Post on 02-Jan-2016
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SERIES 1:
OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
PROCESS
SJCC READING & WRITING CENTER
RESEARCH WORKSHOP
Exploring
Organizing and Analyzing Information
Ready to Outline and Write the Paper
Review of the Research Paper Process: What stage are you at?
Understand Your Assignment
Due dateLength of the paperTopic guidelinesStyleSources requiredAudiencePurposeOther guidelines or
requirements
What a Research Paper Can Look Like
A closer look at the Works Cited page . . .
TOPIC SELECTION
CHOOSE TOPICS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN! (If you are not interested in the topic, it will be harder to write an essay about it.)
If you have an open topic:Consider issues or concerns you
have in your daily life Hobbies Interests Favorite books/magazines/blogs/TV
showsObserve current trends that you
would like to research more (e.g. Social Networking, iPhone vs. Droid, Green Business, etc.).
EXPLORE YOUR TOPIC
Use prewriting strategies such as brainstorming, free writing, and diagramming/clustering.
Read about your topic in an encyclopedia, other reference guides.
Create a list of important issues, concepts, definitions, or facts to get to know your topic.
Make a list of words that commonly appear in your topic to use later as search terms.
Once you have a direction . . .
The next step is to find any valid sources that have been written or produced on your topic.
Explore ASAP because you want to make sure your topic is not a dead end. For example, you can’t find enough valid sources about elephants that paint.
Common Sources for Research Papers
Articles from the library database Scholarly vs. Popular Newspaper articles Trade or organization
publicationsBooks
Preview chapters and index if applicable
Do not read an entire book if you do not have to.
Websites The Wikipedia Talk .gov/.edu/.org/.com
Reference WorksQuick answers to factual questions and basic research tools, such as almanacs, dictionaries and encyclopedias.
Found in the reference section of the library.
Good place to start your search to gather more information and possible keywords to use in a database search.
Field Research Interviews Contacting Organizations
POPULAR MAGAZINES SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
TRADE JOURNALSNEWSPAPERS
Consider Your Purpose, cont.
Early on, narrow your topic to a controlling idea, purpose, or tentative thesis.
Topic + Your Claim = Working Thesis
From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic
Use words to show relationships or action to give your topic a direction: Childhood obesity in the
United States compared to other developing nations.
Acupuncture's effectiveness in treating depression in adults.
More words: develop, contribute, cause, influence, etc.
From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic
• Topic: I am studying_______________
•Question: because I want to find out what/why/how_____________________
•Significance: in order to help my reader understand________________________ Source: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, et al.(2008).
From a Broad Topic to a Narrow Topic
• Topic: I am studying cell phones in prison
•Question: because I want to find out what/why/how is the government reacting to the situation.
•Significance: in order to help my reader understand how effective is the government at policing its own prison systems.
Source: The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, et al.(2008).
Consider Your Purpose
Compare/Contrast Cause and Effect Explanatory (informing
readers about a topic) Argumentative (argue a
claim about a topic) Persuasive (convince others
of your point of view) Analysis (identifying and
explaining the parts of a thing or idea and how it works)
Or, any combination of the above examples best suited to express your purpose.
Series 1 Review
Remember . . .
Know your assignment requirements.
Choose a topic that interests you.
Visit the library in person or online to find valid sources.
Narrow your topic to a manageable size.
Ask for help at the Reading & Writing Center (L103) if you have any questions.