HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER
Dec 25, 2015
HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PAPER
Active vs. Passive Voice
In active voice……
the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.
The dog bit the boy.
In passive voice…….
the subject is acted upon; he or she receives the action expressed by the verb.
The boy was bitten by the dog.
Passive Voice
The passive voice can create awkward sentences.
It is more readily accepted in scientific writing. The verb phrase will always include a form of
be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been, but presence of a be-verb does not necessarily mean the sentence is in passive voice. I was riding the bicycle.
may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb The milk was bought by the man.
Research Paper Criteria
Topic must be approved by Mrs. Mills. You must use at least 5 credible sources. You
may choose from the following: books, newspapers, magazines, articles from data bases, sources from reliable web sites (no blogs, Wikipedia, etc.).
Final paper must use correct MLA format and documentation within paper as well as adhere to MLA format in your Works Cited page.
The thesis statement must be clearly written.
Research Paper Criteria
The content of your paper should be clearly organized, relevant to the selected topic and thesis statement, and written in a manner that demonstrates varied language use and sentence structure(correct spelling, grammar, verb tenses, etc.).
The paper must be typed and double-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12.
The final version of your paper must be a minimum of 3 pages in length (not including your Works Cited page). It should not exceed 5 pages.
Your Name
Mrs. Mills
English 4
Date Due
Title
Research Paper Criteria
1” margins on each side Create a header in the upper right hand
corner with your last name and consecutive page numbers (omit on page 1)
Types of Research Papers
Argumentative Analytical
Argumentative
The writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take in his thesis statement: Although it has been proven that cigarette
smoking may lead to health problems in the smoker, the social acceptance of smoking in public places demonstrates that many still do not consider secondhand smoke as dangerous to one's health as firsthand smoke.
Analytical
Usually begins with the writer asking a question on which he has taken no stance. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf and wants to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community: Though Beowulf is often read as a poem that
recounts the heroism and supernatural exploits of the protagonist Beowulf, it may also be read as a poem that served as an exemplum for tenth- and eleventh-century communities.
Choosing Your Topic
Select a topic that interests you Pick something you want to know more
about Choose something you can easily
research
Possible Topics
artificial intelligence cell phone use (dangers of…) cloning e-toys replacing human companionship genetic testing during pregnancy plastic surgery: creating the perfect person space exploration: beneficial or an
unnecessary government investment? stem cell research
Narrowing Your Topic
World War I
Literature of
History of
America’s role in
Weapons used in
Impact of
Causes of
More to consider…
Consider your audience Formal writing Third-person narration
Consider your purpose Argumentative or analytical
Research
When you find a good source you want to use, make sure you: Print the information directly from the
source Start reading through and organizing
information highlighting
Sources
Once you select a source, there is some basic information that you will want to acquire. This will include the details that you will need later when you compile your works cited page.
For an internet source, for example, you will need: Author’s name: record all if there is more than one Title of article or site Date of electronic publication (if available) Date accessed/printed by you
Consider numbering your sources for ease when writing later.
Writing Your Thesis Statement A thesis statement….
Is the key point or argument you wish to make about your topic
Is a summary of the most important ideas of your paper
Should be clear and easy to understand Everything in your paper should refer back
to the thesis.
Example Thesis Statements
You want to write an analytical paper that explains the challenge facing admissions counselors: One of the biggest challenges college
admissions counselors face is deciding to accept students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.
Example Thesis Statements
You want to write an argumentative paper that supports the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college: High school graduates should be required
to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
Vague Thesis Statements
The space program of the 1960’s helped to unite Americans.
The childhood of Queen Elizabeth I of England had a great impact on decisions she made as a ruler.
Thesis Statement Errors to Avoid A thesis must not be in the form of a
question.NOT: Should mothers have the right to genetically test their babies?
A thesis must not contain phrases such as “I think” because they weaken the statement.NOT: In my opinion, plastic surgery is ridiculous.
More Thesis Information
A thesis must not contain elements that are not clearly related.
NOT: All computers are not helpful; therefore internet use should be banned in elementary schools.
A thesis must not be expressed in vague language.NOT: Bad things have resulted from humans using text messages to communicate.
More Thesis Information
A thesis must not be expressed in muddled or incoherent language.
NOT: Stem cell research is a status offense because the participants are not willing so that the relationship is on volunteer basis and the donors are more like victims.
A thesis should not be written in figurative language.NOT: Bio-Engineered food is the phoenix bird of civilization.
S + D + FA = Thesis
S = Subject D = Direction (of your stand) FA = Focus Areas
Americans of Japanese ancestry have been discriminated against through the use of internment camps, educational tracking, and educational quotas.
Note Taking
Keep all information stored together (manila folder, pocket folder, or notebook)
Be sure to print and/or photocopy all the information Do not just copy and paste
Organize your research by color coding, using sticky notes/note cards, highlighting, stapling, etc.
