Essay Essentials, Chapter 17

NETA PowerPoint® Slides
to accompany
Copyright © 2015 by Nelson Education Ltd.
prepared by
Rhonda Dynes
Mohawk
College
17-1

Preparing for Research
and Choosing
a Good
Research
Method
Chapter 17
17-2

What Is a Research Paper?
A research paper is not simply a collection of what other
people have said about a subject. It is your responsibility to
set the thesis, determine the focus, and control the
discussion. It is your paper, your subject, your main points;
ideas from other writers should be included as support for
your topic sentences. The research paper isn’t about how
smart others are; it is about how you organize and use
others’ information to support ideas of your own!
17-3

Documentation
One of the challenges of writing a research paper is
differentiating between your ideas and those you take from
sources. To separate your sources from your own ideas,
research papers require documentation—a system of
acknowledging source materials.
Documentation tells your readers that the ideas they are
reading have been borrowed from another writer; it also
enables your readers to find the source and read the
material for themselves. Two widely used styles are the
American Psychological Association (APA) style and the
Modern Language Association (MLA) style.
17-4

Tips for Writing a Research Paper
1. Don’t forget you still need a
thesis and well-organized ideas.
2. Choose a subject that interests
you.
Define the subject as precisely as
you can before beginning your
research, but be prepared to
modify, adapt, and revise it as
you research and write your
paper.
17-5

cont’d
3. Once you have a topic in mind,
do some preliminary research
and talk to a librarian.
Be specific when you discuss your
topic and your focus. Every
library is unique. Working with
the library staff early in the
research process can save you
hours.
17-6

cont’d
4. Even though your instructor may
be your only reader, think of your
potential audience as your
classmates or possibly members
of a professional organization.
Assume that your audience wants to
learn more about your topic, your
conclusions, and what evidence
you have found to support your
thesis.
17-7

cont’d
5. Manage your time carefully.
Divide the work into a number of
tasks, develop a schedule that
leaves lots of time for revision, and
stick to your schedule. Research
papers are usually longer than
essays, and the planning process is
more complex.
17-8

cont’d
6. When making research notes,
be diligent.
For every source you use, record
all of the authors’ names, the
book or document title,
publication data, and page
numbers. For electronic sources,
also record
the URL and the date you
accessed the website.
17-9

cont’d
7. Document your sources
according to whatever style
your instructor prefers.
8. Use your source material to
support your own ideas, not
the other way around.
17-10

cont’d
9. Revise, edit, and proofread
carefully.
If you omit the final step, all your
hard work will not be
rewarded.
17-11

A Few Basic Reminders about
Research Papers
• Your first step in writing a research paper is the same as
your first step in any writing task: select a suitable subject.
• Whether you are assigned a topic or choose your own,
don’t rush off to the library or log on to the Internet right
away.
• If you’re not sure what your instructor expects, clarify what
is required of you.
• Even if your subject is tentative, check it with the 4-S test:
is it significant, single, specific, and supportable
(researchable)? If not, refine it.
17-12

A Few Basic Reminders about
Research Papers cont’d
• Finally, consider what approach you might take in presenting
your subject. Does it lend itself to a comparison? Process?
Cause or effect? Deciding up front what kind of paper you
are going to write will save you hours of time, both in the
library and at your desk.
17-13

Ways of Doing Research
There is a variety of ways to
do research, and each method
has its own strengths
and weaknesses.
17-14

Ways of Doing Research cont’d
The Library Catalogue
Your library catalogue is the first place you should check when
beginning a research paper. It is accessible on computer
terminals in the library, as well as on computers outside of the
library, through the library’s website.
17-15

Internet Resources
If you do not have a subject guide to the “best of the Web” on
your library website, there are two important steps to locating
reliable information on the Internet: develop a good search
strategy, and then critically evaluate the results of your search.
17-16

Other Sources
Interviews with people familiar with your subject are excellent
primary sources because they provide a personal view, and they
ensure that your paper will contain information not found in any
other paper the instructor will read. Original research, such as
surveys or questionnaires that you design, distribute, and
analyze, can also enhance your paper.
17-17

Summary
• Writing a research paper is about interacting with
other people’s ideas, and this requires
documentation.
• A research paper requires the same attention to
detail as any essay, but it also requires taking good
notes and finding good sources.
• The library and Internet, as well as other primary
sources, are good ways of including data in your
research paper, but they all have strengths and
weaknesses.
17-18

Essay Essentials, Chapter 17

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Essay Essentials, Chapter 17