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Writing A Research Paper

This document outlines the stages of writing a research paper, including discovering a topic, finding and selecting sources, organizing information, writing an outline and prospectus, drafting the introduction, body, and conclusion, and revising. It provides guidance on each stage, such as posing the topic as a question, using primary and secondary sources, taking notes, summarizing and analyzing sources, and checking organization, paragraph structure, and documentation. The process is described as messy and recursive, with the stages providing a flexible guide.

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45 views3 pages

Writing A Research Paper

This document outlines the stages of writing a research paper, including discovering a topic, finding and selecting sources, organizing information, writing an outline and prospectus, drafting the introduction, body, and conclusion, and revising. It provides guidance on each stage, such as posing the topic as a question, using primary and secondary sources, taking notes, summarizing and analyzing sources, and checking organization, paragraph structure, and documentation. The process is described as messy and recursive, with the stages providing a flexible guide.

Uploaded by

HAYDN String Trio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER

This page lists some of the stages involved in writing a library-based research
paper.

Although this list suggests that there is a simple, linear process to writing such a paper,
the actual process of writing a research paper is often a messy and recursive one, so
please use this outline as a flexible guide.

DISCOVERING, NARROWING, AND FOCUSING A


RESEARCHABLE TOPIC
 Try to find a topic that truly interests you
 Try writing your way to a topic
 Talk with your course instructor and classmates about your topic
 Pose your topic as a question to be answered or a problem to be solved

FINDING, SELECTING, AND READING SOURCES


You will need to look at the following types of sources:

 library catalog, periodical indexes, bibliographies, suggestions from your


instructor
 primary vs. secondary sources
 journals, books, other documents

GROUPING, SEQUENCING, AND DOCUMENTING


INFORMATION
The following systems will help keep you organized:

 a system for noting sources on bibliography cards


 a system for organizing material according to its relative importance
 a system for taking notes

WRITING AN OUTLINE AND A PROSPECTUS FOR


YOURSELF
Consider the following questions:

 What is the topic?


 Why is it significant?
 What background material is relevant?
 What is my thesis or purpose statement?
 What organizational plan will best support my purpose?

WRITING THE INTRODUCTION


In the introduction you will need to do the following things:

 present relevant background or contextual material


 define terms or concepts when necessary
 explain the focus of the paper and your specific purpose
 reveal your plan of organization

WRITING THE BODY


 Use your outline and prospectus as flexible guides
 Build your essay around points you want to make (i.e., don’t let your sources
organize your paper)
 Integrate your sources into your discussion
 Summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate published work rather than merely
reporting it
 Move up and down the “ladder of abstraction” from generalization to varying
levels of detail back to generalization

WRITING THE CONCLUSION


 If the argument or point of your paper is complex, you may need to summarize
the argument for your reader.
 If prior to your conclusion you have not yet explained the significance of your
findings or if you are proceeding inductively, use the end of your paper to add
your points up, to explain their significance.
 Move from a detailed to a general level of consideration that returns the topic to
the context provided by the introduction.
 Perhaps suggest what about this topic needs further research.

REVISING THE FINAL DRAFT


 Check overall organization: logical flow of introduction, coherence and depth
of discussion in body, effectiveness of conclusion.
 Paragraph level concerns: topic sentences, sequence of ideas within
paragraphs, use of details to support generalizations, summary sentences where
necessary, use of transitions within and between paragraphs.
 Sentence level concerns: sentence structure, word choices, punctuation,
spelling.
 Documentation: consistent use of one system, citation of all material not
considered common knowledge, appropriate use of endnotes or footnotes,
accuracy of list of works cited.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING


This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content
panels.

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Analysis Papers
Grant Proposals
Job Materials and Application Essays



Proposals and Dissertations


Research Papers
Thank-You Notes
Reviews
Scientific Reports

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