6: The Research Process
- Page ID
- 29508
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
Learning Outcomes
- Understand a research paper assignment prompt
- Choose, evaluate, and integrate sources from a wide variety of publications including academic journals
- Narrow a research topic.
- Use correct MLA format for essays and in-text citations.
- 6.1: The Ultimate Tool for Thinking and Sharing Our Thoughts
- The process of writing a research paper allows us to explore and reflect on others' ideas on a topic in order to form our own.
- 6.2: Approaching a Research Paper Assignment
- Dissecting the research paper prompt will help us envision the essay we are building.
- 6.3: Choosing a Focused Topic
- Often, we start with a general area of interest and narrow the focus as we learn more through our research.
- 6.4: Find the Conversation That Interests You
- When we research, we can look for a range of sources that make different kinds of contributions to the conversation; ultimately we will situate our own point within that conversation.
- 6.5: Types of Sources
- Identifying the type of each source we come across in our research can help us determine its reliability.
- 6.6: Getting Familiar with Academic Journal Articles
- If we know the purpose of the typical sections in academic journal articles, we can read or skim them more strategically.
- 6.7: Searching Databases of Academic Journal Articles
- Campus library databases and Google Scholar provide us access to peer-reviewed journal articles.
- 6.8: Strategies for Each Phase of the Research Process
- Choosing search terms carefully and brainstorming related words is key to finding out what others have said about our topic.
- 6.9: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
- Creating an annotated bibliography helps you evaluate sources and strategize on how to use them in your research paper.
- 6.10: MLA Essay Format
- Following the conventions of MLA essay formatting will boost your credibility as a writer.
- 6.11: MLA In-Text Citations
- Follow MLA in-text citation format when you quote or paraphrase so readers can find your source.
- 6.12: MLA Works Cited Pages
- At the end of an MLA paper, we need a formatted list of all the sources we have quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
