#Research paper rough draft examples how to#

Try the internet, electronic databases, reference books, newspaper articles, and books for a balance of sources.

Take your time crafting this statement into one or two sentences, for it will control the direction and development of your entire paper.įor more on developing thesis statements, see the TIP Sheets 'Developing a Thesis and Supporting Arguments' and 'How to Structure an Essay.' Write a well defined, focused, three- to five-point thesis statement, but be prepared to revise it later if necessary. Formulating a thesis: Focus and craftsmanship You may revise this mind map or outline at any time it is much easier to reorganize a paper by crossing out or adding sections to a mind map or outline than it is to laboriously start over with the writing itself.Ĥ. The object is simply to group ideas in logically related groups.

A mind map is less linear and may even include questions you want to find answers to. Include any important, interesting, or provocative points, including your own ideas about the topic. Use any method that works for you in later drafting your paper, but alwaysīased on your preliminary reading, draw up a working mind map or outline. Some students use a particular index card method throughout the process of researching and writing that allows them great flexibility in organizing and re-organizing as well as in keeping track of sources others color-code or otherwise identify groups of facts. (You will still attribute information you have quoted or paraphrased.) Use quotation marks on anything you copy exactly, so you can distinguish later between exact quotes and paraphrasing. (If you need to know what publication information is needed for the various types of sources, see a writing guide such as S F Writer.) On the index cards or in your notebook, write down information you want to use from each identified source, including page numbers. On an index card or in the notebook, record the author, article and/or book title, and all publication information in the correct format (MLA or APA, for example) specified by your instructor. First read a general article on your topic, for example from an encyclopedia. Gather some index cards or a small notebook and keep them with you as you read. At this point, however, if you are having difficulty finding adequate quality information, stop wasting your time find another topic. Once you have decided on a topic and determined that enough information is available, you are ready to proceed. Then, narrow your topic to manageable size:

Scan the results to see how much information has been published. The Butte College Library Reference Librarians are more than happy to assist you at this (or any) stage of your research.

Go to the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature in the reference section of the library, or to an electronic database such as Proquest or Wilson Web, and search for your topic. Your topic should be one on which you can find adequate information you might need to do some preliminary research to determine this. Even if a general topic is assigned ('Write about impacts of GMO crops on world food supply'), as much as possible find an approach that suits your interests. Your job will be more pleasant, and you will be more apt to retain information if you choose a topic that holds your interest. Choosing a topic: Interest, information, and focus You may read this TIP Sheet from start to finish before you begin your paper, or skip to the steps that are causing you the most grief.ġ. How do you start? Here is a step-by-step approach to starting and completing a research paper. You have written research papers, but every time is like the first time, and the first time was like a root canal. You coasted through high school on your charm and good looks and never actually wrote a research paper. You are a re-entry student and it's been fourteen years since you've written a paper.

#Research paper rough draft examples how to#

HOW TO START (AND COMPLETE) A RESEARCH PAPER