6.2: Writing a Research Paper

• 6.2.1: The Purpose of Research Writing

  Sometimes you perform research simply to satisfy your own curiosity. Once you find the answer to your questions, your search may be over, or it may lead to more in-depth research about that topic or about another topic. Other times, you want to communicate what you have learned to your peers, your family, your teachers, or even the editors of magazines, newspapers, or journals. In your personal life, you might simply discuss the topic with your friends.

• 6.2.2: Choosing Your Topic

  You will also need to narrow your topic so you can formulate a concise, manageable thesis about it. Most writers find that the topics they listed during brainstorming or idea mapping are broad—too broad for the scope of the assignment. Working with an overly broad topic, such as sexual education programs or popularized diets, can be frustrating and overwhelming. Each topic has so many facets that it would be impossible to cover them all in a college research paper.

• 6.2.3: Managing Your Research

  Set up a project schedule that shows when you will complete each step. To develop your schedule, use a calendar and work backward from the date your final draft is due. Generally, it is wise to divide half of the available time on the research phase of the project and half on the writing phase. For example, if you have a month to work, plan for two weeks for each phase

• 6.2.4: Gathering Your Sources (Part 1)

  This phase can be both exciting and challenging. As you read this section, you will learn ways to locate sources efficiently, so you will have enough time to read the sources, take notes, and think about how to use them in your research paper. In addition to finding sources, research entails determining the relevance and reliability of sources, organizing findings, as well as deciding whether and how to use sources in your paper.

• 6.2.5: Gathering Your Sources (Part 2)

  One of the most important steps in conducting research is to “learn how to speak database,” as the sock puppet explains to the student in this video tutorial, titled “How to Use a Database,” created by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Library. As the video shows, to find reliable sources efficiently, you must identify single words or phrases that represent the major concepts of your research—that is, your keywords,....

• 6.2.6: Evaluating and Processing Your Sources

  You may benefit from seeking out sources that are current, or up to date. Depending on your topic, sources may become outdated relatively soon after publication, or they may remain useful for years. For instance, online social networking sites have evolved rapidly over the past few years. An article published in 2002 about this topic will not provide current information.

• 6.2.7: Applying Your Research

  Beginning writers sometimes attempt to transform a pile of note cards into a formal research paper without any intermediary step. This approach presents problems. The writer’s original question and thesis may be buried in a flood of disconnected details taken from researched sources. The first draft may present redundant or contradictory information. Worst of all, the writer’s ideas and voice may be lost.

• 6.2.8: Writing Your Draft

  Research papers generally follow the same basic structure: an introduction that presents the writer’s thesis; a body section that develops the thesis with supporting points and evidence; and a conclusion that revisits the thesis and provides additional insights or suggestions for further research. Your writing voice will come across most strongly in your introduction and conclusion as you work to attract your readers’ interest and establish your thesis.

• 6.2.9: Revising Your Draft (Part 1)

  When writing a research paper, it is easy to become overly focused on editorial details, such as the proper format for bibliographic entries. These details do matter. However, before you begin to address them, it is important to spend time reviewing and revising the content of the paper. A good research paper is both organized and cohesive. Organization means that your argument flows logically from one point to the next.

• 6.2.10: Revising Your Draft (Part 2)

  Some studies have found that following a low-carb diet helped lower patients’ blood pressure (Bell 32). Again, however, excessive consumption of foods high in saturated fats may, over time, lead to the development of clogged arteries and increase risk of hypertension. According to the American Heart Association, “a high carbohydrate diet that includes fruits, vegetables, nonfat dairy products and whole grains also has been shown to reduce blood pressure.” Eliminating those foods in a low-carb

• 6.2.11: The Writing Process

  • 6.2.11.1: Writing as a Process
  • 6.2.11.2: Freewriting
  • 6.2.11.3: Brainstorming
  • 6.2.11.4: Journalist Questions
  • 6.2.11.5: Listing
  • 6.2.11.6: Clustering/Mapping
  • 6.2.11.7: Outlining
  • 6.2.11.8: Drafting
  • 6.2.11.9: Revising
  • 6.2.11.10: Creating Essay Titles
  • 6.2.11.11: Editing/Proofreading
  • 6.2.11.12: Final Revision Example
  • 6.2.11.13: Essay Checklist
  • 6.2.11.14: Thinking Critically About Research
  • 6.2.11.14.1: What is “Research” and Why Should I Use It?
  • 6.2.11.14.2: What’s Different about Academic Research?
  • 6.2.11.14.3: Primary Research Versus Secondary Research
  • 6.2.11.14.4: Scholarly versus Non-Scholarly Sources
  • 6.2.11.14.5: Sources that are Both Scholarly and Non-Scholarly?
  • 6.2.11.14.6: The Internet- The Researcher’s Challenge
  • 6.2.11.14.7: Evaluating the Quality and Credibility of Your Research
  • 6.2.11.15: The Research Essay
  • 6.2.11.15.1: A “Research Essay” or a “Research Project” instead of a “Research Paper”
  • 6.2.11.15.2: Getting Ready- Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Research Essay
  • 6.2.11.15.3: Creating and Revising a Formal Outline
  • 6.2.11.15.4: The Introduction
  • 6.2.11.15.5: Background Information (or Helping Your Reader Find a Context)
  • 6.2.11.15.6: Weaving in Evidence to Support Your Point
  • 6.2.11.15.7: Antithetical Arguments and Answers
  • 6.2.11.15.8: The Conclusion
  • 6.2.11.15.9: “Works Cited” or “Reference” Information
  • 6.2.11.15.10: A Student Example- “The Corruption Surrounding University Athletics” by Casey K. Copeman