Title: How to Write a Paper
1How to Write a Paper
2Getting Started
- Step One Generate a research question (what do I
want to know?) - Step Two Break it up into smaller questions (How
will I find out?) - Step Three Find information
- Step Four Organize information
- Step Five Formulate your argument
3Finding Information
- Generate key words for Library/Internet research,
based on your questions - Get background info (5 Ws)
- Scan sources for important details BUT also read
for context! - Take organized notes!!
- DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!
- Use credible, reliable sources...
4Evaluating your sources
- Author/Organization (Are they an expert? Do they
have an agenda?) - Language (Strong? Vague? Positive? Negative)
- Quality of argument (What information are they
basing it on?) - Sources sources (how/where did they get their
information?)
5Sources Strong vs. Shaky
- Shaky
- The first thing you find on Google
- Student Essays
- Open sites (e.g. Wikipedia can be a starting
point) - News, web sites or other media (SOMETIMES)
- Strong
- Peer-Reviewed Journals
- Academic Databases
- Encyclopedias
- News, web sites or other media (SOMETIMES)
6Organizing your information
- Remember your questions
- Sort and sift Does this information answer the
questions? - Arrange information according to question or idea
- Draw conclusions
- Synthesize your information How does it answer
the bigger research question?
7Format
- Paper unlined paper, 8.5x 11 in size.
- Margins Leave 1 margin on all sides.
- Typed Times New Roman 12 font
- Double-space entire paper
- (Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs!!!)
- All paragraphs need to be indented.
- Only use one side of the paper do not write on
the back.
8Title Page
- Center the title approximately in the middle of
the page. - Do not underline or place quotation marks around
the title unless it happens to be a quote or the
title of a literary work. - Capitalize the first letter in the title and all
other words except prepositions. - Double-space the following under the title
Your Name, Course (Block), Teachers Name and
date.
9Title Page Page s
- Page s are to be placed in the upper right hand
corner of every page, including the title page
and reference page. - Use an abbreviated title, which is 5 spaces to
the left of the page number. - Do not use periods or brackets around the .
10Example of Title Page
Abb. Title
1 An Original Title Your Name ACS 11
A-Block Ms. Reid Due Date
11- Do not use contractions in a formal essay.
Instead of using dont use do not. - Do not write in the first person. Instead of
stating I think use One may think. - Write out numbers from 1 to 10 and any other
short number i.e. five instead of 5.
12DO NOT PLAGIARIZE!!!
- Plagiarism will be dealt with seriously!
- You must give credit for other peoples ideas,
opinions or theories!!!
13Citations
- Use APA in-text citations, which will direct the
reader to a list of references at the end of the
paper. They identify the authors name, the year
of publication. For direct quotes, also include
the page number. - Use citations when you
- Use quotes (exact words from someone else)
- Use ideas from someone else
- Summarize and paraphrase other sources
- Statistics
- Visual info. Such as tables, graphs, diagrams
illustrations - You do not need to use citations when
- It is your original thoughts and ideas
- Common Knowledge (Ottawa is the capital of Canada)
14Examples of Citations
- Quotations
- (Author, date, page )
- No date (Author, page )
- No Author (Abb. Title, date, page )
- Web site Same, but instead of page use
paragraph - ( symbol for paragraph) (Reid, 2005, 5) or
(Reid, 2005, para. 5) - If the authors name is mentioned in the text
- Ms. Reid (2005) states "Africa is in an economic
crisis due to European colonization and the
aftermath of the Triangular Trade" (p.5). - If the authors name is not mentioned in the
text - In a recent publication, one observer noted
"Africa is in an economic crisis due to European
colonization and the aftermath of the Triangular
Trade " (Reid, 2005, p.5).
15Examples of Citations
- Summary or Paraphrase
- Same as above, but you do not need to use page
s, unless using longer works. - Two Authors
- (Clarkson McCall, 2005).
- Three to Five Authors
- Provide the last names of all the authors for the
first citation. For subsequent citations of the
same source, use only the first authors last
name and abbreviation et al. - Example (Reid et al., 2005)
16Examples of Citations
- If you use a source that was cited in another
source (a secondary source), name the original
source in your signal phrase. List the secondary
source in your reference list and include it in
your parenthetical citation, preceded by the
words "as cited in." In the following example,
Booth is the secondary source. - Example
- Historian Ms. Reid states "Africa is in an
economic crisis due to European colonization and
the aftermath of the Triangular Trade" (as cited
in Rhymes, 2005, p.5).
