13Planning and Writing a Research

Paper

22

Learning Outcomes

• Discover a meaningful research subject.

• Narrow your research subject.

• Create a researchable question.

• Write a preliminary thesis.

• Locate library and Internet sources.

• Conduct primary research through a survey or interview.

• Take notes from research materials.

• Create an outline.• Compose a first

draft of your research paper.

33Discovering a Research Subject (LO13.1)

• Find a suitable topic.• Understand the parameters.• Know what is acceptable.• Select your topic carefully.• Pick a topic that is interesting and

meaningful to you.• Utilize various methods to find a topic.

44Narrowing a research subject (LO 13.2)

• Narrow your broad topic.• Know the assignment requirements to help

you decide how to narrow your topic.• Consider the length of the assignment.• Know the number and type of sources

required.• Know the assignment deadline.

55Creating a Researchable Question (LO 13.3)

• A researchable question serves as a guide to the research process.

• An effective researchable question helps to develop a thesis.

• Determine what you know about your subject.

• Decide what you would like to know.• You can go back and revise your question

after you start the preliminary research.

66Write a Preliminary Thesis Statement (LO 13-4)

• A researchable questions cannot replace the thesis statement.

• Draft a working thesis.• Make sure your thesis includes your

subject and your opinion.• The working thesis will help you select

sources.• You may refine your thesis later as you

gather new ideas from your research.

77Library and Internet Sources (LO 13-5)

• Computerized Card Catalog– You can determine if the item is available or

checked out.– Search by title, author, ISBN, or subject.– Type key words to find what you need.– Spell the words correctly.– Try different key words until you find what you

need.– Use “and,” “or,” or “not” to help narrow a

search.– Print or jot down important information about

your sources.– Use the information to help locate the source

on the shelf.

88The Stacks (LO 13-5 contd.)

– Use the call number on the spine of the books to locate your sources.

– Determine how the library organizes its shelves.• The Dewey Decimal System divides

subjects into ten categories.• The Library of Congress Classification uses

twenty lettered categories.– Look at the books nearby to determine if they

may be useful.– If you can’t locate a book, ask the reference

librarian for help.

99Periodicals (LO 13-5 contd.)

• Periodicals include magazines, newspapers, and journals.

• Periodicals are good sources.• They contain precise and up-to-date information.• Magazines and newspapers tend to be more

general.• Journals are more in-depth.• Current periodicals are organized alphabetically

by title.• Old issues may be bound together and kept in the

stacks.

1010Computerized Databases (LO 13-5 contd.)

• Check with your librarian to find out if a specific database is available.

• If a database is available, ask the librarian for a password.

• When you locate possible sources, read abstracts of the articles.

• Email articles to yourself that may be helpful.• Make sure to use the full article not just the

abstract.• Some databases include: Info Trac, ProQuest,

LexisNexis, eLibrary, and eGlobal Library.

1111Reference Materials (LO 13-5 contd.)

• Most reference materials cannot be checked out.

• Do not use reference materials as primary sources.

• Online reference materials are also available.

• Be aware that Wikipedia is not a credible source for a research paper.

• Go to the web site of the American Library Association.

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Resources (contd.)

• Audiovisual materials are non-print media.– You may find useful

sources in this section of the library.

– The shelves are usually organized alphabetically and by type.

– Ask your librarian for help if you are unable to find what you need.

• Internet searches– Use as a

supplement to your traditional sources.

– You can access sources by using a Web browser.

– Search engines can help you find what you need.

– Remember, search engines are not sources.

1313Tips for Conducting Online Research (LO 13.5 contd.)

• Spell your search words correctly.• Use Boolean Logic to make your search more

precise.– Use “and” to look for sources that contain both

terms.– Use “or” to look for any of two or more words.– Use “not” to exclude one or more words.

• Click on hyperlinks to get more information.• Use the “back” and “forward” arrows to navigate

Web pages.• Bookmark or print out useful sources.

1414Evaluating Sources (LO 13.6)

• Author and publisher– Look to see if the

author has the appropriate credentials.

– Make sure the publisher and/or the Web site is reputable.

• Date– Check to see when the

information was published or posted.

– If the information is too old for your topic, find more current information.

• References– Check to see if the

author documented sources.

– Check to see if the source included a bibliography.

– If no sources are provided, you may consider looking for other sources.

1515Evaluating Sources (contd.)

• Bias– Make sure the information provided is fair.– Determine if the author may have an agenda.

• Effectiveness– Decide if the content is useful.– Determine if the organization is clear and

logical.– Check for information accuracy.

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Taking Notes (LO 13.7)

• Summarizing is condensing ideas from articles, chapters, or passages using your own words.– Include main ideas but

not specific details.– After writing a

summary, go back to the original to check accuracy.

– Summarizing helps in managing large amounts of information.

• Paraphrasing is restating a sentence or passage in your own words.– Your goal is to revise

the original and keep every idea.

– Change the sentence structure and word choice.

– Don’t overuse paraphrasing in your paper.

– Paraphrasing is helpful when the original is complex or technical.

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Taking Notes (contd.)

• Quoting is taking someone’s exact words and putting quotation marks around them.– Quoting should be used sparingly.– Only use a quote due to vivid wording or to

show an authority’s words.– Make sure to copy the statement word for

word.– Use an ellipsis (...) if you omit words.– Don’t alter the intended meaning of the author.– If the original passage contains an error use

(sic) immediately after.

1818Primary Research (LO 13.8)

• Surveys are questionnaires intended to gain information from people who are familiar with the research topic.– Clarify your purpose by knowing exactly what

you want to gain.– Choose your participants carefully.– Set clear expectations for the respondents.– Design effective questions.– Compile and interpret the results.

1919Primary Research (contd.)

• Personal Interviews– Clarify your purpose.– Choose your interviewee carefully.– Determine how you will conduct the interview.– Prepare your questions ahead of time.– Be courteous to the interviewee.– Take thorough notes during the interview.

2020Creating an Outline (LO 13.9)

• Select the major points.• The outline is the framework of your entire

paper.• Be flexible during the writing process if all

points aren’t covered from the outline.

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Composing (LO 13.10)

• Write a first draft of your research paper.• Consider your Rhetorical Star.• Follow the steps of the writing process.• Make sure your voice is strong within your

paper.• You may need additional paragraphs to

support each point.• Cite your sources.