
paper.
Here is a schedule that will
allow you to produce a research paper gradually, working in phases.
WEEK 1 Choose a
possible topic
Talk with a reference
librarian and plan a research strategy
Discuss your plans with your
instructor and perhaps one other person (a tutor, classmate, and/or
friend)
WEEK 2 Locate sources
in library, on the Internet, or through interviews and conferences
Investigate films and other
media
Read and take notes
Decide on a tentative thesis
WEEK 3 Outline your
argument and re-formulate your thesis
Draft the paper
Speak with your professor as
you run into questions
WEEK 4 Seek help at
the campus tutoring center in revising your paper
Do additional research if
necessary
WEEK 5 Revise the
essay
Prepare a list of works
cited
Edit the final draft
CHOOSING A RESEARCH PAPER
TOPIC
Carefully analyze the research
paper prompt to determine the task the professor has assigned you. Then
determine how much leeway you have to choose your own topic.
With the prompt in front of you,
pose some questions that seem worth researching. Below are some examples
of questions that might be used to stimulate research in a variety of
disciplines:
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What contributions did
______________make to the ____________ Movement?
-
What connection is there
between the _________ movement and __________'s involvement in the
movement that impacted history/an era/another movement/etc . . . .
.?
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What are the broader
connections between the __________movement and the
_______________movement?
-
What were the reasons for
the movement___________________________?
-
Who else contributed to the
movement?
If the initial topic is too
broad to treat adequately in the number of pages you have been assigned
to write, then look for ways to narrow it. Frequently professors
deliberately assign broad topics with the expectation that students will
limit and define them to reflect their own interests. Below are three
examples of broad topics followed by more limited versions:
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Broad: To
what extent has the United States acted in accordance with the
decisions of the World Court?
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Narrow: To what extent is
the detention of foreign nationals under the Patriot Act consistent
with rulings of the World Court?
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Broad: What
are the causes of homelessness in the United States?
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Narrow: To what extent does
inadequate medical treatment of the medical ill result in
homelessness?
-
Broad: What
were the most important issues defining the presidency of Lyndon
Johnson and how effectively did he deal with them?
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Narrow: To what extent
did President Lyndon Johnson achieve a coherent and effective policy
in the area of foreign affairs?
A LIST OF POSSIBLE SOURCES
FOR RESEARCH PAPERS
* CSUDH's
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Books by single or
two or more collaborating authors; locate these sources in the
library’s online catalog.
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Edited collections of
essays containing chapters by separate authors or a selection of
reprinted articles: locate these sources in the library’s online
catalog.
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Recent articles in
periodicals: for work published in the last 10 or 20 years, use
online databases in your university library. Your university library
has some or all of the following databases:
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Infotrac: A
collection of databases that lists specialized sources in business,
health and other fields
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ProQuest: Includes
databases for journal articles in nursing, biology and psychology.
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Lexis-Nexis: Academic
Universe for articles in news, business, and legal matters.
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ERIC: for articles
from education journals.
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MLA Bibliography:
indexes books, articles, and dissertations in literary criticism.
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Less recent articles in
periodicals: for print indexes for articles more than twenty years
old, consult indexes and reference guides in the reference section
of your library (e.g. the Art Index; New York Times Index; Readers’
Guide to Periodical Literature)
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Search Engines: Use
search terms and find matches among millions of web page. Try more
than one search engine among the following: AltaVista, Ask Jeeves,
Google and Lycos.
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Directories arranged by
topic: Internet Scout Project is especially useful for research
projects. Some additional directories include Angus Clearinghouse;
Librarian’s Index to the Internet: World Wide Web Virtual Library.
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Archives contain the
texts of older books, poems, speeches, and documents.
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Government and News Sites:
Census Bureau; Fedstats; Thomas Legislative Information; United
Nations; U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory
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General Reference Works:
encyclopedias and dictionaries such as Encyclopedia Britannica and
World Almanac.
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Specialized Reference
Works: The Encyclopedia of the Environment; Almanac of American
Politics. The Historical and Cultural Analysis of African-Americans,
e.g.
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Bibliographies: Lists
of works written on a specific subject
NON-PRINT SOURCES for
RESEARCH PAPERS
EVALUATING SOURCES
As you peruse the sources, ask
the following questions:
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Does the author treat
opposing views fairly?
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Is the author associated
with a special interest group that might compromise his/her
objectivity?
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Does the writer’s argument
reveal unwarranted or unexamined assumptions?
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Does the author’s language
show bias?
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What is the author’s thesis
or central argument?
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Are the statistics and facts
accurate as far as you know?
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Does the author back up
his/her claim with adequate and appropriate evidence?
Evaluating Online Sources
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Is there an author noted?
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Is the author an
acknowledged expert in her/his field?
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Who sponsors the site?
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Why was the site created?
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Who is the site’s intended
audience?
ORGANIZING AND PRESENTING
RESEARCH
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Keep in mind that the
purpose of your research is to support a thesis or argument about a
topic which you have rigorously limited and defined.
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Select only those facts,
statistics and historical or documentary material that support your
argument.
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Your thesis and purpose
should be clearly articulated in your introduction; a research essay
introduction is usually longer than an introduction to a general
essay. Your introduction may also forecast the overall plan of your
essay.
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Throughout your research
essay, provide organizational cues to remind your reader of your
primary argument. These cues may be of two types: sub-headings and
transitional words or phrases.
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Throughout your essay, you
should maintain a balance between generalizing, theoretical, or
interpretive statements and evidence or concrete information.
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Check to see that each
paragraph contains a topic sentence that advances your argument and
indicates the main point argued in the paragraph.
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Use a variety of methods to
present your evidence:
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Analyze and interpret your
evidence; indicate clearly which point a given piece of evidence
supports.
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Use quotations selectively;
never give over your own voice to that of another writer. A
quotation is only justified when you wish to analyze closely a
statement or passage as if it were a piece of evidence.
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Begin all quotations with
introductory sentences or phrases and follow then with commentary;
the quoted words should be contained in an “ envelope” of your own
language.
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Quotations should never
constitute more than 10% of a single page.
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Use an appropriate voice,
not too informal or subjective, but also not stuffy or pedantic.
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