WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER By: Snezana Blazeski

STEP 1: CHOOSING A TOPIC 1) Make a list of topics that you are interested in researching. 2) Narrow the list to the top three and do some research on all three. 3) Review the information that you have gathered and decide on one topic for your research based on how interesting it is to you and the amount of information that is available ( The more information that you have access to, the better your research paper will be.) 4) If you are having a problem with choosing your topic, take another look at it to make sure that it isn’t too broad or too specific.

STEP 2: GATHERING INFORMATION ON YOUR TOPIC 1) Make a list of questions that you would like to have answered. 2) Create a page for each question. 3) Begin your research on the topic of your choice and place the information ( Copy and paste or rewrite the information by hand if you are not using the computer.) in the appropriate “Question Page” along with all of the information about the source. You need multiple pieces of information ( at least 3) from multiple sources ( at least 3) for each question. NOTE: Use the available template pages on the Iblog as a guide: Question-1 Information Sample.docx Question-2 Information Sample.docx Question-3 Information Sample.docxQuestion-1 Information Sample.docxQuestion-2 Information Sample.docxQuestion-3 Information Sample.docx

STEP 3: COMPOSE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT Review the information that you gathered and decide on what you are going to focus on about your topic on your paper ( This is your claim. It answers the question: What about your topic?). Let the information that you gathered guide you. What is it that stands out from the information that you gathered? NOTE: Remember, as you write the paper, you may decide to make changes to your thesis statement.

STEP 4: CREATE AN OUTLINE Use an outline to organize the information that you gathered about your topic. Try not to get too wordy. Remember, your outline is similar to a blueprint of a building structure or a sketch of a work of art such as a painting. It is the beginning or basis of the paper, focusing on the main idea of each one of your paragraphs. Your research paper should consist of at least six paragraphs. NOTE: Use the “Outline” template on the Research Paper iblog page provided : Outline-Template-for-Research-Paper.docx Sample-Research- Paper-Outline.docxOutline-Template-for-Research-Paper.docxSample-Research- Paper-Outline.docx

STEP 5: BEGIN WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT Using your outline and information that you gathered about your topic, begin writing your research paper. This is your first draft, which means that it will be revised and edited, and many changes will have been made before your final draft is written. Remember that the first ( introduction) and last (conclusion) paragraphs are 3-5 sentences long and the middle paragraphs: 5-7. sentences long. Your writing should consist of the following: your statements on information that is well know by the general population summaries of your research ( The source must be cited in the text: in- text/parenthetical citation.) paraphrasing ( stating it in your own words) of information that you researched ( The source must be cited in the text: in-text/parenthetical citation.) Quoting ( copying) of information that you gathered ( The source must be cited in the text: in-text/parenthetical citation.) – Remember, you may quote phrases, sentences, even paragraphs as long as you cite your source. SAMPLE: Summarizing-Paraphrasing-Quoting Sample.docxSummarizing-Paraphrasing-Quoting Sample.docx NOTE: Pleas use the MLA guidelines for appropriate citation: researchpaper.pdfresearchpaper.pdf

STEP 6: CREATE THE WORKS CITED PAGE Before going on to revising the first draft of your research paper create your “Works Cited “ page using the MLA guidelines: researchpaper.pdfresearchpaper.pdf The “Works Cited” page will contain a list of all of the sources that you used to write your paper in alphabetical order, including: name of author/authors, title of article, title of journal/magazine/page, date, publisher, place of publication, website address, etc.

STEP 7: REVISE THE FIRST DRAFT Print out your first draft and review your writing carefully making corrections, using a red pen on the hard copy, such as: adding more information, changing the location of your writing from one paragraph to another or a different spot in the paragraph itself, adding phrases, words( ex. transition words) to make the writing flow, making sure you have included the source, and deleting unnecessary information. Once you have made the changes with a red pen, you go back to your saved first draft and insert the corrections. Print out this draft ( second draft).

STEP 8: EDIT THE SECOND DRAFT Review your second draft and using a red pen make corrections on: punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling using the appropriate editing symbols. Once you have made the changes by hand, go back to your saved second draft and insert the corrections. This is now your final draft. Print out your final draft. Put all of your drafts together, along with the Works Cited page and Cover Page and turn your hard work in for grading. Congratulations on persevering and a job well done!