Starting your research paper Choose a relevant topic

Starting your research paper • • • Choose a relevant topic Identify possible research questions �Read about topic Select an appropriate question �Should have a focus �Not too broad Question should be challenging and interesting �Not too dry �Not too superficial Make sure your question is grounded �Avoid speculation and hearsay �Factual arguments are the best

Map out a search Stategy • • Use appropriate resources �Most material in the library has had editorial review �Some material on the internet has had editorial review �Lots of material on the internet is unreviewed and may contain significant errors – beware! �There is always a lag in publishing Order �Where to look first �Why? ▴ Ease ▴ Quality ▴ Relevance

Use the library • Get familiar with the library �Where is the library? �Who are the librarians? �Where is the reference desk? �Where is the reference section? �Where is the card catalog? �Where are the books? �Where are the periodicals?

Library Materials • • • Use library reference materials �Encyclopedias �Biographical references �Atlases �Almanacs and yearbooks �Unabridged dictionaries Use books Use periodicals Use newspapers Use other sources

Use the Internet • • Find sources using a web search engine Evaluating Internet materials �Who is the author? �Who sponsors the site? �What is the main purpose of the page/site? �What is the quality of the presentation?

Conduct Field Research • • Interview a professional in the field �Professor �Family member Conduct an opinion survey Contact professional organization Conduct experiments

Selecting Sources • • Identifiy sources �Consider the possible worth of the source �It is nearly impossible to compile every single article about a subject Preview sources �Don't read every word of everything that might be relevant �How current is it? �Is it too short to be helpful? �Can important pieces of a large document be identified? �Is it easy to get?

Previewing a book • • Judge a book by its cover Identify author and expertise Look at table of contents for relevant material See if preface contains the “why” of the book Scan the index for topics important for your research Skim headings and figures Read first and last paragraphs in a chapter (introduction and summary) Is the book readable?

Previewing an article • • Consider source of the article Who is the target audience Read abstract Read title Scan figures Read introduction Read summary

Maintain a Bibliography • • Books �Call number �Author(s) �Title and subtitle �Edition �Publisher information Articles �Authors �Article title �Source title �Date of publication �Page numbers • Web Pages �Title �Authors �Date of creation �Date viewed �URL

Reading • • • What is the type of source? �Primary sources are original documents �Secondary sources comment on original sources What is the bias of the work? �Why did the author write the work? �Does the source have a particular bias? �Does the source have a good reputation? Is a logical and valid argument valid? �What is thesis? �Are claims supported with logical arguments? �Are opposing views considered? �Are statistics accurate? �Are assumptions valid?

Avoiding Plagiarism • • Don't pass someone else's work off as if it was yours even if you have their permission! Always credit sources

Managing Information • • • Use a note card for every source �The 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” sizes work well �They make nice bookmarks! Make photocopies �Periodicals �Book chapters Print material from the computer �Web pages �News articles �Some periodicals

Take notes as you read • • • Paraphrase and summarize in your notes Quote the original source if needed Note your personal observations �Feelings about the work �Insights into ideas and concepts �Connections to other sources �Questions to resolve

Forming a thesis • Define your thesis statement �Use this in the introduction

Outline your paper • Use powerpoint! �You will need to make a presentation later anyway �It is easy to create an outline

Citing sources • • • Be consistent! Identify the source with enough detail for your peers to locate it Use MLA style as described in the Bedford Handbook

Voice and Style • Use your own voice and style

Organization • Use major section headings �Traditional Research Sections ▴ ▴ Introduction Methods Results Discussion and summary �Traditional is not always appropriate �Use your outline to form natural headings

Mechanics • • Use 8. 5” x 11” white paper �Don't Secure pages with a staple in the upper left hand corner �Don't use a binder �Don't use paperclips

Title Page • • • Use a title page Easily identifies your work Includes �Title �Your name �Course

Whitespace • • Use whitespace to enhance the visual appeal of your paper Include � 1”-1. 5” margins around the entire page �Set off paragraphs with indentation or blank lines �Double space the paper �Use single space for long, block-style, quotes

Other Details • • Number each page Use correct punctuation Use section headings to increase readability Use figures with captions to enhance understanding of concepts

Rewrite • • • Reread your paper Revise your paper Have a friend read your paper Revise it as needed Take your paper to the writing center Rewrite it using their suggestions

Bibliography • Bedford Handbook, Part IX