Writing a Research Paper

• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/index.html

• Drafting should the least time-consuming step

• Invention should take longer - freewriting, brainstorming, clustering/webbing/mapping

• Research & revision should take longer

Writing a Research Paper

• If you are struggling to write your paper, it may be because:– you don’t know what you’re saying– you’re revising while you’re writing

Writing a Research Paper

• Procrastination (waiting until the last minute) is a habit and usually occurs because students are afraid to make mistakes on their draft

• To avoid procrastination:– Pretend your first draft is an essay exam– Set small goals for yourself– Imagine you have to give an oral presentation on

your subject

Writing a Research Paper

• Other tips to combat procrastination:– Record yourself on tape and transcribe your

words– Use freewriting and other invention tips

• Use the prompt “I’m stuck because….”

• Then respond with “What I need to do to get unstuck….”

Writing a Research PaperIntroduction

• An introduction should arouse a reader’s interest, introduce the subject and answer the So What? Question

• You don’t have to write the intro first

• Your thesis/question should probably be near the end of the first paragraph with some important background information before it

Writing a Research Paper

• Different ways to start the first sentence– Begin with a quotation, question,

opposite opinion, very short narrative, interesting fact, explanation of a term, paradox or analogy

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• Body paragraphs provide support for your thesis

• The number of paragraphs depends on the length of your paper and the complexity of each subtopic

• A rule of thumb is at least one paragraph per double-spaced page

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• Moving through an essay is like walking in hilly terrain

• The writer should take the reader through peaks and valleys

• Peaks - high points, more general abstract words

• Valleys - low points, examples, specific words

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• After an example, move back up again to a hill - so the reader can see the example in context

• If your essay is nothing but abstract concepts OR only examples, then readers will become lost and/or lose interest

• Try to achieve a balance between general ideas and specific details

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• Three most important features of paragraphs:

• Unity - the development of a single controlling idea usually presented in the topic sentence– All the sentences in a paragraph should support

the topic sentence– If they don’t - find another place to put them

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• Coherence - a quality where the writer makes it explicitly clear what the connections are between thoughts

• Tips for achieving coherence:– Repeat key words– Use pronouns for important nouns– Use demonstratives– Establish some logical order – Use transitional words

Writing a Research PaperBody Paragraphs

• Adequate development - paragraphs should provide enough details to support the topic sentence– If you say you will discuss the Chinese

influence on Japanese culture, then discuss that

Writing a Research PaperConclusion

• There is no set formula for conclusions, but here are some tips to keep in mind:– Don’t depend on your conclusion to sum up

your body parts - if you do summarize the body keep it short

– Don’t just restate your introduction– Point out the importance of what you’ve just

said

Writing a Research PaperConclusion

• More tips:– If your paper doesn’t have a definite

conclusion, mention this– Propose a natural next step for your field of

inquiry– Don’t end your conclusion with a quotation

or statement that could be the subject of another paper