Writing a Research Paper Mary Anne Ellis 04/14

Steps to Research Writing Prewriting Prewriting Writing Writing Revising Revising Editing Editing

Prewriting Select your topic Select your topic Narrow your topic with a specific focus Narrow your topic with a specific focus Gather information Gather information Use various sources to gather information. Use various sources to gather information. Write a controlling sentence Write a controlling sentence Write a thesis sentence to focus your topic Write a thesis sentence to focus your topic Organize your information Organize your information Create an outline Create an outline

Thesis Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence. Your thesis statement should be at the end of the introductory paragraph, and it should have three points. Your thesis statement should be at the end of the introductory paragraph, and it should have three points.

Organizing your Paper I. Introductory Paragraph I. Introductory Paragraph Capture the readers interest Capture the readers interest End with the Thesis sentence End with the Thesis sentence Paragraph One – main point Paragraph One – main point Three supporting details Three supporting details Paragraph Two – main point Paragraph Two – main point Three supporting details Three supporting details Paragraph Three – main point Paragraph Three – main point Three supporting details Three supporting details Conclusion Paragraph Conclusion Paragraph

Introductory Paragraph Capture our attention Capture our attention Give an overview Give an overview State the topic State the topic End with the thesis End with the thesis

Supporting Paragraphs Begin with a topic sentence Begin with a topic sentence Support each topic sentence with three supporting ideas. Support each topic sentence with three supporting ideas. Create a logical order Create a logical order Use transitions to connect ideas Use transitions to connect ideas Conclude with a closing sentence Conclude with a closing sentence Cite your sources Cite your sources

Concluding Paragraph Reflect on what you have written Reflect on what you have written Bring it all together Bring it all together Leave your reader with something to consider Leave your reader with something to consider

Revising - Ideas Consider… Consider… Do I need to revise my thesis statement? Do I need to revise my thesis statement? Do I have enough information to support my thesis? Do I have enough information to support my thesis?

Revising – Organization Does the beginning introduce the topic well? Does the beginning introduce the topic well? Does the supporting information flow logically? Does the supporting information flow logically? Does the ending reflect what was presented? Does the ending reflect what was presented?

Revising - Voice Do you present the information in a knowledgeable confident voice? Do you present the information in a knowledgeable confident voice?

Revising – Word Choice Did you use words that describe your topic well? Did you use words that describe your topic well? Do your words express emotion? Do your words express emotion? Did you write in active or passive voice? Did you write in active or passive voice?

Revising – Sentence Fluency Are your sentences clear? Are your sentences clear? Did you use complete sentences? Did you use complete sentences? Did you use a variety of sentence structures? Did you use a variety of sentence structures?

Revising - Conventions Is the punctuation correct? Is the punctuation correct? Is capitalization used correctly? Is capitalization used correctly? Is your paper free from misused abbreviations? Is your paper free from misused abbreviations?

Editing Now is the time to recheck Now is the time to recheck Punctuation Punctuation Capitalization Capitalization Grammar Grammar Spelling Spelling Sentence structure Sentence structure APA formatting APA formatting Resources cited page Resources cited page

Your Turn… Now let’s brainstorm! Now let’s brainstorm! How can you get your reader’s attention? How can you get your reader’s attention? When you read something, consider what makes it interesting to you? When you read something, consider what makes it interesting to you?

Introduction Use a question (or multiple questions) Use a question (or multiple questions) Use a story or parable Use a story or parable Use a startling statistic Use a startling statistic

Introduction Use a quote from a notable source Use a quote from a notable source “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Introductions Now Let’s Practice!!! Now Let’s Practice!!!