Solar Power
Order Description
A research paper is an essay that is based on outside sources. In this class, the material of the paper will come from sources students read on the topic.
Students write research papers at the end of the term in all their courses, based on a topic relevant to the content of the course.
In this class, students will learn the process and mechanics of writing the paper. Therefore, the content itself will be of no consequence. It will only be a vehicle to learn the process.

What is the difference between an essay and a research paper in this class?

The difference between an essay and a research paper is that an essay is based on your life experiences (not expertise) and observation, whereas a research paper is based on your reading.
A research paper has two important elements:

1. Citations (sources of the information) in the body of the text.

2. Works Cited page: A new page that provides a list of all the sources with their information.
A research paper has the following two important elements:

1. Citations (stating sources of the information) in the body of the text. (for this essay, use only 3 citations)

2. Works Cited page: a list of complete information about the sources of information, on a separate page following the text. (For this essay, the works cited page should have 3-5 works only, which are cited in the paper. Do not use more than 3-5 works.
A paper of this size does not need more.

the citations and the works cited page will receive 50% of the grade.
However, if one of them is missing from the paper, the other will receive a grade of zero. This means that if the paper has no citations, the works cited page will receive a grade of zero. Likewize, if the paper lacks a works cited page, the citations will receive a grade of zero.

A paper that lacks one or both of those two elements is not a research paper. It will receive credit for the essay part only, which is 50% of the possible points.

Before you submit your paper, highlight the citations to make sure you have them. Submit the paper with the highlights.
Learning Object Info: The Research Paper Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji

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Presentation
Reading Assignment

Reading Assignment:

1. Essay: Week 7 lesson in Seaport

2. Freshman Composition pp. 101-105

3. Rules for Writers pp. 457-523 This chapter is devoted to the research paper and has extensive information about citing sources and the works cited page. It can answer all your questions.

Learning Object Info: Reading Assignment Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
The Process of Writing the Research Paper

This lesson may seem long to you. It describes in detail every step of writing the research paper to make it as easy as possible. You may want to read it in stages and focus on each part that concerns the part of the paper that you are writing at a time.
The lesson is intended to make writing a research paper be very easy for students by following the easy steps described here.

Pick your topic (already accomplished week 2)

Narrow down the topic (already accomplished in week 2)

Locate and evaluate sources (already accomplished by the proposal)

Develop a list of ideas that the paper will discuss (already accomplished by the proposal)

Steps of Writing the Research Paper
To Write the Research Paper:
1.Find a topic (covered in the Research Topics section)
2.Determine the requirements of the paper (covered in the Proposal lesson)
3.Gather information (covered in the Proposal lesson)
4.Organize information
5.Write the paper drafts
6.Cite sources and write the Works Cited page
7.Design the final draft in MLA format
This will lesson will cover the following steps of writing the paper:
1. Writing the paper drafts
2. Citing sources and writing the Works Cited page
3. Writing and formatting the final draft according to MLA format.

As with any other writing process, this is not a linear one. You may be going back and forth and making changes as you write and revise.

A complete breakdown of the grade is at the end of the lesson.

Please note that the paper will get credit if it meets the language requirements of the course.

A paper that uses the word ‘you’ cannot get a grade of A. Neither can a paper that uses ‘they’ to refer to a singular noun.
Learning Object Info: Why Write a Research Paper Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative

The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative
This research paper cannot be in chronolgoical order. For example, it cannot be about how a dam was constructed or a city was founded or a monument was built. It can use only the introduction to tell those stories. But the rest of the paper has to be about cause effect/description/argument.
Also, the paper cannot have an extended story as part of it. Neither can it have a number of stories. Avoid stories altogether in the paper.
In this class, you may choose to write either an informative paper or an argumentative paper.

Here are two outlines on one topic.

Genetic Engineering.

An outline on an informative paper on genetic engineering would be

1. Introduction: definition and developement

2. Present uses of genetic engineering

2. Advantages of genetic engineering

3. Disadvantages of genetic engineering

4. Prediction of future of genetic engineering

This paper, clearly, does not give or argue any opinion. It merely presents the arguments of all sides. Thus it is informative.

