MLA Research Writing Process

First Step to Writing Research Papers

Have a general idea of what your research paper will be about.

-Are you arguing/persuading? Are you informing. Are you doing both?Begin research in the library and on databases.Keep track of all sources.

Why Do Writers Incorporate Research?

-Support your argument-Provide background information-Explain terms and concepts -Lend authority and credibility to your argument

Adapted from Diana Hacker‘s Bedford Handbook

Integrating Sources When integrating research, you must cite your sources in the text of your paper and on your works cited page.

Why do we use sources? -They support your argument.-They provide background information.-They explain terms and concepts. -They lend authority and credibility to your argument.

Incorporating Research: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing

--short sections of sources--about the same number of words --must be your own words and own structure—do not mix your words with author’s words

Summarizing

--longer sources--restate the meaning the author is trying to convey--must give credit to the source

Paraphrase“The attitudes that any person, especially an author, takes toward the world may change with the passing from adolescence to adulthood to old age. So also may the author’s means of expressing attitudes and judgments” (Arp and Johnson 9).

Is the following example correctly paraphrased? The outlooks that any person, especially authors, have change with passing from youths to adults to elderly. The author’s means of expressing attitudes and judgments change, too.

When Paraphrasing… Do not simply change a few words here and there. Change the structure and wording. Use roughly the same number of words to express the same

meaning as the source, but they must be your own words. Do not borrow the language from the source unless it’s really

necessary. If you do, put quotation marks around the borrowed words.

When Paraphrasing…

• Don’t look at the source! • Include signal phrases when needed.• Cite in-text.• Cite on Works Cited page.

“The attitudes that any person, especially an author, takes toward the world may change with the passing from adolescence to adulthood to old age. So also may the author’s means of expressing attitudes and judgments” (Arp and Johnson 9).

Correct Paraphrase:

As authors age and enter each stage of life, their perspectives on the world change. Not only do their perspectives change, also their “means of expressing attitudes and judgments” change (Arp and Johnson 9).

In-text Citations: Signal Phrases

Example of in-text citation with authors included in signal phrase:

Thomas and Arp point out that as authors age and enter each stage of life, their perspectives on the world change. Not only do their perspectives change, also their “means of expressing attitudes and judgments” change (9).

Parenthetical Citation Some critics agree that as authors age and enter each stage of life, their perspectives on the world change. Not only do their perspectives change, also their “means of expressing attitudes and judgments” change (Thomas and Arp 9).