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The Research Paper Process Text Version |
Did that term make your stomach sink or did you feel like clicking to the next assessment? Relax and take your hand off of the mouse for a minute! Research papers have struck fear into the hearts of students for too long! They really are not so daunting if you understand that the purpose of the paper is take a position and use evidence to prove your point - you do that all the time when convincing your parents and friends! A research paper is not an overwhelming task if you break it into easy and manageable steps - which is what I am here to help you do. First, you'll want to think about your topic. What would you like to explore in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird? I have a few suggestions listed below, but you are welcome to make a proposal to your teacher as long as your idea focuses on To Kill a Mockingbird. Once you have chosen a topic, it's time to see what other people have to say on the idea. You can conduct your research using books, magazines, or reliable websites. As you research, you will take notes that you will be able to use to help you support your analysis. We'll show you how take notes and how to use that research in your writing. You will also learn how to correctly cite your sources and how to avoid plagiarism. Next you will develop your thesis statement which will make outlining your paper a breeze! Once you have your outline, you will be ready to write the first draft of your paper. Wait a minute! Did that make you feel overwhelmed? It shouldn't! By this time, you will have already done most of the hard work and you will have received detailed feedback from your teacher on each phase of the writing process. Writing will simply involve connecting your analysis to what the experts from your research had to say on your topic. You will then learn how to revise for the best possible draft. I am convinced that you are going to learn a great deal and that your research paper will be an assignment that will bring great satisfaction and pride! |
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