How to Write Research Papers and Make Citations

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Edited by St. Croix CHS LMC Staff April 12, 2007

Last Revised by llhev: October 2007, 2008

1. Identifying TOPICS

(and related subjects)

Ø Sports Related topics: Games, Olympics Narrower topics:

Basketball, baseball

Ø Teen ParentingOther terms: Teen

pregnancyBroader topic: AdolescentRelated topic: Unwanted

pregnancy Abortion

2. List questionsExample 1: Astronomy:Astronomy:

universe, galaxy, constellations universe, galaxy, constellations Ø What is the meaning of astronomy? (dictionary) Ø Who are the persons known to study astronomy?When, where, How, Why

Example 2:What is a spotted salamander?Where does it live?What does it eat?How does it look?How does it differ from other creatures?How do they reproduce?

3. Create an Outline I.  Introduction II.  Main Topic        A.  Subtopic 1              1.  Supporting Detail              2.  Supporting Detail         B.  Subtopic 2               1.  Supporting Detail                2.  Supporting Detail Note:Roman numeral represents a new topic

III.Main Topic       A.  Subtopic 1             1.  Supporting Detail             2.  Supporting Detail       B.  Subtopic 2             1.  Supporting Detail             2.  Supporting Detail  IV.  Conclusion

3.Create an Outline I.  Introduction II.  Main Topic A.  Subtopic 1   1.  Supporting Detail   2.  Supporting Detail B.  Subtopic 2 1.  Supporting Detail  2.  Supporting Detail Note:Roman numeral represents a new topic

IntroductionSalamanders remain almost unchanged

from the first salamander that walked on the earth about 330 million years ago.

Chapter I. ___________The spotted salamander lives in

caves or under rocks and logs, and it only moves during the blackest hours of the night. It eats insects and worms and lives in the earthen darkness.

Salamanders have soft legs, clawless toes, and moist body. Although its eyes peer into the darkness, it does not move like other creature’s eyes. It only sees things that move. It “hears” with primitive ears that lie inside its head and along its body and tail.

. 4. Enumerate all POSSIBLE SOURCES

• Printed materials1. References - encyclopedias,

handbooks, directories, etc.

2. Magazines and other serials;

3. Posters, brochures, etc.

Non-print:1. Internet sources

2. Audio- Visual: VHS, DVD, cassette tapes , maps, realias, etc

Note:It is advisable to use at least one of each type

Usual Steps: 1. Develop your topic (Identify related subjects)

2. Write down all questions related to your topic

3. Create an outline

4. Enumerate all possible materials you could use

5. Prepare your supplies for note taking- note cards, highlighters, post it,

-Read your source and then extract interesting and/or important information. -List your sources on the note card. -Be sure to list only relevant information.

Title, author, etc.

5. Get ready for note taking- - note cards, highlighters, post it,

DO CITE.

DON’T PLAGIARIZE.

WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?

PLAGIARISM is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit.

Cranse, Jamie.

My Dad.

New York: Dell,

1999.

page

p. 23

If you’re quoting an author or using his or her idea, place in parentheses: (Author’s last name, page number) following the quote or paraphrased idea.

Sample answer:1. Quote an author. After the quotation, place in parentheses: (Author’s last name, page number.)

“What does it take to be a basketball superstar? Two of the three things it takes are easy to spot. Any great athlete must have excellent skills and tremendous dedication.The third quality needed is much harder to define, or even put in words. Others call it leadership or desire to win, but I’m not sure that explains it fully.” (Bock, p.6)

 2. Paraphrase an author. After the phrase, place in parentheses: (Author’s last name, page   number.)

There are three things to becoming a basketball superstar -- excellent skills, tremendous dedication and leadership or the desire to win. But the latest is the hardest to define. (Bock, p.6)

1. Taken from page 375 of Joy Bauer’s book entitled Food cures easy 4-step nutrition programs for improving your body, published in 2007 by Rodale in New York:

“Eating a huge dinner, or even a large before-bedtime snack, may make you feel drowsy, but the sleep won’t necessarily take. When you lie down and try to sleep, there’s a good chance you’ll feel uncomfortably full, which can keep you awake. Even worse, you may develop heartburns or gas, which will only increase your discomfort. I recommend eating a dinner that has no more than 600 calories (and optimally at least three hours before bed.)”

Get a direct quotation. Provide a citation:

 2. Taken from the magazine Organic Gardening under the feature section Science of Living, in an article entitled “Whining and dining”. The magazine is the August 10 –Sept. 2006 issue. The article is printed on page 26.

“Several amorous males clash to her side, and she departs the swarm with one of them. They mate on the wing, and she then sets out in pursuit of a bellyful of blood.” –Pam Ruch

Paraphrase the quotation. Provide a citation:

Bibliography

an alphabetized listing of all your sources.

Dean, Fare and Cathy Ireland.

The Chosen.

New York: Dell,

2001.

(Second and third authors

are NOT reversed)

Thomas, Evan.

“R.F.K. The Story.”

14 Aug. 2000:

Newsweek

48.

Twin towers of the World Trade Center burning. American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower, left, then United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower, right.SOURCE:

“September 11 attacks.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Viewed on Sept. 30, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_Terrorist_Attack

An example of a book entry: Author’s last name, first name. Book Title.

City of publication: Publishing company, publication or copyright date.

Marillier, Juliet. Son of the shadows. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, c2001.

Note: You must indent the second and third lines of any entry.

An example of an Internet source: “Title of Article.” Version date of publication.  Publisher.  Date you

accessed the website.  Website address.

“The national Sunday law.” 1968. A. Jan Marcussen. Sept. 30, 2008. www.seventh-day.org/Read_NSL.htm

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“September 11 attacks.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Viewed on Sept. 30, 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_ 2001_Terrorist_Attack

“Women in American History.” Britannica Online Version 98.1.1 Encyclopedia Britannica . Viewed on 10 Mar. 1998. www.britannica.com

“Albert Einstein.” Encyclopedia Americana. 1991.

Help For Works Cited:• MLA style• APA style• Citationmachine.comBook:Marillier, Juliet. Son of the shadow. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, c2001Magazine article:Landry, Donald W.. "Insights to shock". Scientific American 2004: 36-41.

Website source:Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. “Sept- ember 11 attacks.” http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/September_11,_2001_Terrorist _Attack. Viewed Sept. 30, 2008.

• Last name, first name of author.

• “Title of article within the website.”

• Name of website

• Date article was written

• Date you accessed the article.

• URL

Citation:“I recommend eating a dinner that has no more

than 600 calories (and optimally at least three hours before bed.)” (Bauer, p. 375)

Bibliography:Bauer, Joy. Food cures easy 4-step nutrition programs

for improving your body. New York : Rodale, 2007.

Get a direct quotation. Provide a citation and bibliography:

Magazine article:Landry, Donald W.. "Insights to shock". Scientific American 2004: 36-41.

Benefits Dean, “Pain”

“The greatest love one will have is for the teachers we remember.”

75

Gretta Garbo said,