Title: Basic Guide to Writing an Undergrad Research Paper
1Basic Guide to Writing an Undergrad Research Paper
- Based on Notes taken from material in Michael
Harveys little black book - The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
Presentation by Connie Steel
2Why is my professor asking for a research paper?
- Your professor is trying to help you develop
- knowledge
- critical thinking skills
- research skills
- analytical skills and
- writing skills!
3What does my professor want?
- Your professor is looking for three key things
- Accuracythe quality of your research balanced
sources appropriate references to your sources
and analysis - Economywriting clearly and concisely on the
topic in an organized way - Elegancethe style and voice of your writing
4How to allocate your time
5Steps One and Two with
time saving tips in italics
10Steps to Developing your Paper
- Formulate your research question and answer.
This will become your thesis. Find out your
length and format requirements! - 2. Conduct a literature review to put your topic
in context. Keep track of the sources you review
on your computer using the same word processing
program and format that you will use to write
your paper. This is your working bibliography.
It will save time later when you cut and paste it
onto the end of your paper as your works cited
list or bibliography.
6Steps Three and Four
10Steps to Developing your Paper
- Brainstorm counterarguments and viewpoints that
could be used to attack your idea. - Start your research. Type your thoughts and
notes in a computer document. Organize your
notes in a systematic way according to source and
page number to save time when you are writing.
Continue to add new sources to your reference
list.
7Steps Five and Six
10Steps to Developing your Paper
- Adjust or refocus your thesis statement
incorporating your new knowledge on the topic. - Create an outline of the major points of the
argument being sure to include the
counter-viewpoints. Use your outline to estimate
your pages of content. If you are a little short
try to find another source or two with new
information.
8Steps Seven and Eight
10Steps to Developing your Paper
- Cut and paste your notes into your outline making
sure to bring your references and page numbers
over as well. - Make coffee. Write your first draft using your
outline as a guide. Turn your notes and thoughts
into complete sentences and paragraphs paying
special attention to the beginning (for
organization) and the ending (for analysis).
9Steps Nine and Ten
10Steps to Developing your Paper
- Check the accuracy of your draft. Re-write and
deepen content where needed. Make sure to
reference materials from your sources and paste
your works cited onto the end! You can use this
checklist to help you as you review. - Print your draft and check for grammar, spelling
and punctuation. Correct these items and then
read the paper aloud for clarity and concision.
Here are more tools to help you.
10Sourcesthe two main types
- Primary Sourcesthis category includes
newspapers, studies, original statistics,
original theory work, the classics and works of
art and literature. - Secondary Sourcesthese are works that interpret
other works. For example a journal article that
analyzes someone elses theory or a literature
review.
See p.56 in Michael Harveys The Nuts and Bolts
of College Writing.
1110 tips on Finding and Evaluating Sources (from
Chapter 6)
- Critically examine internet resources. Sometimes
the opinions you find are interesting but there
are no quality control mechanisms. Use
electronic journals and databases instead like
the ones on the Drexel library website. - Read the bibliographies of your text books and
journal articles. These will lead you to more
source material.
12Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.
- Ask an expert or scholar. Take advantage of your
professors and research librarians. - To find out more about the author of a source,
you can google them. This will give you a
sense as to their reputation and will help you
discover any potential slant to their work. - For classic works age doesnt matter. Platos
Republic is still Platos Republic.
13Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.
- For works involving data, statistics or current
events, use either the newest data or the data
pertinent to the time period you are discussing. - Peer-reviewed publications, journals and academic
presses carry more weight, use them! - Look at literature reviews in scholarly journals
for more sources.
14Finding and Evaluating Sources, cont.
- When possible, go to the original source of
statistics that you find cited in a work. This
way you can make sure that the use of the
statistic stays in context when you quote it. - Dont be afraid to use analysis tools and
frameworks to make your interpretation of
resources more focused and relevant.
15Using Paragraphs (Chapter 7)
- According to Harvey there are four main paragraph
functions (74-75).
Example Description
Narration Definition
I would also add these three functions
Thesis Organization Analysis
16Paragraphs represent units of thought within an
argument (Harvey 74)
- Say Goodbye to the Five-paragraph essay.
- Although the idea of organizing your paper into
functional sections still applies, your paper
will need a more sophisticated paragraph
structure to express your ideas. - Start using sentence techniques to link your
paragraphs together - Use an opening sentence
- Link to the previous paragraph by repeating a
choice word or phrase - Use conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs as
listed in Chapter 3, pages 31-33.
17Quotes, Footnotes and References
- Harvey does a wonderful job of explaining how to
incorporate QFR into your writing on pages
58-68. - There is an appendix in the end of the book which
gives the three major formats for 37 different
types of sources. - When in doubt, reference it!
- Duke and Colorado state have great on-line tools!
- http//library.duke.edu/research/citing/
- http//writing.colostate.edu/guides/sources/docume
nt/index.cfm
18A Note on Honesty the Active Voice
- On page twenty, Harvey asserts that the passive
voice is frequently used to disguise, distract or
change the connotation of statements by
redirecting emphasis from the agent (subject) to
the acted upon (direct object). Avoid this
problem by using active verbs in the active
voice. See the rest of page twenty for more
advice. - Remember that you are writing a research paper
for a professor and not a memo for Enron! Your
job is to reveal what you have learned and not to
conceal what you dont want others to know.
19Beginning your paper
- It can be hard to get started. Here are some
things to do when beginning your paper - State your thesis
- Explain the context to the reader
- Explain the relevance of the topic
- Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and how you will
address them and - Establish the organizational structure of you
paper.
20Ending your paper
- If you are stumped on how to end your paper here
are some things to think about - Return to your thesis
- Summarize some major developments in the argument
and relate them to the broader context - You may wish to write about your own original
ideas and thoughts on the topic - Address any paradoxes you may have found while
doing your research and - Suggest future exploration ideas or research if
appropriate.
21Resources and Links
- The Drexel Library http//www.library.drexel.edu/
- The Drexel Writing Center
- http//www.drexel.edu/academics/coas/writingcenter
/ - Drexel Center for Learning and Academic
Excellence (215.895.2523) Located in Main
Building, Room 308, this federally funded program
provides support services, tutoring and
counseling to students who are low income, first
generation, or disabled. Programs include
Student Success Services, ACT 101, Vanguard
Scholars, STAR, and the Alliance of Minority
Participation as well as the Drexel Learning
Center, pre-college and graduate school
initiatives. www.drexel.edu/dclae - Drexel Learning Center (215-895-2598) Located in
the Creese Student Union Complex, Room 050, the
main tutorial and learning assistance center at
Drexel University. The Drexel Learning Center
provides individual tutoring for all Drexel
undergraduate students in all areas with the
exception of English writing. - It also coordinates a Supplemental
Instruction program for freshmen and sophomore
TDEC courses, as well as, courses in Math,
Business Statistics and Science. Students can
make appointments with a tutor online at
www.drexel.edu/dlc
22Work Cited
- Michael Harvey, The Nuts and Bolts of College
Writing. Hackett Publishing Company, 2003.