Perhaps the most important step in writing a research paper is to:

CHOOSE A TOPIC

You should choose a topic that:

genuinely interests you is consistent with the purpose of the

assignment is appropriate for your audience is not too technical, too trivial, or too

vague

Once you choose your topic and have it approved, you must find an angle and narrow your topic to write a thesis statement.

A good thesis statement is a declarative sentence that states one main point clearly and concisely.

Thesis Statements

A good thesis statement is NOT: A statement of fact ex. An embryo is an animal or plant in an early stage of

development.

An expression of personal opinion ex. I think embryonic research is a waste of government money.

A vague generalization ex. Embryonic research is a topic of world debate.

A question ex. Is embryonic research equivalent to humans playing God?

Examples of Good Thesis Statements

General topic: Teenage runaways Specific topic: Reasons adolescents run away

Thesis: Many adolescents run away from home not

because of delinquent activity, but because they are seeking help.

General topic: Euthanasia

Specific topic: Arguments opposing euthanasia

Thesis: There are many strong religious arguments against the practice of euthanasia.

Choose the best thesis statement:

General topic: Embryo research Specific Topic: Arguments supporting embryo

research

a. I think the government should fund embryo research because it can be very beneficial to humans.

b. Don’t you think that embryo research has many benefits?

c. There have been many groundbreaking discoveries which have proved that embryo research is beneficial.

d. Embryonic research is an issue with many pros and cons.

Evaluating and Selecting Sources

Once you have chosen and narrowed your topic, you must search for sources of information which will help you to expand upon and prove your thesis statement.

It is suggested that you use at least THREE different sources of information. These may include:

Books Newspapers Magazines/Journals Videos Encyclopedias Authentic Web Sites

You will not have time to read through all sources at length. Skim the sources and ask yourself the following questions:

Can I understand the language used?

Does the source provide factual information that is directly related to my thesis statement? (Not just one person’s story)

Does the information seem fair?

Is the information repetitious?

Is the information current?

Also, when provided, be sure to check out:

Titles Subtitles Tables of content Overviews/synopsis

When you find a useful source of information, you must record the publication information on a source card. These source cards will later be typed on your Works Cited page.You must have at least three sources of information. Therefore, you will have at least three source cards.

Examples of Works Cited Entries

MLA Format

A Book by One Author

Last Name, First Name. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Year. Print.

Kramer, Norman. The Secrets of Genes. New York: Bantam Books, 2001. Print.

NOTE: If a source has an editor, not an author, you must write “, ed.” after the name.Kramer, Norman, ed. The Secrets of Genes. New York: Bantam Books, 2001. Print.

A Book by Two or Three Authors

Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Print.

Jones, Nancy R., and Martin Palmer. Unlocking Embryos. London: Mentor, 2002. Print.

Jones, Nancy R., and Martin Palmer, and John Redner. Unlocking Embryos. London: Mentor, 2002. Print.

A Book by More than Three Authors

Last Name, First Name, et al. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Copyright Year. Print.

Kramer, Norman, et al. The Secrets of Genes. New York: Bantam Books, 2001. Print.

A Book in which each chapter/article is about a different work and/or written by a different author. (Opposing Viewpoints, Current Issues, Taking Sides, MasterPlots, Novels/Poetry for Students, etc.)Last Name, First Name. “Title of the

Article.” Title of Book. Name of Editor, ed. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. Print.Sheppard, Elizabeth. “Lives Touch by Drunk Driving.” Contemporary Issues Companion: Drunk Driving. Louise I. Gerdes, ed. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Print.

A Reference Article (print encyclopedia)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article/Section.” Title of Reference Book. Edition. Year. Print.

Paulson, Jonathan. “Genetic Engineering.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. 11th ed. 2008. Print.

NOTE: Sometimes there will be no author listedfor a source. In that case, begin with the title.

“Genetic Engineering.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. 11th ed. 2008. Print.

A Reference Article (online encyclopedia)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article/Section.” Title of Reference Database. Web publisher, Year. Web. Retrieval date.

