How do I go about doing a research paper?
When writing a research paper, first you should find a suitable topic and begin gathering as much information as possible about it. During this gathering of information, notes should be taken. When taking notes, try to paraphrase as much as possible to prevent plagiarism. Remember to input quotation marks for words copied exactly as you read them. All excerts from other sources must be cited. Also, any ideas taken from other sources must be cited.
By using an outline, it gives a writer a chance to organize the topics and to see what exactly it consists of before the actual writing begins. The writer will have the opportunity to shuffle different parts of the paper around to improve the tone and flow. Outlining information before writing also exposes information not needed and, will make the main points stick out. That allows you to spread them evenly.
Next, you want to decide on a particular writing style for the paper. The most approved, by English and humanities instructors is the Modern Language Association writing style. The MLA style gives the writer certain guidelines to go by when writing their paper. It protects the writer from plagiarism by demanding more of the writers' work. Another well known writing style is the American Psychological Association published in 2001.
Now begin your paper. As the body of the paper is being created, make sure that a good thesis is formed and the rest of the paper supports it. A good writer will use descriptive text to hold the attention of the readers. Include all quotations and all proper citations of works cited. If using Microsoft Word, be sure to check your paper with the spell check tool. Proofread your paper and it wouldn't hurt to allow a friend to proofread as well.
Works Cited
- Research Guide
- A Writer's Ref
- Hacker, Diana. "A Writer's Reference." 2003 MLA update pp.327-384
- Student Research Guide