Writing+a+Research+Paper

Writing a research paper takes practice. Following these guidelines to help you through the process. It will get easier over time.


 * Topic Development**: Most of the time you will be given a topic or you will have a list of topics to choose from. Since a topic is usually very general (broad) and you have little prior knowledge the best place to start is in an encyclopedia. You can also try a directory like Google Directory or Internet Public Library. After reading a little about the topic you may find some other phrases, keywords, dates, people, etc that lead you in new directions. Make sure you write down these pieces of information. This step provides you with **background knowledge**.

"Which one..." "How..." "What if..." "Should..."
 * Essential Questions:** After gathering background knowledge you should have a better understanding of the topic. At this point you will start to frame the topic within essential questions. Essential questions can not be found. They must be invented. Essential question starters are:


 * Thesis Statements**: Thesis statements declare what you intend to prove and give your work focus. It is customary that you begin with a tentative thesis based on your essential questions. As you gather more information your thesis may change. Eventually you will develop a working thesis and write your paper based on it.


 * Find Information:** In order to stay focused you must take **careful notes** as you search. Doing so will help you keep track of where you searched, the search terms used, and citation information. From this point on in your academic career you will be using a variety of resources. You will find information from books, databases, and the free web.


 * Search Tips:** Learn to use Boolean operators, truncation, and phrase searching. Used the advanced search screens of search engines.


 * Cite your Work:** You should be taking detailed notes throughout your research. Make sure to include all bibliographic information, including page numbers.

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