Here is an outline for an argumentative paper against genetic engineering:

1. Introduction: definition and history of development.

2. Uses of genetic engineering today.

3. Life threatening risks.

4. Health hazards.

5. Environment hazards

6. Counter argument: Costly and insignificant benefits

7. Conclusion: Prediction for the future.

There are many topics that can be either argumentative or informative. However, if you decide to write an argumentative essay, you need to follow all the requirements of argument as explained in Lesson 4. Also, you need to use citations to support your opinions. Those citations could be for statistics, experts’ opinions, or case studies.
Learning Object Info: The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Gathering Information

Pushing books

Managing Information
Before you start taking notes, you need to divide your document into several sections, each with its own title. The title of each section is one item on the outline of the proposal.

For example, a paper on earthquakes may be divided into 4 sections, each page with one of the following titles:
page 1: Introduction (definition and importance (how many lives this topic touches)
page 2: Causes of earthquakes
page 3: Preparedness for earthquakes (new builing codes, buiding material, drills, plans, public awareness, etc…)
page 4 measurement and example of famous earthquakes.

p.1Formation of an Earthquake
p. 2 Possible Effects of Earthquakes

p.3 Famous Earthquakes
p.4 Measurement and Examples

p.5 Predictions
p.6 Preparedness
As you read and take notes, you beging to fill the information under each topic with notes you take from your reading. Make sure to write at the end of each note the name of the author of the source and the page number from which you got the specific piece of information so that you can locate it if you need more or have questions.

When you finish taking notes you will have all you need about each topic in one place and your paper will be ready to form the first draft.

Here is another example about a different topic: Endangered Species
As you read articles on this topic, you develop the following list of topics that interest you:

Kinds of species that are endangered
Reasons created by humans
Reasons created by nature
Reasons created by other species
Reversing the process of endangering species

Once you have developed a list, you begin to gather information about each topic from different articles. Divide your notes into 5 sections, each with one topic from the list. Now you can start to read and take notes about each section and record your notes on the page that has the title of the section. Keep track of the sources by writing the author’s name and the page number at the end of each note. This way, you can trace the note. Because this is a quotation, I have enclosed it between quation marks:

“An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.” (USGS 1) this is the author and the page number.

Taking Notes

The notes you take from sources will be three kinds
• Summary
• Paraphrase
• Quotations

It is up to you to choose whether you want to summarize or paraphrase

Summary and Paraphrase

If you summarize, you write a condensed (short form) of a text. The length of the summary depends on your purpose. You may want to include some details. However, this short form should include all the main ideas in the same order as in the original passage. It should also maintain the emphasis of the passage. This means that if one point receives more emphasis in the passage, it should receive more emphasis in the summary, too.

If you paraphrase, you rewrite the whole passage in your own words. Your paraphrase should also express all the main points and in the same order as in the original passage. It should also maintain the same emphasis.
Note the following
• It is important that the summary and paraphrase be in your own words and sentence structure.
• In your own words and sentence structure does not mean changing a word here and there or combining sentences and changing some structures of the original passage.
• In your own words means that you read the original passage, put it aside, then write your own understanding of what you read.

Quotations

Quotations are the exact words of the original passage. When you quote, you copy word for word and you enclose the words between quotation marks.

For this paper, you need one citations from each source. The minimum number of works and citations is three and the maximun number is 5.
This means that you cannot use less than 3 sources and more than 5 sources.
This also means that each source has to be cited once in the paper.
The citation can be either a significant piece of innformation and or a significan date and or a quotation.

However, you do not have to have quotations, but if you choose to, three quotations are the limit.
• Two quotations, each one cannot exceed 2 lines.
• One quotation that is 4-5 lines long (it is set off from the rest of the text).

These three quotations are enough. You may not have any other one. However, you can have, in addition, two citations for significant information and/or dates that the reader may question.

The limit to all citations in the paper is 3-5, depending on the number of sources the paper uses.

All in all, the paper is required to have three to five citations, each of a different source. All three, or just one or two can be quotations. The others can be significant information that the reader will want to know its source

Incorporating Information

It is important to take notes in a way that will help you keep track of the sources from which you took the notes. As you are taking notes from sources, it is a good idea, to write in the upper left hand margin, the name of the source and the page number from which the note is taken.