Techniques for Notetaking
Summarize: reduce what you have read to a few important points using your own words Condense a chapter into a short paragraph or a
paragraph into a single sentence Paraphrase: restate what you have read using your
own words Different from a summary because it does not condense
the author’s own ideas but retells the information (using own language) in the same amount of words
Quote directly: record the statement or idea word for word and put quotation marks around this information
Parenthetical Citations
Any material taken from an outside source must be given proper credit in your paper. This does not include common knowledge,
which does not need to be cited. The information in reference citations in
the text must match the corresponding information in the reference list (works cited page).
Parenthetical Citations
The reference citation is inserted at the end of the sentence, as close as possible to the material it documents.
If the author’s name appears in a sentence in your paper, do not repeat it in the citation.
Orwell made this point earlier in “Shooting an Elephant” (65-66).
The reference citation at the end of the sentence precedes the punctuation mark that concludes the sentence.
More Citations
To cite an entire work, you need only include the author’s name in the text. Justus Buchler expounds this view in The Man of
Light.
If you cite the same author twice in succession, then omit the author’s name in a second citation, using the page number only.
He accepts a sad truth: “History is made by warfare…” (Gould 280). But he wishes to argue that aggressiveness and selfishness by no means define the human being (282).
More Citations…
If you cite a different author in between, however, you must include the author’s name again in the second citation. “History is made by warfare…” (Gould 280).
On the contrary, concern for others appeared early in history (Diamond 38). One must factor….(Gould 282).
Revising
Content Improving flow Readability
Clarity Logical order Transitions are clear Every paragraph is relevant to your argument
(thesis statement) Tone
Audience appropriate Limit use of passive voice
Editing
Grammatical errors Verb tenses Subject/verb agreement Pronoun references Missing words
Mechanical Mistakes Misspelled words Incorrect or missing punctuation Incorrect capitalization
Sentence Structure Comma splices Run-on sentences Fragments
Revising
ARMS Add sentences/words Remove unnecessary sentences/words Move sentences/words Substitute sentences/words
Editing
CUPS Capitalize proper nouns
names, places, months, titles, the word I Usage – match nouns/verbs correctly Punctuation Marks
periods, commas, colons, semicolons, quotes, question marks, exclamation points, hyphens, brackets
Spelling
Active or Passive?
Most of the class is reading the book. Results will be published in the next
issue of the journal. The recommendation was vetoed by the
president. The leaders are reaching a fair
resolution. Scientists have discovered traces of ice
on Mars.
Errors to Avoid in Formal Writing Do not use personal pronouns.
I, me, my, we, us, you Do not use contractions. Spell out numbers less than 100.
Parallel Structures
Mary likes to hike, to swim, and riding a bicycle. Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a
bicycle. Mary likes to hike, swim, or ride a bicycle. Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a
bicycle.
More Parallel Structure
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
The production manager was asked to write his report in a quick, accurate, and detailed manner.
More Parallel Structure
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.
The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
Heading
Your Name
Mrs. Mills
English IV
13 February 2014
Title
MLA Formatting Guide
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
For an Internet Source
Author and/or editor names (if available) Article name in quotation marks (if applicable) Title of the Website, project, or book in italics Any version numbers available, including revisions,
posting dates, volumes, or issue numbers Publisher information, including the publisher
name and publishing date Page numbers (if available) Medium of publication (always “Web” for anything
online) Date you accessed the material
Introduction
First paragraph of paper Often begins with a general statement
about the topic and ends with a more specific statement of the main idea of your paper (thesis statement)
Purpose of introduction is to let the reader know what the topic is and inform the reader about your point of view
Stimulates the reader's curiosity so that he or she will want to read about your topic
Body
Follows introduction Makes up a majority of your paper Consists of a number of paragraphs in which you
develop your ideas in detail Limit each paragraph to one main idea
Don't try to talk about more than one idea per paragraph
Proves your points continually by using specific examples and quotations from your research
Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph
Conclusion
Last paragraph of the paper Purpose is to summarize your points,
leaving out specific examples Restates the main idea (thesis
statement) of the paper
State Library
library.sd.gov
Criteria
Your research paper must be argumentative.
The writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take in his thesis statement. Although it has been proven that cigarette
smoking may lead to health problems in the smoker, the social acceptance of smoking in public places demonstrates that many still do not consider secondhand smoke as dangerous to one's health as firsthand smoke.
Choosing Your Topic
Select a topic that interests you Pick something you want to know more
about Choose something you can easily
research
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement…. Is the key point or argument you wish to
make about your topic Is a summary of the most important ideas
of your paper Should be clear and easy to understand
Example
You want to write an argumentative paper that supports the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college: High school graduates should be required
to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
NameSally StudentEnglish IV13 February 2014
TitleI. Introduction
a. Thesis Sentence: A technologically advanced society will eventually destroy itself due to fear, increased use of weapons of mass destruction, and advances in military intelligence.
