Writing the Research Paper as a Path of Discovery An IPFW lecture by Worth Weller

The four easiest ways to get a “F” on a research paper Know what you are going to prove or discover before you start Create a “data dump” Engage in a “binary” (either/or) argument Reject everything you don’t agree with

How to write an “A” Research Paper Follow a path of discovery

Step 1: Know your audience A college research paper is written for an audience of informed, knowledgeable readers who are already somewhat familiar with your topic. They are not interested in a book report They want to know what you discover about this topic

Step 2: Know yourself If you can not find a way to make your topic meaningful and personal, don’t do it. If it is not important to you, it is not important to anyone else either.

Step 3: Know your library Be familiar with the electronic card catalog Use document delivery Explore academic databases

Step 4: Find a preliminary focus for your topic What do you want to prove? Argue? Demonstrate? Solve?

Step 5: Begin reading Use Ebscohost, JSTOR, CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, and IUCAT Highlight or use sticky tabs to mark arguments and quotable comments Read “smartly” – first paragraphs, last paragraphs, first sentences, TOCs, indexes, introductions, forewords, etc. Look for opposing arguments

Step 6a: draft an introduction and thesis statement The thesis statement “directs” your paper Topic + argument + summary of your argument = thesis statement Although the United States clearly is not ready for the legalization of marijuana for the same purposes that alcohol is legal, immediate steps should be taken to legalize medicinal marijuana because recent studies have conclusively shown that controlled marijuana use is the cheapest and quickest way to relieve the physical suffering of cancer and AIDS victims.

Step 6b: Review your thesis statement Give it the “so what” testso what Be prepared to revise the thesis statement after the paper is written

Step 7: Create an outline Have a planplan

Step 8: Evaluate your sources Are they too repetitive? Have you found enough counter-arguments? Do you have enough “examples” and “case studies”? Are they “academic”?

Step 9: Write a draft Use a templatetemplate

Step 10: Complete the Works Cited Template How to Cite Web pages

Step 11: Revise Ask someone else to read the paper Re-read it, asking yourself these questions: o Have I stuck to the thesis? o Do I present alternative points of view? o Is my organizational scheme clear? o Does my conclusion match my introduction?