Part IPart IPart IPart I

Planning the Planning the ResearchResearch

Step 1:Select a Subject• Research: is the process of

gathering facts and evidence about a topic.

• Once you have gathered your information, you write a formal presentation, called a research paper.

Step 1:Select a Subject• Paper presents the results of your

investigation.• Research paper makes a point and

then supports that point with evidence.

Skills Needed• Reading• Writing• Organizing• Planning• Note-taking• Thinking clearly

Step 1: Select a Subject

• Can be assigned a general topic area

• Can be an idea of your own

• REMEMBER! SELECT A SUBJECT THAT INTERESTS YOU!

Step 1: Select a Subject

• UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT

• Length of the paper • Time allotted to do it• Subject: Is it content specific?

Step 1: Select a Subject

• UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS OF YOUR RESOURCES

• Too technical or complex• Enough info?

STEP 1: SELECT A SUBJECT RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

You are to research a 21st century topic and explain the negative or positive impact or the

importance of it; or discuss the advantages or disadvantages of a single

use of a 21st century technology; or persuade the need for a change in a particular

subject such as a policy or educational aspect; or other based on your own creation that needs to be

approved by your English teacher

***KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE ONLY WRITING A SMALL RESEARCH PAPER OF 2 1/2 FULLTO 4 PAGES SO YOUR TOPIC MUST BE NARROWED AND NOT TOO VAST TO TACKLE

Step 2:Narrow the Subject into the Topic

• Read background information• Far East• Japan• City Life• Puppet• Religion• Sports• Baseball• Sumo Wrestling• Rituals

Step 3: State the Objective

• Thesis-statement of your objective• -point you want to prove• -main idea of the entire

research paper• Easy thesis would be your point plus your 3 reasons in one formal sentence

Step 3: State the Objective

• Not an indisputable fact

• Examples: The Bororo men of the Amazon think that knocking out their front teeth makes them beautiful.

• George Washington was the first president of the United States

Sample thesis statements • The new universal healthcare plan will

negatively impact the United States citizens by reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3.

• For your research paper, you would use your own ideas and research to develop the following paper:– You would provide 1-3 paragraphs of

background information briefly outlining the new plan.

– You would then use your 3 reasons in a structured format to discuss how each reason proves the negative impact the healthcare plan will cause.

– You will close your research paper with an effective 1-2 paragraph conclusion.

Step 3: State the Objective

• Not a personal opinionExample: Tattooing hurts too much

to be worth it. I think pierced ears are disgusting.

Step 3: State the Objective

• Opinions can NEVER be supported with facts!

• Only evidence would be your own opinions!

Step 3: State the Objective

• Topic: Beauty• Excellent Thesis: People all over the

world are willing to suffer for what they think is beautiful by reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3.

• Not an indisputable fact• Not an insupportable opinion

Step 3: State the Objective

• People all over the world are willing to suffer for what they think is beautiful by reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3.

• Underline section is your main purpose or point.

• Your 3 reasons will be used to further support, explain, or prove your main point or angle

• Must gather evidence to support• Thesis presents argument or “angle” to

defend with evidence!

Step 3: State the Objective (your main

point)• Thesis: The Sioux Indians are being

treated more unfairly today than they were in the 1890’s. (This is a broad thesis. To narrow it more you can add your 3 reasons to your thesis or only discuss your 3 reasons in the body of your paper to prove this thesis).

• Words “treated more unfairly” must be defined and then proven in the research paper.

Step 3: State the Objective

• Ask questions:• Who?• What ?• Where?• When?• Why?

Sample thesis statements• The lyrics in Beatles’ songs reflect

where and how the members of the group were raised by reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3. (You can omit 3 reasons and discuss your paper or you can be more specific by including your 3 reasons in this statement)

• World War II radically changed American eating habits due to reason #1, reason #2, and reason #3.

Doing the ResearchDoing the Research

Part IIPart IIPart IIPart II

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• A bibliography (works cited page)is a list of books, database materials, website information, articles and other materials about your topic; it is the list of sources you will use for research.

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• Preparing a list of sources at this time will help you assure that there are enough materials available for a satisfactory paper.

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• At this stage the list is preliminary or working bibliography because during the rest of the research you will constantly make changes in the list as you discover new material and reject others that are not useful.

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• Start at library: look up nonfiction books-which are listed three ways:

• Author• Title• Subject-this search is what you will

use the most! Use Boolean terms: and, or, not.

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• And: Poverty and Crime

Search terms Results

poverty 76,342

crime 348,252

poverty AND crime 12,998

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• college OR university

Search terms Results

college 396,482

university 590,791

college OR university 819,214

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• cats NOT dogs Search terms Results

cats 86,747

dogs 130,424

cats NOT dogs 65,223

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

• All sources should be accurately entered in Noodletools as they are found.