17Quotations
- Less than 40 words Include it within your
paper, double spacing it the same as the paper,
and simply enclosing it in quotation marks. Add
the citation at the end of the quotation. - Over 40 words Double-indent the quoted passage
and single-space it. Do not use quotation marks.
18Introduction
- Things not to do
- Do not say In this paper I will or The
purpose of this essay - Do not use a dictionary or encyclopedia
definition to start your essay.
19Introductionsome ideas
- The introduction should be designed to attract
the readers attention and give an idea of the
essays focus. -
- Begin with an attention grabber.
- Option 1 Startling Information
- This information must be true and verifiable,
and it doesnt need to be totally new to your
readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that
explicitly illustrates the point you wish to
make. If you use a piece of startling
information, follow it with a sentence or two of
elaboration.
20Introductionsome ideas
- Option 2Anecdote
- An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point.
Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and
relevant to your topic. This can be a very
effective opener for your essay, but use it
carefully. - Option 3 Dialogue
- An appropriate dialogue does not have to
identify speakers, but the reader must understand
the point you are trying to convey. Use only two
or thee exchanges between speakers to make your
point. Follow dialogue with a sentence or two of
elaboration.
21Introductionsome ideas
- Option 4 Summary InformationA few sentences
explaining your topic in general terms can lead
the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence
should become gradually more specific, until you
reach your thesis. - If the attention grabber was only a sentence or
two, add one or two more sentences that will lead
the reader from your opening to your thesis
statement. -
- Finish the paragraph with your thesis statement.
22Thesis Statement
- The thesis statement tells the reader what the
essay will be about, and what point you, the
author, will be making. It maps out the paper as
it suggests an order or direction for the papers
development. A good thesis statement often
answers the questions How? and Why? - First gather the information that you would like
to include in your essay - Ask yourself what do the main ideas and
supporting ideas that you have researched say
about your topic? - The thesis statement is the last sentence in your
introductory paragraph. - Restrict your thesis statement by reducing it to
a more specific and manageable subject.
23Examples of Thesis Statements
- Aerobic exercise is good for you. (POOR)
- Aerobic exercise may be part of a weight loss
program, but it is also the way to a healthy
heart. (BETTER) - A thesis is limited. This means that you zero in
on the parts of your topic that you wish to focus
on. Otherwise you could go on and on forever (in
theory). - Example
- There are many advantages to having professional
sports teams in Chicago. (POOR) - Having professional sports teams in Chicago has
political, social and economic advantages.
(BETTER)
24Examples of Thesis Statements
- A thesis is supported by strong arguments. Its
important to discuss the best arguments in favor
of your thesis in addition to addressing the
strongest ones that go against it. - Example You can present your opinion on a
subject and someone else can say Okay, but what
about If you can counter their argument, youve
just strengthened your own. Imagine that you are
having a debate, it is important to see both
sides of the argument in order to best defend
your own.
25Examples of Thesis Statements
- A thesis takes some sort of stand. You may change
your mind on a topic you are exploring but in the
end, you must draw your own conclusions and
support them by research. - Your thesis represents where you stand in
relation to a topic or issue.
26Examples of Thesis Statements
- A thesis should be arguable. Reasonable people
should be able to disagree with your thesis. Its
not interesting of people cant dispute it. It
needs to be controversial enough so people want
to continue reading. - Example
- Sir John A. MacDonald was the first Prime
Minister of Canada is a fact people may respond
to by saying, Yeah, so what?
27Example of How to Build a Thesis Statement
- Half of all drug addicted babies are likely to
grow up in homes lacking good cognitive and
emotional stimulation and would benefit from
federal government financed programs to help with
their care. - Notice that this statement meets the five
guidelines reviewed earlier!
28Example of How to Build a Thesis Statement
- Programs for Drug Addicted Babies
- More attention should be paid to the environment
drug addicted babies grow up in. - Experts estimate that half of drug addicted
babies will grow up in home environments lacking
rich cognitive and emotional stimulation.
29Writing the Body Paragraphs
- The topic you have chosen must now be explained,
described, or argued. - Each main idea that you wrote down in your
diagram or outline will become one of the body
paragraphs. If you had three or four main ideas,
you will have three or four body paragraphs.
30Elaboration
- Elaboration can be further description or
explanation or discussion. - Supporting Point
- Commuters appreciate the cost savings of taking
public transportation rather than driving. - Elaboration
- Less driving time means less maintenance expense,
such as oil changes. - Of course, less driving time means savings on
gasoline as well. - In many cases, these savings amount to more than
the cost of riding public transportation.
31Each body paragraph will have the same basic
structure.