After you have taken all the notes, you may write the first draft.

Keep in mind that every part that is copied word for word from another source has to be enclosed between quotation marks and has to be accompanied by a citation that tells the reader the source of the quotation. Still, the use of quotations is limited. The entire paper has to be in your own words and sentence structure. Changing a word here or there is not enough.

This information comes from the librarian who oversees issues of copyrights:

“With respect to plagiarism, what is an acceptable percentage of unoriginal material in your writing is usually less than 12% overall and never 12% from one source”
Learning Object Info: Managing Information Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Writing the First Draft

Writing the First Draft

The first draft is the draft you write from the notes. You look at your notes, and write down the draft. Make sure it is your own words.

Perhaps the first thing you need to secure for the first draft is a good introduction. A good introduction starts with the definition of the topic. It answers the questions “What is ….(cocaine, a hurrican, the Statue of Liberty, etc…). It also provides some background information about your topic: history, or explanation of the problem, such as providing statiscs on people who are affected by the topic under discussion, and so on.
The Introduction
1.Defines the topic: kind of place/pheomenon/product/issue this is/Why it is significant.
2.States some background and catching statistics about the topic.
3.States a thesis statement = the main idea that the paper will discuss about the person/place/issue.
The last sentence in the introduction should be the thesis statement, which will state exactly what the essay will discuss. This sentence should be available to you from the proposal.

If the topic is a place, the thesis statement should state what about the place the paper will discuss..

If it is an issue, a law, a phenomenon, the thesis statement should state exactly what the paper will discuss about it.

There are some pitfalls to avoid in the thesis statement.
What to Avoid in a Thesis Statement

1. It is not an announcement: This paper will discuss the most important decisions Roosevelt made during his presidency

2. It is not a question: What were the most important decisions that Roosevelt made during his presidency?

3. It is not a title: President Roosevelt’s most important decisions.

4. It is not an absolute, general, vague statement: President Roosevelt is the greatest president in U.S. history
Examples of thesis statements:

Drug/alcoho/ Addiction can have many effects on the addicts and their families.

A hurricane can devastate the lives of many people.

What the first draft should accomplish:
You may consider Draft 1 complete when it accomplishes ALL the following:
1. It states several facts about the topic, addressing the topic from different perspectives.
2. It addresses all the questions the readers may have about the topic within the limitations of the thesis statement.
3. It addresses all the points in the tentative outline.
4. It has unity: it does not contain any irrelevant material.
5. It is clearly divided into introduction, discussion (body), and conclusion.
6. It is coherent: It has transitions between paragraphs.
7. It complies with the requirements of the paper: e.g. number of words, number of sources, etc….
8. It has no grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.

While working on this draft, you may go back to check sources and to add or delete content as you deem necessary for the progression of the paper.

It is understood that the paper is from your reading. Therefore, you do not need to reference each piece of information. But you need to use some quotations or statistics that prove your ideas right. That is where you use quotations.

For example, if you state that Roosevelt was a very wise person, it is good to use a quotation that supports your opinion.
Learning Object Info: Writing the First Draft Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Writing the Final Draft

What is the Final Draft?

The first draft is not limited to the first draft. Many drafts may be written, revised, changed, and edited, until you are satisfied with a draft. That draft that you feel meets all the requirements and has your full approval will be the final draft.

What does the final draft achieve?
1. It incorporate quotations,
2. It cites quotations and vital pieces of information
3. It has the Works Cited page.

Each of these three elements receives an independent grade.

Quotations
A quotation is a word for word version copied from a source.
• For punctuating quotation marks, you may look at the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
• A quotation which runs up to four lines is incorporated into the text of the paper. But a quotation which runs more than four lines is set off from the text by ten spaces and is introduced by a colon.
Long quotations

When a quotation is more than four lines, set it off from the text by indenting it one inch or ten spaces from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks with an indented quotation. Your paper needs one long quotation.

How many quotations can my paper have?
A paper can have up to three quotations.
1. Two quotations, each not more than 2 lines.
4. One quotation of 4-6 lines (long quotation)

What is a citation?