You can delete as needed

Step 4: Write a Preliminary Bibliography

Research outside library:• Interviews (expert opinion—only 1 person)• Surveys/questionnaire• Writing letters• Television and radio programs (DVDs)• Community service organizations• Museum exhibits/special centers

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

• Organizes information you gather• Plan for researching

• Why called working outline?• Purdue Owl

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

• Write the thesis at the top of the paper

• Example: The art of glassblowing has a long and interesting history.

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

• Divide your thesis into two subheadings:

• The Art of Glassblowing• The History of Glassblowing

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

I. The Art of Glassblowing A. Materials B. Tools C. Techniques

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

II. The History of Glassblowing A. Inventors B. Development C. Early Applications

Step 5: Prepare a Working Outline

Thesis: The art of glassblowing has a long and interesting history.

I. The Art of Glassblowing A. Materials B. Tools C. Techniques

II. The History of Glassblowing A. Inventors B. Development C. Early Applications

• A Sample Outline

Research Question: What role does language play in Shakespeare's Hamlet?

• Thesis: Hamlet’s inner turmoil is conveyed to us not only through voice and gesture, but more importantly, also through word play, unusual choices in syntax and word choice.

• I.                    Wordplay - Life as fiction                         A. Claudius                         B. Gertrude                         C. Hamlet II.                 Syntax - Soliloquies illustrate Hamlet's inner emotions                         A. Examination of first soliloquy                         B. Hamlet’s response to his father’s ghost III.               Word Choice - Shakespeare's introduction of new words to

the English lexicon                          A. "To be or not to be" soliloquy – use of the word

"quietus"                         B. Hamlet’s choice of words in communicating with

Gertrude                          C. The graveyard scene                          D. Hamlet’s final words

Step 6: Take Notes• Write down the information from

your reading (research) that relates to your thesis!

• Statistics, facts• Quotations, expert• Examples• Use online note cards

Step 6: Take NotesThree types of note cards:

• Summary-main idea in a short paragraph

• Paraphrase-put information in your OWN WORDS !

• Direct Quotation-Copy “word for word”

Part IIIPart IIIPart IIIPart III

Writing the PaperWriting the Paper

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Write thesis on top

Example: Baboon family life and human family life are remarkably similar.

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Then take your note card subject headings and develop your main points for the outline.

• Example: young baboons hunting for food adult arguments interviews at the zoo

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Organize your note cards so that they are in logical order/group similar ideas

• Student: “First I worked with the pile of note cards on the baboon young.”

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Student: “I decided to put the note card about protection by parents first. This way I can talk about baboons when they’re first born.”

• Student: “ The next step is how they learn survival skills from their parents, so I put those note cards next.

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Student: “On this card there’s a good quote that ties with my thesis: ‘A young baboon’s physical independence from its mother does not sever their relationship. As with humans, emotional bonds endure.’”

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Student: “This will make a good link with the next idea-curiosity of the young. I can show how once they gain independence they begin to explore, just like human children.”

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Choose a pattern of organization -Chronological (time) -Spatial (area) -Classification (topics/characteristics) -order of degree (importance/value) -cause to effect or effect to cause

Step 7: Outline the Paper

• Choose a pattern of organization -Compare/contrast (similarities/differences) -Analytical (parts and their relationships) -Inductive/synthesis (specific-general) -Deductive order (general-specific) -Order of impression/association (sequence) -Hierarchical order (class to

subclass/subclass to class)

Step 8: Write the Draft• At this point you fill out each

section of your outline to present your ideas and support them with the information in the note cards.

Step 8: Write the Draft• Introduction: -start paper with an attention device

Examples: Quotations Stories Questions Unique Facts/statistics

Anecdotes

Step 8: Write the Draft• Introduction: • Thesis statement should be last

sentence in the introduction before the body of the paper starts.

Step 8: Write the Draft• Body of Paper: -develop main ideas -support with details

Step 8: Write the Draft

• Conclusion: -restate thesis and end with a clincher -Make your conclusion powerful

Step 8: Write the Draft• Revise the first draft: -check for content and

organization -check transitions

Step 9: Prepare the Final Paper

• Title page: MLA does not require a title page.

• See page 5 of Writing Research Papers.

• Example

Step 9: Prepare the Final Paper

• Some teachers want a title page.

• Example

Step 9: Prepare the Final Paper

• Title of paper should be based on your thesis statement and should be interesting/creative.

• Examples: -The Dream of Success in African American Poetry -Pandora: The Ultimate Punishment

Step 9: Prepare the Final Paper

• Remember show your draft to as many people as possible! What you do not see, others will!

• Proofread-verify parenthetical citations, spelling and punctuation!