Writing Research Papers By: Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Introduction • The research paper is an intensive study of a limited topic. • It involves collecting and investigating facts and opinions about a topic from numerous sources. • Using them to provide an answer in an intelligently precise fashion to some scholarly problem or topic.
Introduction • • • •
To make a definite point To inform and interest the reader The merit of the collected evidence Arrive at and express demonstrable conclusions.
Introduction • Concentration • Imaginative molding and adapting of the material. • Find accurate information • Familiarity with library resources • Objective in tone • Bias has no place in the research paper
The Commentary • To make a point – Writers of research papers should have the desire and the ability to make a point that will interest and inform the reader.
• Research techniques – The ability to shape the material derived from research – Select a topic that will permit you to form judgment and opinions which you will substantiate and support by authoritative reference material.
Writing Styles • The book style vs. the research paper style – In the book style facts are stated without critically commenting on them. – In research paper style facts are used to prove or illustrate a point.
A Poor Manuscript • Compile a paper by paraphrasing a few authorities • Inserting quotations abundantly • Presenting common facts and opinions in a research paper format • The thesis not explored or developed • A recital of investigation without the commentary • Summary • A mere restatement of general material • Strait biography • Sensational topics • A topic that is too broad • A topic that is not scholarly
Tasks • • • • • • • • • •
Sources to be located Books and articles to be read Note taking Footnoting of source material Outlining of paper Writing Graphics and illustrations Rewriting` Typing Proofreading
Choosing a topic •
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Select a topic that will be of interest to yourself and your reader the topic should be one for which ample reference material is available the topic should be one that has been examined and appraised by critics, experts, and authorities in the field it should not be too new.
Choosing a topic •
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The subject chosen must be well enough established to have received attention in these works. The availability of relevant reference material A regional topic is permissible if it centers around a region where you live. Select a topic that will permit you to form judgments and opinions Evaluation ….. Judgments ….. Conclusions
Preliminary Reading • •
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Will provide an overview of the subject Will furnish the beginning of a working bibliography Will enable you to determine the availability of relevant reference material Will make possible a careful restriction of the subject Begin with a book or journal article Start with a general survey Begin with an encyclopedia a biographical dictionary or some other general reference work
Restricting the Subject • The support you are able to provide for your judgments and opinions • Probe deeply and present accurate facts and ideas that demonstrate the validity of your argument • You cannot afford to be too ambitious in what you attempt to cover • The research paper is a comparatively short work, often no more than ten pages in length. • The subject should be one that can be handled within these limitations of space and time. • There is no sense of presenting only vague, indefinite statements about too-extensive, too- generalized subject. • Study all available sources
Forming a Thesis Sentence • A preliminary thesis sentence • The completed study will need the unity of a central purpose. • You should write, in one sentence, a statement of the controlling idea that will unite your various findings. • The thesis will thus serve as the nerve center of your paper. • Questions often aid in the discovery of a thesis, • The thesis itself should be a declarative statement.
The Working Bibliography • Compile references which you will eventually investigate as possible source material.
Bibliography card Author's Name: Surname, first name.
Library Call Number: Placed in the upper right hand corner of the card.
Title of work: Underline titles of books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. Titles of periodicals may be abbreviated. Titles of books followed by a period; titles of periodicals followed by a comma. Publication Information: For a book: the place, followed by a comma, the date, followed by a period. For a journals: the volume number, in roman numerals; the date, in parentheses, followed by a comma; the page (s), followed by a period. Personal notes: As to the type of material to be fond in this source or any special aspect it presents..
The Library • Before going to the library you should have the following: – an overview of your subject – a restricted topic – a thesis sentence – the beginning of a working bibliography
The Library • Bibliographies • Card Catalog • Books and Articles
Note-Taking • Direct your note taking toward the solution or clarification of one specific problem. • Before note-taking: – completed preliminary readings – familiarity with the range of sources – framed a thesis sentence for the restricted topic – determined specific direction of study – beginning of working bibliography
The Preliminary Outline Steps • Have your ideas on paper where you may examine them and find relationships. • Organize the items by grouping your main topics and relating subordinate elements to them. • Jot down your ideas in a rough list • Organize a preliminary outline by categorizing your list of ideas • Expand the development of your preliminary outline into a formal topic or sentence outline. • From IDEAS to THESIS SENTENCE or PURPOSE STATEMNT
General Organization and Classification Methods • DEDUCTIVE: General to Particular • Present first a general statement that you will afterwards support with specific details and instances. • INDUCTIVE: Particular to General • Present first the specifics of your argument and then work carefully toward a general conclusion.
Supporting Materials Organization and Classification Methods • Cause and Effect – Reasons and Effects – The reasons why something is true – The result of some action or idea.
Supporting Materials Organization and Classification Methods • Comparison and Contrast – Comparison and or contrast through a discussion of your subject in relation to another subject. – Two works – One condition with another – The results of two similar experiments
Supporting Materials Organization and Classification Methods • Spatial Order – Spatial order is the backbone of descriptive writing. – Focus of attention moves logically from one detail to another. – The design of a city, housing development.
Supporting Materials Organization and Classification Methods • Chronological Order – Present your particulars in the order of their happenings. – The step-by-step method of a laboratory process. – Because you must reach judgements and conclusions about the events, you will seldom use pure narration or storytelling in writing the average research paper. – Even though you discuss a series of happening, you will probably use other methods such as cause and effect or comparison and contrast.
Supporting Materials Organization and Classification Methods • Combining the Methods – More than one of the above mentioned methods could be used at the same time. – An External plan and an Internal one.
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