A citation is a piece of information that states the source from which a quotation or a specific piece of information is taken. In MLA format a citation is between two parentheses and it states the author’s last name and the page number (it does NOT state the date of publication) . Here is a sample citation (Johnson 5). This means that the author’s last name is Johnson and the page number from which the quotation or piece of information is picked is 5.

MLA format requires that every source used in a research paper be cited. Use citations to support the main points in the paper, not a minor point. For example, if you give a date for a major event, or you give the opinion of an expert on a major point in your paper, you need to tell the reader where this opinion comes from.

The purpose of the citation is to state the source of information of vital importance to the paper.

The number of required citations is 3 from three different sources. Do not use more than 5 from five different sources.

Here is a snapshot of a citation in a research paper

Citing Quotations and information

To cite sources, you need to mention two pieces of information directly after the piece of information or the quotation, between parenthesis (author’s last name + page number)
1. The author’s last name.
2. The page number of the source where the information/quotation is taken.

These two pieces of information are mentioned between parentheses (….) ; that is why they are called parenthetical notes.

Here is an example:

Repetitive strain injury, or RSI, is reported to be “the fastest-growing occupational hazard of the computer age” (Taylor A1)

Sometimes, however, the author’s name is mentioned in the lead in sentence. In this case, only the page number is to be given in the parentheses.

Note that the Works Cited page will have a list of the works that have been mentioned in the body of the paper.

The Lead sentence/phrase

A lead in sentence/phrase is a sentence/phrase incorporated in the body of the text. It states the name of the author of the source with a verb that describes the author’s contribution to the ideas expressed in the paper. Example: T.C Boyle argues that “…..”

The lead in sentence is also called the signal sentence/phrase. For more on citing sources, you may go to the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.
Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page is a list of all the sources that were cited in the paper. In MLA format, the Works Cited page lists ONLY the works that are cited in the body of the paper. You are required to cite each work that you used in your paper in the body of the paper and to list it on the “Works cited page.

Citing the source within the text is not enough. It merely tells the reader the name of source the information/quotation is taken from. It does not, however, tell the reader where to find the source itself.

This is what the Works Cited page does. It gives the reader all the information needed to find the source.

The Works Cited page is the last page in the research paper and it lists, in alphabetical order, the works used in writing the paper.

Each item on the page gives the following information, separated by a period. Any information that is not available is skipped.
1. The author’s name
2. The title of the article/short story/song/episode/chapter (between quotation marks)
3. The title of the book/magazine/television program/film/website (italicized)
4. The place of publication (for printed sources)
5. The date of publication (for printed sources)
6. The date of access (for electronic sources)

Omit any information that is not available. For example, if the author is unknown, list the title where it belongs in the alphabetical order.

If the author is a corporate, not a person, mention the name of the corporate as the author.

Formatting the Works Cited page

It is important to note that the following formatting rules in the Works Cited/Works Consulted page
• It is the last page of your paper and that it receives a separate grade for correct formatting.
• Your last name and page number are in a header on the upper right hand corner throughout the paper upper.
• Each entry is formatted with a hanging indent: the first line is typed flush to the margin and the rest of the lines are indented.
• No extra space is left between items.
• Items are not numbered.

Formatting the Final Draft

For a hard copy, use only 81/2″x 11” white paper.

Title and Identification: MLA does not require a title page. You need to state on the left hand side of the first page of the paper the following:
1. Your name
2. Your instructor’s name
3. The course title
4. The date of submission

Then you need to center the title of the paper.

Pagination

Throughout the paper, your last name+ page number, should appear on the right hand side of the top of the paper, beginning with page one and ending with the last page of the Works Cited. You need to use a header for the pagination part. This should be in a header.
Inserting a Header

To insert a header, go to View –> Headers and Footers and proceed from there.

Margins, Line spacing, Paragraph indents:

Leave a one inch margin all around the paper: top, bottom, left, and right. Double space the paper all through beginning with the very top line. Indent the first line of a new paragraph.
Learning Object Info: Writing the Final Draft Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Citations and Works Cited Coordination
How are the citations related to the works cited page?
The citations and the works cited page are closely related:

If the paper has no citations, the works cited page will receive no credit. It will receive a grade of zero.

