Guidelines for Writing Your Thesis PaperPart One: ResearchMrs. Ligo Library Media SpecialistBayshore Middle School

Research is a “life” skill

?

1. Primary Sources2. Books, Magazines,

Newspapers3. Searching on the Internet4. Using Databases

Finding Sources

Primary Sources vs.

Secondary Sources

Primary = personal

Secondary = summary

Finding Sources

Use books Reference Books, Encyclopedias, Biographies Use the online card catalog

Finding Sources

Searching on the internet

Make sure your websites are authentic

Who is providing the information? What does the information tell you? When was the information last updated? How is the information displayed?

Finding Sources

Use fact-checking “search engines”

Finding Sources

Use “keywords”

Finding Sources

Databases vs. Websites

Finding Sources

Tips for searching on the databases

Use limiters to narrow or broaden your search

Look for articles that are brief in length 1-3 pages

Save your research to a folderRemember to get opposing

viewpoints

Finding Sources

Choose a subject that interests youBrainstorm

What do I know already?What do I want to learn?

Narrow down the subjectDefine key words Preliminary research

Develop a thesis statement

Topic Selection

A thesis statement should be a “bold statement” reflecting the author’s opinion.

It must be supported, explained and proven in the body of the paper.

It should not be stated as “I think…”

The thesis statement is generally found at the end of the introductory paragraph.

Thesis Statement

Ask the question “why” at least five times

For example:Agent Orange in Vietnam

What I know already- It was a chemical used during the Vietnam War.What I want to learn-Why was it used? Why was it harmful? Why did it change the course of the war? Why was it called agent orange? Why would the U.S. use the chemical if it was hazardous to our soldiers?

Thesis Statement

Log in to the computers & type Destiny into the URL box

Use the menu of tools/access points

Use Bayshore LibGuides

You may want to start a list or “works cited” page of your sources as you are researching

Getting Started

Take your Time!!

1. Give an example of a primary source.2. Give an example of a secondary source.3. Where is a good place to start your

research and select a topic?4. How does a search engine work?5. What are the 4 types of resources for

research?6. How would you evaluate a website? (one

example)7. What is the difference between a website

and a database?8. Good keywords can help to narrow or

broaden your search. True or False?

Review

Bentley, Nancy. Don't Be a Copycat!: Write a Great Report without Plagiarizing. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary, 2008. Print.

Billy, Jennifer. Cell Phone Comparision. Digital image. Money Saving Secrets Blog. 8 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. <http://moneysavingsecretsblog.com/category/money-management/>.

College Comparison. Digital image. Thinksquad Blog. 23 May 2011. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. <http://thinksquad.net/tag/college/>.

Diary of Sophia Peabody Hawthorne (1809–1871)1862. Digital image. The Diary: Three Centuries of Private Lives. The Morgan Library & Museum. Web. 4 Feb. 2012. <http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?id=42>.

Gaines, Ann. Ace Your Research Paper. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2009. Print."Homework Center: Writing Skills — Infoplease.com." Infoplease. Family Education

Network/Pearson Education. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/homework/writingskills1.html>.

"Primary and Secondary Sources." Palm Beach School Talk Blog. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://palmbeachschooltalk.com/groups/digitalhub/wiki/4700b/Primary_and_Secondary_Sources.html>.

"Thesis Statement." Wheaton College Writing Center. Wheaton College, 2009. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Services/Writing-Center/Thesis-Statement>.

"What Are Archives? - Primary Sources in American History and Culture - Guides at Baruch College." Home - Guides at Baruch College. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/primarysources>.

"What Are Spiders on Websites?" Answers.yourdictionary.com. Love to Know. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://answers.yourdictionary.com/answers/computer/>.

Bibliography