Writing a research paper in history Ms. Carmelitano Writing a research paper in history

Steps 1. Choose your topic 2. Thesis 3. Research 4. Note cards 5. Outline 6. Rough Draft 7. Final Copy 8. CITATIONS and works cited

Choose your topic What will you be writing your paper on? What type of paper is it? Informational Summarizes material from a variety of sources Analytical This goes further – the material is summarized and the writer analyzes it and presents their conclusions

Thesis Statement A good thesis statement IS NOT A statement of fact Merely the expression of a personal opinion A vague generalization A question A good thesis statement IS A declarative sentence that states the main point that the author wishes to make Usually a sentence that embodies a judgment, evaluation, or criticism. A statement you consider significant, so that if someone says, “So what?” you can answer that question

Research A primary source A secondary source An original text, document, interview, speech, or letter. It is not someone’s comments on or analysis of a text; it is the text itself. A secondary source NOT an original text or document; rather, it is someone’s comments or an analysis of a primary source

Research Use the library – books are a wonderful source! Evaluate internet sources carefully Who wrote the Web page? How qualified or knowledgeable is the writer? Is the writer an expert or a professional working in the area the Web site discusses? How accurate is the information? Does the Web page give facts or just the writer’s opinions? Verify the given information. How up-to-date is the information? Is the information biased (slanted toward one point of view), or are both sides of an issue presented objectively and fairly? Try to utilizes web pages ending in: “.edu” or “.gov” rather than “.com”

Note cards Use 3”x5” or 4”x6” index cards Each card should be used for ONLY ONE source Write down a quotation, or information from the source that you wish to use in the paper Remember to also write down the citation of the source for easy citations in the paper Write down the “point” the source is supporting

Outline Use your note cards to help you create an outline Each paragraph should have information that support your overall thesis

Rough Draft You should write a first draft of your paper When it is complete, go back and edit it… take out parts that are repetitive or do not clearly connect to your overall thesis Move paragraphs around so that they are in an order that makes the most sense, and flow well within the paper You may change/re-word your thesis at this point, now that you have created the initial paper

Final Copy Once you are happy with the rough draft, and have checked for spelling and grammatical mistakes, it is time for the final copy This should be the polished copy The paper should have a clear thesis statement, introduction, body which supports the thesis statement, and conclusion which wraps everything up.

Citations Every paper needs in-text citations, or foot-notes, or end-notes, and a works cited page Citations are needed for direct quotes AND when you paraphrase!! The only thing you do not need to cite is “commonly known facts” (Dates, That George Washington was President, sides during a war, that Guttenberg invented the printing press) In history, we use APA or Chicago style citations Works Cited Page an alphabetical list of all the sources you have referred to in your paper.