1. For Every citation in the body of the research paper an item on the works cited page has to be created.
The citation provides only brief information about the source: the author’s name and the page number. The works cited page provides full information on where to find the source if the readers wish to read it.

2. The first word in the citation has to serve as the first word in the item on the works cited page.

Here are two snapshots
1. A snapshot of a section in a research paper with three citations (marked by arrows).
2. A snapshot of the three citations on the works cited page (marked by arrows).
Here is a snapshot of a section in a research paper. This section has three citations:

888888
Coordinating Citations with Works Cited Page

Learning Object Info: Sample Set off Quotation Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
How to Create a Hanging Indent

Where does the works cited page start?

The works cited section starts on a new page. To make sure that no matter how the paper is saved, the works cited section will always be on a new page, you need to start a new page through the system, not through the key board. If you hit Enter on the keyboard until the cursor is on a new page, the works cited section will soon jump back to its original position on the previous page.
To make sure that the works cited section starts on a new:
1. Place the cursor where you want the new page to start.
2. Go to Insert.
3. Click Page Break.

Formatting items on the Works Cited section:

Type the works cited page starting at the left margin.
•Do not indent the first line of any entry.
•Do not leave extra space between the entries.
•Just type all the information.
•Select all with your mouse.
•Right Click the mouse.
•Click Paragraph.
•In the new widow, click the down arrow at Special.
•Click Hanging

Here is a snapshot of the new window that appears when you click Paragraph

Hanging Indent in Word

Hanging Indent 1

Snapshot of a Works Cited Page

Snapshot of Works Cited Page

Learning Object Info: How to Create a Hanging Indent Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Originality Report

Originality Report

Turnitin generates an originality report for each paper submitted. This is especially important in determining the originality of the research paper. Every part that is copied word for word from another source has to be enclosed between quotation marks and has to be accompanied by a citation that tells the reader the source of the quotation.

Note also that the use of quotations is limited. The entire paper has to be in your own words and sentence structure. Changing a word here or there is not enough.

Please read Rules for Writers pp. 405-410. Make sure your paper does not show more than 30% plagiarism and that will account for the quotations, citations, and the works cited page. Also, make sure that your papere does not show more than 10% copied from one specific source.
Learning Object Info: Originality Report Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Homework

Research Paper Homework

Research Paper Template

Sample Paper Rules for Writers p.527

The Works Cited Page

1. Has no numbers

2. Has a hanging indent

3. Has no URL (web addresses)

4. Has the word Web for a web source

4. Has the word Print for a printed source

5. Has no extra space between entries

6. Has a citation from every work used in the paper (at least, 3 citations from 3 different sources).

Note that the research paper should not have a plagiarism percentage of more than 10% from one source and more than 12% as a whole paper.

One long and set off quotation of only 4-6 lines is allowed. Two short quotations are also allowed, each is not more than 2 lines. Those short quotations are integrated into the text. They are not set off. But they are enclosed within quotation marks.

For the size of this paper, 3-5 sources are alowed. Make sure each source you use is long enough to cover a substantial part of the paper.

For the size of this paper, do not use subtitles. The paper is too short to be divided into segments. It will be fragmented.
To make sure that you have citations, please highlight each citation in a light color before you submit the paper (The citation is the name of the author and the page number if available between parentheses. If the name of the author is not available use a short form of the title).

Do not highlight the quotations. Highlight only the citations which state the source.

For the research paper to receive credit
1. The proposal has to have been submitted and approved.
2. The paper has to meet all the requirements, including the number of words and the plagiarism report.
Research paper checklist (check the sample paper in Rules for Writers p. 527 and the sample Works Cited p. 532

1. My paper is not in chronological order. It does not tell a story or the history of a place for more than one paragraph.It does not tell a number of stories or an extended story.

2. My paper is complete, with 3-5 citations and a works cited page of 3-5 sources.

3. My paper does not discuss ‘without’. My paper does not use “we” or “our.”

4. My paper does not have sentences such as “Most people are not aware that…”

5. I have revised the paper for grammar and language, guided by the Handbook section on the class website and by my textbook.

6. My paper has has one highlighted citation from every source that I used to write it. If it has quotations, 2 quotations are not more than 2 lines each, and 1 set off quotation that is not more than 6 lines.

