All You Need to Know to Write a Research Paper

The Quality of Information on the Internet No standard system of quality control means… Anyone can put something on the Internet - an amateur or an expert From anywhere in the World - be it the United Kingdom or Uruguay They can say anything they like - be it true or false And leave it there as long as they like - even if it goes out of date Or change it without warning - perhaps even remove it completely

Clues from URL’s URL stands for "Uniform Resource Locator" and is the address of the page you are accessing. DON’T Websites that end in.com are generalized and tend not to be credible sources. Avoid using them! Don’t use WIKI! DO Use websites the end in.gov,.edu,.org, or.mil. These tend to be credible sources (i.e. written by experts).

No date on the site? Type the following in place of the URL and it will show you the date the site was last updated Javascript:alert(document.lastModified)

Research Engines How do they work? They search the Internet -- or select pieces of the Internet -- based on important words. They keep an index of the words they find, and where they find them. They allow users to look for words or combinations of words found in that index.

The Perfect Search?

“The Google” is not “The God” Although it may seem a quick and easy option to turn to a search engine for your research, it might be more effective to turn to web services and databases designed specifically for quality research. It’s easy to miss key information - search engines only cover a portion of what is available online, a lot of information is hidden or invisible to them.

Database Searches – A better way?

Finding Info within a Site Hit ‘Control F’ – it pulls up a screen that allows you to put in a word or phrase and go to the next place where that word or phrase appears in the site/document

Electronic notecards I created my own template – not difficult to do.

Citation maker Easy Bib These again are linked on my webpage under MLA Format Guidelines & On the School Library Webpage under How do I….?

Note Cards & Source Cards

What are Note Cards, and why should I do them? Note cards are a simple way for you to gather and organize your research for easy access while writing your paper. Note cards also help you stay focused on information relating to your thesis! More importantly, creating note cards gives you practice in paraphrasing and summarizing information for your paper.

To Quote or Not to Quote, that is the Question… Direct quotations should be used sparingly! Use direct quotes only when necessary (and remember to cite properly when you do). A better idea is to PARAPHRASE, or restate in your own words. If the passage is too long to paraphrase or quote directly, summarize it!

How to Take Good Notes and Stay on Topic Make sure your source material is relevant! Does it pertain to your topic? Does it provide information concerning your thesis? Is it appropriate for your audience (your teacher, in this case) Did you gather it from a reputable source? (Remember to avoid personal websites)

How to Take Good Notes and Stay on Topic (continued) Include only one thought per card Make sure you include only one thought per card. (Do you get the idea that this is important?)

How to Create a Note Card Write the number of the bibliography card that represents the source you are using in the upper right corner of the card: 1

How to Create a Note Card (cont. again) Give each note card a topic or heading. Write the topic in the top line of the note card, to the left. Each index card needs to be a single thought. 1 Medical Experiments – freezing experiments

How to Create a Note Card (cont. again) Paraphrase or summarize your info. If you must copy the information word for word, use quotation marks. 1 Medical Experiments – freezing experiments Scientists at Dachau stuck prisoners in vats of icy water to see how long they could last before passing out and dying.

How to Create a Note Card (one last time) After you have written down your information, write the page number of your source near the bottom right corner of your note card. 1 Medical Experiments – freezing experiments Scientists at Dachau stuck prisoners in vats of icy water to see how long they could last before passing out and dying. Page 26

How to Write Source Cards for Research Papers The Research Paper

What is a Source Card? A source card contains a source you plan to use to strengthen the statements in your paragraph. Sources include the following: Internet Textbook (The Language of Literature) Book (from the library) Periodical/Magazine (from the library)

Sample Internet Source Card Internet "Macbeth." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. 9 Dec Dec acbeth&oldid= Author(s) 2. Name of web site 4. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site 3. Date last updated or created 5. Date of access 6..

Sample Textbook Source Card Textbook Title of Anthology (textbook). Edition (if applicable). Editor(s) name(s) listed Ed., then first name, then last. City Published (include state if city is unfamiliar): Publisher. Copyright date (most recent). Pages of selection The Language of Literature. Evanston: McDougal Littell Pages

Sample Book Source Card Frye, Northrop. Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, Book Author’s Last Name, First Name Middle Initial. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Sample Periodical Source Card Article Author’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Journal Title. Issue Number and or Volume (Publication Year): Pages of Article. Periodical Kimbrough, Robert. "Macbeth: Prisoner of Gender," Shakespeare Studies. Vol.16 (1983), pp

Plagiarism (or how to write a really kick-butt paper and fail anyway) Plagiarism is the act of intentionally or unintentionally copying someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. Don’t do this!!! This would be bad… If you are caught intentionally plagiarizing someone else’s work (or your sources), you could receive a big, fat ZERO for your paper grade. So don’t do this. Ever. Period. Exclamation point.

Outlining Sample Outline Fundamentals&iPin=HTWAWSa011#Sample%20Outlines

MLA 2009 Formatting and Style Guide

What is MLA? MLA (Modern Language Association) style formatting is often used in various Humanities disciplines

Sample 1st Page

How to do In Text Citation (Citing your sources in your essay)

In-text Example: Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263). Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263). Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263). Corresponding Works Cited Entry: Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. London: Oxford U.P., Print.

Print Source with Author In-text Example: Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using animals" (3). Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).

Print Source with Author Corresponding Works Cited Entry: Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method. Berkeley: U of California P, Print.

With Unknown Author In-text Example: We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has “more readily accessible climatic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change...” (“Impact of Global Warming” 6).

With Unknown Author Corresponding Works Cited Entry: “The Impact of Global Warming in North America.” Global Warming: Early Signs Web. 23 Mar

Work by Multiple Authors In-text Examples: Smith, Yang, and Moore argue that tougher gun control is not needed in the United States (76). The authors state "Tighter gun control in the United States erodes Second Amendment rights" (Smith, Yang, and Moore 76). Jones et al. counter Smith, Yang, and Moore's argument by noting the current spike in gun violence in America compels law makers to adjust gun laws (4).

Formatting Short Quotations In-text Examples: 1.According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184), though others disagree. 2.According to Foulkes's study, dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (184). 3.Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184)? 4.Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all I remember" (11-12).

Formatting Long Quotations In-text Example: Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

Adding/Omitting Words In-text Example for Adding Words: Jan Harold Brunvand, in an essay on urban legends, states: "some individuals [who retell urban legends] make a point of learning every rumor or tale" (78). In-text example for Omitting Words: In an essay on urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand notes that "some individuals make a point of learning every recent rumor or tale... and in a short time a lively exchange of details occurs" (78).

Sample Works Cited page:

The End