RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST

WORKSHOP SECTIONS: CONTENT CITATION CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL

THE CONTENT 1. Research and source evaluation 2. Thesis statement & Outline 3. Claim sentences 4. Organization 5. Support 6. Introduction 7. Conclusion

Gather/Evaluate Data

Keyword search Use synonyms for maximum data collection Don’t type too little or too many search words – whole prompt=> too little data – cold war US Russia => too much data d-research-synonyms/12540/ d-research-synonyms/12540/

Recommended search engines a-history-and-life a-history-and-life nytarchive.html nytarchive.html

As you collect data, make sure to record all the data (url address/writer/date) on 1 document. It makes citation much easier later /08/ 747/08/

THE CITATION Who wrote it? Knowing a person helps us identify the following: Consider: Name? Expertise? Did they do their own research? (references?) Belongs to an organization? When was it published? Based on this, determine whether you can trust the information. Refer to: Cheat-Sheethttp:// Cheat-Sheet

THE CITATION Remember, if you think that a source might not be reliable, do not be afraid to set that source aside, and find a more reliable one.

#1 THE THESIS

Fill out the thesis paper

Thesis definition Thesis Statement= What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it Bad example: -> doesn’t include a specific topic -> doesn’t include a plan of argument

Thesis statement If your prompt asks for a viewpoint: agree, disagree, or quantify If your prompt asks for an analysis: I dentify and consider most important ideas. Then discuss what happens in a specific event and why it is significant.

If your prompt asks to discuss: Summarize the overall content of your topic. Then pick out 1 or 2 points and say what you think about it. You can say the pro and con about the items involved.

THE CONTENT The following are characteristics of a thesis. Is it : CLEAR ARGUABLE APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED

THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis sentence that is not clearand one that is clear. INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS It decreases one’s ability to perform Smoking decreases one’s ability to quality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace. This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because the it is not clear. What does the work “it” topic is clear: smoking. mean?

THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is not arguable and one that is arguable: INCOMPLETE THESIS SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO A PERSON’S HEALTH. This is not a thesis statement because it is not arguable. COMPLETE THESIS SMOKING DECREASES ONE’S ABILITY TO PERFORM QUALITY WORK AT THE WORKPLACE. This is a thesis statement because it is arguable.

THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is not appropriately qualified and one that is appropriately qualified INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS Everyone knows that smoking Researchers maintain smoking decreases one’s ability to perform decreases one’s ability to quality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace. This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because it is not appropriately qualified. “Everyone” “[r]esearchers maintain” is appropriately Is too vague. qualified. “Researchers” is a specific one.

Thesis check Exchange your thesis with a peer. Check their thesis: - includes an opinion/argument about the prompt? -includes a plan on how they will argue? -all meanings clear? - nothing vague?

Outline Check if you have enough information to fit in the outline ->