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Slide 1
By: Joyce Garczynski Communications & Development Librarian
Albert S. Cook Library Writing a Research Paper
Slide 2
What is a research paper? Purpose: To make an argument (about
pop culture and politics) that is supported by research Format:
Written in organized prose with an introduction, body, and
conclusion Content: It has a thesis This is the argument you are
making in the paper It uses what has been said in the research as
evidence in support of the thesis
Slide 3
What a research paper isnt Not an opinion piece Not an
opportunity to show off what you know on a topic Not a series of
resource summaries
Slide 4
Writing Step 1: Interpret the Assignment Whenever you get an
assignment, ask: 1. Why did your instructor ask you to do this
particular task? 2. Who is your audience and what should your
writing style be? 3. What kind of evidence do you need to support
your ideas? 4. What are the absolute rules of the paper such as
deadlines, length and format? Break into 4 groups and answer these
questions about your assignment in this class
Slide 5
Writing Step 2: Selecting a Topic Choose a topic that interests
you Do background research and test searching to see whats out
there Keep the topic manageable by narrowing By medium/outlet By
time period Watch out for topics that are too local or too
recent
Slide 6
Writing Step 3: Gather Sources Strategize about: Where to
search How to search How much time it will take to retrieve sources
Well talk more about this next session
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Writing Step 4: Draft a Thesis Statement Develop the argument
you will make (i.e. your thesis statement) The thesis statement is
one sentence or two that is at the end of the introduction The
thesis statement should: State the topic of your paper Preview the
main points you will be making Synthesize the research you read
This video offers some additional tipsvideo
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Is this a good thesis statement? Hollywood attempted to change
public opinion about former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Actor
Sean Penn and director Oliver Stone were strong supporters of
former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Actor Sean Penn and
director Oliver Stone attempted to use their celebrity status to
raise public opinion in the United States about former Venezuelan
president Hugo Chavez. Research suggests that celebrity endorsement
of politicians has a limited impact and news analyses indicate that
support for Chavez remained low despite celebrity endorsement.
Slide 9
Writing Step 5: Outline Your Paper Use your thesis statement to
shape your outline
Slide 10
Writing Step 6: Write a First Draft
Slide 11
Writing Step 7: Revise, Revise, Revise First draft is never the
last draft Review your own work after some time away Have someone
else review your work the Writing Lab and now at Cook
LibraryWriting LabCook Library
Slide 12
Slide 13
Get More Information On writing a research paper:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/0 1/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/0 1/ On interpreting
the assignment: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understandi
ng-assignments/ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understandi
ng-assignments/ On selecting a topic:
http://libguides.weber.edu/researchtopic
http://libguides.weber.edu/researchtopic On writing a thesis
statement: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_st
atement.shtml http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_st
atement.shtml