7. My paper is 1,300- 1,350 of my own words, not counting the quotations, the works cited page, the title and subtitles, and the personal information.

8. My paper (including citations and the works cited page) is properly formatted in MLA.

9. My paper is typed in Times New Roman size 12 black font.

11. I have reviewed the rules of capitalizing titles.

12. My paper does not use the word ‘you’ except in quotations.

13. My paper uses the word ‘they’ only to refer to a clear and plural noun in the sentence.

14. My paper uses Standard Language.

15. My paper does not have a cover page (MLA format does not accept a cover page, unless the teacher asks for it)

16. My paper has no subtitles: this paper is too short to be divided into segments, each with its own title.

17. My paper is not divided into sections, each with its own subtitle.

Solar Power
Order Description
A research paper is an essay that is based on outside sources. In this class, the material of the paper will come from sources students read on the topic.
Students write research papers at the end of the term in all their courses, based on a topic relevant to the content of the course.
In this class, students will learn the process and mechanics of writing the paper. Therefore, the content itself will be of no consequence. It will only be a vehicle to learn the process.

What is the difference between an essay and a research paper in this class?

The difference between an essay and a research paper is that an essay is based on your life experiences (not expertise) and observation, whereas a research paper is based on your reading.
A research paper has two important elements:

1. Citations (sources of the information) in the body of the text.

2. Works Cited page: A new page that provides a list of all the sources with their information.
A research paper has the following two important elements:

1. Citations (stating sources of the information) in the body of the text. (for this essay, use only 3 citations)

2. Works Cited page: a list of complete information about the sources of information, on a separate page following the text. (For this essay, the works cited page should have 3-5 works only, which are cited in the paper. Do not use more than 3-5 works.
A paper of this size does not need more.

the citations and the works cited page will receive 50% of the grade.
However, if one of them is missing from the paper, the other will receive a grade of zero. This means that if the paper has no citations, the works cited page will receive a grade of zero. Likewize, if the paper lacks a works cited page, the citations will receive a grade of zero.

A paper that lacks one or both of those two elements is not a research paper. It will receive credit for the essay part only, which is 50% of the possible points.

Before you submit your paper, highlight the citations to make sure you have them. Submit the paper with the highlights.
Learning Object Info: The Research Paper Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji

top of page

Presentation
Reading Assignment

Reading Assignment:

1. Essay: Week 7 lesson in Seaport

2. Freshman Composition pp. 101-105

3. Rules for Writers pp. 457-523 This chapter is devoted to the research paper and has extensive information about citing sources and the works cited page. It can answer all your questions.

Learning Object Info: Reading Assignment Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
The Process of Writing the Research Paper

This lesson may seem long to you. It describes in detail every step of writing the research paper to make it as easy as possible. You may want to read it in stages and focus on each part that concerns the part of the paper that you are writing at a time.
The lesson is intended to make writing a research paper be very easy for students by following the easy steps described here.

Pick your topic (already accomplished week 2)

Narrow down the topic (already accomplished in week 2)

Locate and evaluate sources (already accomplished by the proposal)

Develop a list of ideas that the paper will discuss (already accomplished by the proposal)

Steps of Writing the Research Paper
To Write the Research Paper:
1.Find a topic (covered in the Research Topics section)
2.Determine the requirements of the paper (covered in the Proposal lesson)
3.Gather information (covered in the Proposal lesson)
4.Organize information
5.Write the paper drafts
6.Cite sources and write the Works Cited page
7.Design the final draft in MLA format
This will lesson will cover the following steps of writing the paper:
1. Writing the paper drafts
2. Citing sources and writing the Works Cited page
3. Writing and formatting the final draft according to MLA format.

As with any other writing process, this is not a linear one. You may be going back and forth and making changes as you write and revise.

A complete breakdown of the grade is at the end of the lesson.

Please note that the paper will get credit if it meets the language requirements of the course.

A paper that uses the word ‘you’ cannot get a grade of A. Neither can a paper that uses ‘they’ to refer to a singular noun.
Learning Object Info: Why Write a Research Paper Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative

The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative
This research paper cannot be in chronolgoical order. For example, it cannot be about how a dam was constructed or a city was founded or a monument was built. It can use only the introduction to tell those stories. But the rest of the paper has to be about cause effect/description/argument.
Also, the paper cannot have an extended story as part of it. Neither can it have a number of stories. Avoid stories altogether in the paper.
In this class, you may choose to write either an informative paper or an argumentative paper.

