Writing the Research Paper

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Writing the Research Paper

• Essential Information and Tips

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Step 1 Choose your topic

• If at all possible, choose a subject or an aspect
  of a subject that interests you
• Narrow down the topic. Notice the difference
  between
• Christianity and Islam A Comparison
• The concept of God in Christianity and Islam
• The role of Jesus in Christianity and Islam

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Step 2 Gather materials

• Have a focus for your paper a question that you
  want to answer -- e.g., How are Christianity and
  Islam similar and different in their concepts of
  God?
• Note this is not yet a thesis. A thesis would be
  a tentative answer to this question
• Put together a bibliography
• Professors will often require this

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Step 3 Take notes on your sources

• Use 3x5 file cards if they are helpful
• or 3x5 slips of paper
• or different sheets of paper for different
  themes/points
• Give each note a title and make sure you have all
  referencing information
• Use your own words when possible avoid excessive
  use of long quotations

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Step 4 Decide on a thesis

• A thesis is a statement that states an argument
  or makes an assertion.
• It is a statement that someone could disagree
  with!
• This thesis is tentative you may need to revise
  it between the first and the final draft
• You dont have a thesis if you say
• This paper is about . . . or
• This paper will discuss the question . . .

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Step 5 make an outline

• Thesis statement
• Development of thesis
• supporting research
• contrary research
• Conclusions/summary/reaction -- or a combination
  of these, depending on what your professor assigns

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Step 6 write the first drafts

• STAY FOCUSED ON THESIS! Eliminate materials that
  do not relate to it!
• Pay attention to the flow of ideas
• Reference properly all quotes, paraphrases, and
  uses of ideas from your sources!
• Run a spell and grammar check
• Print out paper or review on screen
• PROOFREAD!! Correct mechanical and stylistic
  errors
• Re-print paper
• The rough draft should not be the same as first
  draft that your professor sees

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Step 7 revise and rewrite!

• Take seriously all comments made by professors on
  your drafts!
• If not officially a multi-draft project, write
  at least two to three drafts anyway.
• Be sure to spell check, proofread, and check
  references for the final product.
• DO NOT turn in a paper with handwritten
  corrections.
• Final draft should be a refined piece of work
  clear, clean, coherent.