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The nature of research
is to compare and contrast the ideas of others with your own. Writing a
term paper is the gathering, organizing and synthesizing of information.
It is a step-by-step process in which you, the researcher, formulate an
idea (hypothesis), using information (evidence)
to reach a conclusion.
Start Early
Research takes time.
Don’t wait until the last minute or you may find that the books you need
are checked out or that you are competing with other students for the use
of the same material.
Length of Papers
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3-5 Pages:
The equivalent of a 10-minute speech. This paper
should focus on one major point that you can support with 5 sources.
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8-10 Pages:
The equivalent of a 20-minute speech. This paper
should state, illustrate and discuss the implications of a topic
supported by 10 sources.
Topic Development
Choose a topic that:
Prepare a list of
possible topics
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Ask at the Reference Desk of the Nealley Library for
suggestions.
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Have your instructor share samples of model term papers.
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Browse through newspapers and magazines for ideas.
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Check one of these Internet sites for hot topics.
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm
Best Information on
the Net: Hot Paper Topics
http://www.personal.kent.edu/~hnsmith/topiclist.htm
Persuasive
Speech/Essay Topic List
Create a tentative
thesis and detailed outline
Concentrate on a
specific aspect of a problem. Break your topic into segments so that it
becomes more manageable.
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Arrange your ideas in
order. Write ideas not words.
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Refine and clarify
your topic. Be specific.
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Support every point
with evidence. Cite sources.
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Explain difficult
concepts and provide examples.
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Comment on opposing
argument and evidence.
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Introduce the
authority before a quote.
http://uwc.tamu.edu/handouts/draft/thesis.html
Developing a Thesis
http://dept.kent.edu/english/writingcent/outline.doc
Creating an Outline
Find introductory
information
When researching a broad
subject, a general encyclopedia will give you an overview and major points
quickly. Specialized encyclopedias concentrate on specific topics and
provide detail.
http://www.freeality.com/encyclopt.htm
Freeality Online
Encyclopedias
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/
Yahoo!Encyclopedias
Search the literature.
Published information on
a topic is available in
books, articles, and websites.
The process of finding
these documents is called a
literature
search.
For books, look in the
Library Catalog.
For articles, look in
periodical indexes or databases which are electronic
indexes.
For websites, use a
search engine.
Assembling the Material
Organize the information
Alphabetize your sources
(consider using index cards).
Record each citation
with all the information.
For books, this
includes:
Author(s), editor(s),
title, place of publication,
Publisher, date of
publication, edition.
For periodicals, this
includes:
Author(s), title of
article, source or journal which
Contains the article,
volume, issue, page(s), date.
Distinguish Between Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary
or
empirical data is used to support your thesis.
This means the
sources you use and cite are original. Examples are manuscripts,
diaries, letters, speeches, interviews, and published research.
Secondary
sources are works that collect, summarize, interpret or critique other
people’s research. Examples are encyclopedias, almanacs and
magazine/newspaper articles.
Evaluate Your Sources
You should not
assume that just because a library owns a particular book or article that
it is necessarily the best on that topic. Weigh the merits and formulate
your own opinion.
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What are the
author’s qualifications?
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Does the author
inform or persuade?
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Is the information
useful or repetitious?
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Is the information
supported by other data?
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Is other research
cited in your book or article?
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How current is the
information?
Use a Style Manual
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