Green, Joshua. “Crop Circles.” Encyclopedia Brittanica Online. Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2008. Web. 15 November 2009.

A Reference Article (Encyclopedia from online database)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article/Section.” Title of Reference. Year. Name of Database. Web. Retrieval date.

Johnson, Henry. “Halloween.” Columbia Encyclopedia. 2008. WilsonWeb. Web. 15 November 2009.

A Reference Article (Bloom’s Literary Reference Online)

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. “Frankenstein.” Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature. 2008. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc. Web. 17 March 2009.

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article/Section.” Title of Reference Database. Year. Name of Database. Web publisher. Web. Retrieval date.

A Reference Article (ABC-CLIO American History)

“Jamestown.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2009. Web. 25 November 2009.

“Title of Article/Section.” Name of Database. Web publisher, Year. Web. Retrieval date.

A Reference Article (CQ Researcher)

Jost, Kenneth. “Gun Violence.” CQ Researcher 17.20 (2007): 457-480. CQ Researcher. Web. 25 November 2009.

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article/Section.” Database Volume.Issue (Year): Pages. Web publisher. Web. Retrieval date.

Journal/Magazine Article (Retrieved from Database)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”Journal Name Volume. Issue (Year): Pages.

Name of Database. Web. Retrieval Date.

Corby, Norma. “The Gene Poll.” The New Science Journal 14.3 (2007): 246-249. WilsonWeb. Web. 24 November 2009.

NOTE: Only include the given information in the citation. If volume and issue are not provided they cannot be cited.

Magazine Article (Retrieved from Database)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.”Magazine Name. Volume. Issue (Year): Pages.

Name of Database. Web. Retrieval Date.

Corby, Norma. “The Gene Poll.” The New Science Journal 14.3 (2007): 246-249. SIRSDiscoverer. Web. 24 November 2009.

A Newspaper Article (print)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Date, Edition: Page. Print.

Pearls, Mason. “Embryos Hold Key to Cures.” The Washington Post 22 April 2001, final ed.: A12. Print.

NOTE: If article is continued on another page, include a + sign. (A12+)

A Newspaper Article (online database)

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Date, Edition: Page. Name of Database. Web. Retrieval Date.Pearls, Mason. “Embryos Hold Key to Cures.” The Washington Post 22 April 2001. Infotrac Newstand. Web. 13 April 2009.NOTE: If the database does not provide the edition or the page, you cannot include it in your citation.

An Authentic Website

“Title of Web Page.” Web site. Web publisher, Date of Publication. Web. Retrieval date.

“Michael, Jordan.” ESPN.com. ESPN, 12 March 2009. Web. 24 November 2009.

NOTE: If you do not find a date of publication, you cannot include it in your citation.

Using Authentic Websites

You will usually be choosing authentic web sites if the web address ends in: • .org• .gov• .edu

Avoid using regular search engines such as Google, Dogpile and Yahoo. Use the databases available to in the school library.

Be sure to get teacher approval on any websites notfound through a school database.

Your three main goals for the week in the

library are to:

Formulate a GOOD thesis statement Find and record three sources of

information Take notes from those three sources

NOTE CARDS

Once you have located at least three sources ofinformation on your thesis topic, you can begin to take notes.

Selecting Information for Note Cards

Skim documents for relevant passages

Copy, paraphrase, or summarize information which is directly related to your thesis

Use only information relevant to common slugs

Use the appropriate headings on all note cards (next slide)

If you are careful about the information you select foryour note cards, the process of writing your paper/giving your speech will be much easier. Be sure to follow these steps:

common

Your note cards should be set up as follows:

SLUG(Topic of the note) Author’s Last Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________________INFORMATION__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Type of Card_______________________Page#____

Taking Notes

Use a direct quote Paraphrase the information Summarize the information

There are three major ways to record notes from your sources. You may:

Note Cards

You will be required to hand in 25 note cards.

You need to have the note cards properly formatted.

You should not have more than 3 direct quote cards or summary cards. The majority of your cards should be paraphrased.