Research paper

Research Paper

by Mr. MasenhimerMountain View Middle School

Purpose:* Your own thinking accompanied by scholars


* The use of books, articles, observations, experiments, and credible websites


* The use of books, articles, observations, experiments, and credible websites

* Backing your knowledge with the knowledge of the professionals in the field of your subject

Choosing a Topic* Have a specific purpose


Example: The psychological effects of playing violent video games (The topic is not "violent video games").


Example: The psychological effects of playing violent video games (the topic is not "violent video games").

* Take a particular angle on events, a person, or place



* Take a particular angle on events, a person, or place Example: Pearl Harbor: The beginning of the United States' involvement in WWII (the topic is not "Pearl Harbor").




* A topic that created change/effect




* A topic that created change/effect Example: Clara Barton: helped promote equal rights for women in the 19th century through progressive civil rights work

Choosing a Topic Cont. * Take a position that others might challenge or oppose

Choosing a Topic Cont. * Take a position that others might challenge or oppose Example: Jackie Robinson, the great African American baseball player, was the original pioneer to ending racial segregation in America.


* Must pass a "so what?" test



Example: The history of bicycles.



Example: The history of bicycles. Pass?



Example: The history of bicycles. Pass? No. How about this? Individuals are increasingly using bicycles as means to commute in order to reduce pollution.

Creating Questions

* Equivalent to "categories"

Creating Questions

* Equivalent to "categories" *Focus research to specific details instead of random facts

Creating Questions

* Equivalent to "categories" * Focus research to specific details instead of random facts

* Often the importance, your topics past, its present, and its future.

Creating Questions

* Equivalent to "categories" * Focus research to specific details instead of random facts

* Often the importance, your topics past, its present, and its future.

* Example: Topic: The psychological effects of playing violent video games. Question #1: How do people that play violent video games respond to violence that aren't in the games?

Creating Questions

* Example: Topic: The psychological effects of playing violent video games. Question #1: How do people that play violent video games respond to violence that isn't in the games? Note: The questions allow for your research to answer by paraphrasing, listing, or quoting your sources.

Creating Questions

* Example: Topic: The psychological effects of playing violent video games. Question #1: How do people that play violent video games respond to violence that isn't in the games? Note: The questions allow for your research to answer by paraphrasing, listing, or quoting your sources. What would be another good question for this topic?

Gathering Evidence/Research

* Use some form of organization to keep you focused, and your information in one place


* Use some form of organization to keep you focused, and your information in one place Example: Note cards. Place your question at the top of the note card, answer by paraphrasing, quoting, or listing, and then write down all information and where it was found on the other side of the card.



* An outline in a Google doc



* An outline in a Google doc

Example: Have your questions listed, and place the info into that category along with the source in which it was found

Types of Sources

* Primary Sources: "first" or, "original." Think the actual document itself.

Types of Sources


Example: a movie, an interview, a photograph, etc.

Types of Sources



* Secondary Sources: information that has been processed by somebody else.

Types of Sources



* Secondary Sources: information that has been processed by somebody else.

Example: An article about an experience, a commentary, a critique, etc.

Finding Sources

* Print and Electronic Sources: Example: books, journals, websites, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Finding Sources


* Observations:

Example: watching, listening, and using your senses.

Finding Sources


* Observations:

Example: watching, listening, and using your senses.

* Interviews:

Example: allows to get the answers you are really looking for.

Finding Sources Cont.

*Surveys: Example: allow you to see people's opinions and can be used as a great source in a research paper

Finding Sources Cont.

*Surveys: Example: allow you to see people's opinions and can be used as a great source in a research paper

* Experiments: Example: a primary source

Citing Sources Correctly

* Books: Author or editor (last name first). Title (italicized). City where the book was published: (colon) Publisher, copyright date.



Example: Kurlansky, Mark. Salt: A World History. East Rutherford, NJ: Penguin USA, 2003.



Example: Kurlansky, Mark. Salt: A World History. East Rutherford, NJ: Penguin USA, 2003.

The majority of this information is found on the second page (look for the copyright "c" with a circle).


* Encyclopedias: Author (if available). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of encyclopedia (italicized). Edition (if available). Date published.


