I Decide on, or be assigned a topic.
A. Brainstorm sources, questions, directions that the topic suggests
II Research
A. Begin looking online, encyclopedia, library
B. Focus and narrow based on what you find
C. Look for a variety of high quality sources
D. Write down the bibliography info required (see below) as you find them
III Taking notes
A. Analyze the sources;
1. Information; read through the sources and record for the most important points
2. Point of view; read through the sources and determine the thesis of the author
3. Note any quotes that could be used to illustrate important points
IV or V Organize Main Ideas
A. Highlight the most important main ideas of your topic that you have found
B. Find the essential details that support those main ideas
A. Decide on your thesis; what do you believe about the subject?
B. Create a thesis statement; the clear, bold, supportable statement that your paper is trying to prove
C. Make sure that the statement does not have “I think,” “me,” or “in my opinion”
VI Outline (Organize)
A. After studying the information, decide the best way to logically organize it to make it easy to understand and be persuaded.
1. Write an introduction to the topic (many methods)
2. The thesis statement repeats in both the introduction and the conclusion
3. Decide the best order to present your evidence main ideas in order to prove your thesis and explain your topic logically
4. Your conclusion should review your evidence and/or finish with a good example as well as restating your thesis
5. Using Roman numerals to identify the different sections of the outline
A. Explain thoroughly each of the facts in your outline
B. Write fluent interesting complete sentences, with a variety of strong, powerful words
C. Use proper grammar, spelling, punctuations and capitalization (conventions)
D. Assume your reader does not know anything about the subject
VIII Create Title Page/Header
A. Choose a title that reflects the focus of the research. The header should include the title, your name, class name and date in an easy-to-read font.
IX Documentation
A. Documentation is vital in order to prove that the paper has not been plagiarized. Plagiarized papers will be not worth any credit, and in many colleges, are grounds for expulsion.
B. All new major concepts and theses should be cited in the text using standard MLA format (see MLA template)
C. Bibliographies entries should be in this form; Author, title, city, publisher, date. If a compilation or encyclopedia, list the editor in place of the author, or start with the title and list the edition number. For articles, include the title of the article and the magazine, and the page numbers. For Internet sites please find out the author and put the date of your search as well as the electronic address. Samples:
1. Carson, Rachel. The Sea Around Us. New York: The New American Library, 1961
2. World Book Encyclopedia. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997, Vol. 13.
3. Hitchcock, John T., “Fieldwork in Ghurka Country.” Anthropology Today, June 1970, pp. 45-50.
4. Brown, Steven. The House of Usher. Online. Internet. June 8, 1999. http://www.umch.edu/poe
D. Citation makers are available online
E. NEVER use a wiki website as a source; only as a place to start your research. Check the sources of the wiki; then use those
A. 1st Draft
1. Put the paper down for at least a half hour; preferably more. Read it out loud
2. Clean up any unclear language, awkward sentences and repeated words; check conventions. Make sure it is entirely in the 3rd person as a formal paper.
3. Make 2nd Draft
A. Follow the standard MLA format
XII Turn it in (and relax)