- Start by writing down one of your main ideas, in
sentence form.If your main idea is "reduces
freeway congestion," you might say thisPublic
transportation reduces freeway congestion. - Next, write down each of your supporting points
for that main idea, but leave four or five lines
in between each point. - In the space under each point, write down some
elaboration for that point.
32Transitional Devices
- Good transitions can connect paragraphs
- To Add
- and, again, and then, besides, equally
important, finally, further, furthermore, nor,
too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in
addition, first (second, etc.) - To Compare
- whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however,
nevertheless, on the contrary, by comparison,
where, compared to, up against, balanced against,
vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile,
after all, in contrast, although this may be true - To Prove
- because, for, since, for the same reason,
obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover,
besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any
case, that is
33Transitional Devices
- To Show Exception
- yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of,
despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes - To Show Time
- immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few
hours, finally, then, later, previously,
formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then - To Repeat
- in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as
has been noted - To Emphasize
- definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact,
indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively,
naturally, surprisingly, always, forever,
perennially, eternally, never, emphatically,
unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly,
undeniably, without reservation
34Transitional Devices
- To Show Sequence
- first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and
so forth. next, then, following this, at this
time, now, at this point, after, afterward,
subsequently, finally, consequently, previously,
before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus,
therefore, hence, next, and then, soon - To Give an Example
- for example, for instance, in this case, in
another case, on this occasion, in this
situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to
illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate - To Summarize or Conclude
- in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude,
in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said,
hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result,
consequently, on the whole
35Finishing touches of Body Paragraphs
- Once you have fleshed out each of your body
paragraphs, one for each main point, you are
ready to continue.
36Conclusion
- The conclusion brings closure to the reader,
summing up your points and providing a final
perspective on your topic -
- This paragraph should allude back to your
introductory paragraph and restate your thesis
statement (do not duplicate the one from your
introductory)
37Reference Page
- At the end of the report (on a separate piece of
paper), center the title References at the top of
the page. Do not italicize, underline or use
quotation marks around the title. - Number the page of your reference list the same
as the rest of your paper. (shorten title and 5
spaces and then page ) - Arrange all sources you used in a single
alphabetical list by authors last name or by
title if no author is given. - Double-space all entries in your reference list.
- DO not indent the first line, but always indent
the second or third lines (5 spaces). This is
called Hanging Indentation. - Always leave 1 space after commas and 2 spaces
after periods and colons. - Do not them.
38Reference Samples
- Book
- Author. (Date). Title. Place of Publication
Publisher. -
- Editor
- Name of Editor. (Ed.). (Date). Title. Place
of Publication Publisher. - Electronic Encyclopedia
- Title of Article. (Date). Name of Encyclopedia.
Publisher. - Encyclopedia
- Author (if given). (Date). Title of Article.
Name of Encyclopedia. - Volume , Pages.
- Magazine/Newspaper
- Author (if given). (Date, Month). Title of
Article. Name of - Magazine/Newspaper, Pages.
39Reference Samples
- Internet Resources
- Author. (Date). Title of Article. Retrieved
September 20th, - 2005 from URL
- Example
- Nielsen, M. E. (2000). Notable People in
Psychology of - Religion. Retrieved August 3, 2001, from
- http//www.psywww.com/psyrelig/psyrelpr.htm
- No Date
- Nielsen, M. E. (n.d.). Notable People in
Psychology of Religion. Retrieved - August 3, 2001, from http//www.psywww.com/psyre
lig/psyrelpr.htm - No Author, No Date
- Gender and society. (n.d.). Retrieved December 3,
2001, from
40 Title 5 References DiLorenzo, Thomas.
(2002). The Economics of Slavery. Retrieved
September 17th, 2007, from http//www.lewr ckwe
ll.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo29.html Dodson,
Howard. (2003). How Slavery Helped Build a
World Economy. Retrieved on September 17th,
2007, from http//news.nationalgeographic.com/
news/ 2003/01/0131_030203_jubilee2.html Field,
Ron. (1995). African Peoples of the Americas.
Great Britain Cambridge University
Press.. Slavery. (n.d.) Retrieved on September
17th, 2007, from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
slavery The Economics of Slavery. (n.d.)
Retrieved on September 17th, 2007, from
www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/ article_dis
play.cfm?HHID80
41Editing
- Check spelling and grammar.
- Read your essay out loud to yourself and then to
someone else - Make sure you do not have run-on sentences and
that you have organized paragraphs!!! - Make sure that your essay flows and is
interesting!!!
42Congratulations!
- Once you have checked your work and perfected
your formatting, your essay is finished.