* Encyclopedias: Author (if available). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of encyclopedia (underlined). Edition (if available). Date published.

Example: "Sodium Chloride." Columbia Encyclopedia. 2000.




* Magazines: Author (last name first). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of the magazine (italicized) Date (day/month/year): Page numbers of articles.




* Magazines: Author (last name first). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of the magazine (italicized) Date (day/month/year): Page numbers of articles.

Example: Hallett, Don. "THe Wieliczka Salt Mine." Geology Today Sept./Oct. 2002: 182-185.


* Newspaper: Author (if available, last name first). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of the newspaper (italicized) Date (day/month/year), edition (if listed): Section letter and page numbers of the article.


* Newspaper: Author (if available, last name first). Article title (in quotation marks). Title of the newspaper (italicized) Date (day/month/year), edition (if listed): Section letter and page numbers of the article.

Example: Tanner, Beccy. "Salt Mine Museum Could Spark Tourist Trade." Wichita Eagle 8 ay 2000: A9.


* Website: Author (if available). Page title (if available, in quotation marks). Site title (underlined). Date posted (day/month/year, if available). Name of the sponsor (if available. Date found <url>


* Website: Author (if available). Page title (if available, in quotation marks). Site title (italicized). Date posted (day/month/year, if available). Name of the sponsor (if available. Date found <url> Example: "Dry (Rock Salt) Mining." Salt Institute. Salt Institute. 10 May 2004. 31 Jan. 2012 <http://www.saltinstitute.org/mich-1.html>.


* Film, Video, etc.: Title (italicized). Type of medium (VHS, DVD, etc.). Distributor, date released.



Example: Modern Marvels: Salt Mines. VHS. A&E Television Networks, 1999.




* Interview: Name of Interviewee (Last name first). Personal Interview (if you conducted the interview). Date (day/month/year).




* Interview: Name of Interviewee (Last name first). Personal Interview (if you conducted the interview). Date (day/month/year).

Example: Strong, Wayne. Personal Interview. 31 Jan. 2012.

Avoiding Plagiarism

* defined: using other people's words and ideas without giving them credit.

Avoiding Plagiarism: Quoting

* Quote exact words: taking the exact words and punctuation from a source and putting it into your paper with quotation marks.



* Use quotes:a) if you can't say it any better and the author's words are particularly powerful for your paper



* Use quotes:a) if you can't say it any better and the author's words are particularly powerful for your paperb) if your source is well-know and authoritative in making the point



* Use quotes:a) if you can't say it any better and the author's words are particularly powerful for your paperb) if your source is well-know and authoritative in making the point c) if your position requires the reader to understand exactly what another writer said

Avoiding Plagiarism: Paraphrasing

* Paraphrasing: putting ideas of others into your own words. Your paper should have more paraphrasing of sources than actual quotes.



* Paraphrase if:a) when introducing a writer's position



* Paraphrase if:a) when introducing a writer's positionb) your position needs to draw on a scholarly source as a means of support



* Paraphrase if:a) when introducing a writer's positionb) your position needs to draw on a scholarly source as a means of supportc) when showing a brief example

Avoiding Plagiarism

* the difference between the two:

* Exact Quote: "The mine, which consists of 100 miles of tunnels, has never experienced a collapse or mine fatality" ("Dry").

* Paraphrased: The Detroit salt mine has never had a cave-in, and no one has ever died in a mining accident ("Dry").

Avoiding Plagiarism: Summarizing

* Summarizing: putting an entire position, article, text, or opinion into your own words without restating them directly.



* Summarize if:a) you want background information without using so much space



* Summarize if:a) you want background information without using so much spaceb) you want to name/source drop

Avoiding Plagiarism: Visuals

* Visuals: such as statistics, data, graphs, charts, photos, or illustrations are often more effective than trying to describe what it is that you are claiming.

Avoiding Plagiarism: Visuals

* Visuals: such as statistics, data, graphs, charts, photos, or illustrations are often more effective than trying to describe what it is that you are claiming.

* However, you must tell the reader what it is they are looking at.

Avoiding Plagiarism

* No matter how you use your information, you must cite each and every source appropriately.

Research paper

News & Politics