II. Background Information (if needed)III. Thesis Topic #1 - Fear
a. Paranoia of Machine vs. Humansb. Relying on Machines more than Humans
IV. Thesis Topic #2 – Increased Use of Weapons of Mass Destructiona. More Violenceb. No Need for these Weapons
V. Thesis Topic #3 – Advances in Military Intelligencea. More Power Over the Peopleb. Increased Chance of Power Getting in the Wrong Hands
VI. Conclusion(Refer to your thesis sentence here and restate the idea in similar but not identical words.)
For a Book
Author’s name: record all if there is more than one
Names of any editors or translators Title and subtitle Edition (if other than the first) Publishing information: city, publishing
company, date Palmer, William J. Dickens and New
Historicism. New York: St. Martin's, 1997. Print. (Palmer 263)
For a Periodical
Author’s name: record all if there is more than one Names of any editors or translators Title and subtitle Title of magazine, journal, or newspaper Date of issue Volume, section, and issue numbers (if available) Page Numbers Peacock, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time
20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print. (Peacock 71)
For Macbeth
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Literature: The British Tradition. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2007. 306-394. Print. (Shakespeare 2.2.34-35). One can clearly see Macbeth’s guilt after
killing Duncan when he states “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more / Macbeth does murder sleep…’” (2.2.34-35).
Work CitedShakespeare, William. Macbeth. Literature:
The British Tradition. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2007. 306-394. Print.
Comma Usage
Compound Sentences His birthday party was last week, and it was fun.
Series The crowds, the aromas from the hot dog carts, and the talkative taxi
drivers made the trip memorable. Adjectives of Equal Rank
A tall, majestic building rose above the skyline. NOT: The long ticket line is moving faster than the shorter line.
Introductory Material When the United States entered World War I, he left Congress and
enlisted in the Army Air Service. Nonessential Information
The Dawson’s Boat House, where seagulls circle overhead, burned yesterday.
ESSENTIAL: The race was won by the champion runner Jackie Joyner Kersee.
Semicolons
Independent Clauses Not Connected Using Conjunctions The man was wet; he was standing in the rain
without an umbrella. Independent Clauses Using Conjunctive Adverbs
The capital moved to Philadelphia; therefore, the First Family moved as well.
Avoid Confusion With Items in a Series Contain Commas He asked her to work for him on Monday, March 18;
Tuesday, March 19; and Wednesday, March 20.
Colons
Before a List We need the following items at the grocery
store: milk, bread, cheese, and eggs. To Introduce the Effect of an Action
There was only one way he could win: to cheat.
Before Some Quotations This is what he had to say about
mathematicians: “I have hardly ever known a mathematician who was capable of reasoning” (Plato 71).
Direct Quotations
Represent Person’s Exact Words Use Single Quotation Marks When You
Have a Quote Inside of Another Quote Dylan Thomas mentions this in his book
when he states: “My psychologist felt that one Christmas ‘was so much like another’ for the boy” (Thomas 63).
Block Quote
More Than Four Typed Lines Do Not Use Quotation Marks Indent 2 inches
Gatsby experiences a moment of clarity while standing with Daisy on his dock. Fitzgerald writes:
Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now to him vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one (Fitzgerald 98).
Italics/Underlining vs. Quotation Marks
Long Works Are Italicized OR Underlined Books Plays Long Poems Movies TV Series Newspapers/Magazines
Short Works Are Surrounded By Quotation Marks Songs Chapters in a Book Episodes in a TV Series One-Act Plays Short Poems Articles
Brackets & Ellipses
Use Brackets To Enclose Words You Insert When Quoting Someone Else These words are written on a monument in
Japan: “Rest in peace. The mistake [nuclear war] shall not be made again.”
Use Ellipses When Words Have Been Omitted From a Direct Quote Charles Dickens writes in Our Mutual
Friend: “I cannot help it…I love her against reason” (Dickens 45).
Apostrophes
Add ‘s To Show the Possessive Case For MOST Singular Nouns The girl’s book
Add ‘ To Show the Possessive Case For Plural Nouns Ending In s The boys’ papers
Add ‘s To Show the Possessive Case For Plural Nouns Not Ending In s The children’s toys
Apostrophes
Make the Final Noun Possessive With Joint Ownership Will and Mary’s dog has won many prizes.
Make Each Noun Possessive With Individual Ownership Susan’s, Marie’s, and Alice’s papers were
graded by the teacher. Watch Out For Contractions
Whose, Its, and Their show Possession Who’s, It’s, and They’re Are Contractions
Farther vs. Further
Farther Physical Distance “How much farther until we get to
Grandma’s house?” the child whined. Further
Metaphysical or Figurative Distance “If you complain further,” the mother
responded, “I’m not letting you have dessert!”