Writing the Research Paper

1.       Choose  a topic on which you can be open-minded but definite in the position you take.

2.       Before making a decision, consider the reading selections related to your topic. You cannot form a defendable position or claim [thesis statement] UNTIL you have read about the topic itself. You may have a knee-jerk, automatic reaction to the topic, but not a decision that you have come to based on reason and logic

3.       Make a list of all the preliminary references you could use in writing your essay. In this step, it is much easier to go ahead and create your preliminary Works Cited page. (NOTE: it is preliminary because you may or may not use ALL the references in your paper. This is a short, short research essay, coming in at only 3 pages. You should USE a minimum of 3 references in your paper.)

4.       To create a Works Cited page in MLA format, use either www.easybib.com or the Purdue OWL MLA Formatting and Style Guide: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

In most cases, you should be able to use Easybib for all your needs on this paper, BUT if ever you have a problem, check with the Purdue OWL or ask me.  Creating a Works Cited page is not rocket science and you need only follow the “formula” and fill in the blanks.  What is the purpose of this Works Cited page? 

5.       Once your WCP has been created, write your first draft of the paper. Do not use your references. Do not try to make it perfect. Write your introductory paragraph (in all its imperfection),  making certain your claim is stated so strongly and clearly that even Uncle Si couldn’t miss it. THEN . . . write. Write. Write. Don’t worry about anything else except YOUR reasoning. Make sure everything you say is logical and reasonable.

6.       Once you have written that painful first draft, put it down, go outside, play with the dog, take out the trash, go shopping, take in a movie, go to your job, spank the kids—or put them in time out--, watch the ballgame, hang out with friends . . . . you get the idea?

7.       Now that your brain is fresh, drag out that first draft. *Groan* NOW—go back and take a look at those essays that you read in support [or opposing] your position. Look for factual information that you can use in your essay.  DO NOT try to use all of it. DO NOT use long quotes. DO make sure it will fit into your essay.

8.       AFTER you have chosen relevant information, decide where it best fits into the paper, and use one of the following techniques to incorporate it SMOOTHLY into your work AND to cite the information.

a.       Paraphrase or summarize the information in the reference, with both author’s name and page number in the parentheses at the end of the sentence (Brannon 72).

                                                               i.      Explain significance of this information in the position your are stating

b.      Incorporate the author’s name in the sentence, along with the information, with only the page number in the citation (73).

                                                               i.      Explain significance of this information in the position your are stating

c.       Use a signal phrase to set up the quotation and information, ending with author (if not stated in the sentence) and page number.

Explain the connection between the works cited page and the internal citations.

9.       Compose the second draft. This will be still be a gnarly work and difficult, but  necessary.

10.   Repeat Step 6.

11.   After your mind is fresh, come back to your paper and refine and polish it.

THERE IS NOTHING QUICK AND EASY ABOUT A RESEARCH PAPER. IT IS HARD. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF READING. THERE IS NO WAY TO ESCAPE THE GRUNT WORK THAT MUST GO INTO IT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT—OR IN 3-4 HOURS. IT IS EXHAUSTING, IF DONE CORRECTLY. IT IS WORTH DOING CORRECTLY BECAUSE 20% OF YOUR GRADE RESTS ON THE WORK.