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Research and Writing

 

How to Research

Step-1 Select a topic or general area of interest.
  • Consider your interests.
  • Browse through magazines, textbooks, or encyclopedias.
Step-2 Gather general information.
  • Check the Library catalog for books.
  • Use Library databases to find articles.
Step-3 Focus your topic.
  • Browse the books and articles you've found.
  • Do some preliminary note-taking.
  • Look for repeated themes or ideas.
  • Select one area to use for your assignment.
Step-4 Do more in-depth research.
  • Use the Library catalog and databases to find addtional information on the specific topic.
  • Read through the materials and take notes.
  • Organize the notes.
  • Look for gaps or topics that need more information. If needed, return to the Library to gather more information.

 

How to Write a Paper

Step-1 Thesis
  • Develop your thesis statement, or the main point of the paper.
  • If you are writing a research paper, look through your notes to see if your information supports your thesis.
Step-2 Outline your paper.
  • Your paper will need:
    An Introduction, which includes your thesis statement
    Body paragraphs, each with one main idea
    A Conclusion to ties your arguments together and gives readers something more to think about
  • Decide what the main topic for each of the body paragraphs will be.
Step-3 Write the rough draft.
  • Incude citations if needed.
  • Follow your outline.
  • Just write. Remember, it's a rough draft. Get the ideas out on paper and fix them later.
Step-4 Get feedback from others.
  • Have someone else read and critque your paper. You can ask:
    Parents
    Friends
    Your school writing lab
Step-5
 Proofread and Revise.
  • Read your paper out loud.
  • Also try reading it backwards; this helps you focus on individual words and sentences, rather than the whole paper at once.
  • Look for spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes.
  • Decide if the paper flows logically and if the points support the thesis.

For more information about research and writing a paper, visit these websites:

Revision: From First to Final Draft

IPL2 A+ Research and Writing

 

 

For information about citing sources, see the Citing Sources page

 

 
Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 08:32
 
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