Here are two outlines on one topic.

Genetic Engineering.

An outline on an informative paper on genetic engineering would be

1. Introduction: definition and developement

2. Present uses of genetic engineering

2. Advantages of genetic engineering

3. Disadvantages of genetic engineering

4. Prediction of future of genetic engineering

This paper, clearly, does not give or argue any opinion. It merely presents the arguments of all sides. Thus it is informative.

Here is an outline for an argumentative paper against genetic engineering:

1. Introduction: definition and history of development.

2. Uses of genetic engineering today.

3. Life threatening risks.

4. Health hazards.

5. Environment hazards

6. Counter argument: Costly and insignificant benefits

7. Conclusion: Prediction for the future.

There are many topics that can be either argumentative or informative. However, if you decide to write an argumentative essay, you need to follow all the requirements of argument as explained in Lesson 4. Also, you need to use citations to support your opinions. Those citations could be for statistics, experts’ opinions, or case studies.
Learning Object Info: The Research Paper: Argumentative or Informative Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Gathering Information

Pushing books

Managing Information
Before you start taking notes, you need to divide your document into several sections, each with its own title. The title of each section is one item on the outline of the proposal.

For example, a paper on earthquakes may be divided into 4 sections, each page with one of the following titles:
page 1: Introduction (definition and importance (how many lives this topic touches)
page 2: Causes of earthquakes
page 3: Preparedness for earthquakes (new builing codes, buiding material, drills, plans, public awareness, etc…)
page 4 measurement and example of famous earthquakes.

p.1Formation of an Earthquake
p. 2 Possible Effects of Earthquakes

p.3 Famous Earthquakes
p.4 Measurement and Examples

p.5 Predictions
p.6 Preparedness
As you read and take notes, you beging to fill the information under each topic with notes you take from your reading. Make sure to write at the end of each note the name of the author of the source and the page number from which you got the specific piece of information so that you can locate it if you need more or have questions.

When you finish taking notes you will have all you need about each topic in one place and your paper will be ready to form the first draft.

Here is another example about a different topic: Endangered Species
As you read articles on this topic, you develop the following list of topics that interest you:

Kinds of species that are endangered
Reasons created by humans
Reasons created by nature
Reasons created by other species
Reversing the process of endangering species

Once you have developed a list, you begin to gather information about each topic from different articles. Divide your notes into 5 sections, each with one topic from the list. Now you can start to read and take notes about each section and record your notes on the page that has the title of the section. Keep track of the sources by writing the author’s name and the page number at the end of each note. This way, you can trace the note. Because this is a quotation, I have enclosed it between quation marks:

“An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.” (USGS 1) this is the author and the page number.

Taking Notes

The notes you take from sources will be three kinds
• Summary
• Paraphrase
• Quotations

It is up to you to choose whether you want to summarize or paraphrase

Summary and Paraphrase

If you summarize, you write a condensed (short form) of a text. The length of the summary depends on your purpose. You may want to include some details. However, this short form should include all the main ideas in the same order as in the original passage. It should also maintain the emphasis of the passage. This means that if one point receives more emphasis in the passage, it should receive more emphasis in the summary, too.

If you paraphrase, you rewrite the whole passage in your own words. Your paraphrase should also express all the main points and in the same order as in the original passage. It should also maintain the same emphasis.
Note the following
• It is important that the summary and paraphrase be in your own words and sentence structure.
• In your own words and sentence structure does not mean changing a word here and there or combining sentences and changing some structures of the original passage.
• In your own words means that you read the original passage, put it aside, then write your own understanding of what you read.

Quotations

Quotations are the exact words of the original passage. When you quote, you copy word for word and you enclose the words between quotation marks.

For this paper, you need one citations from each source. The minimum number of works and citations is three and the maximun number is 5.
This means that you cannot use less than 3 sources and more than 5 sources.
This also means that each source has to be cited once in the paper.
The citation can be either a significant piece of innformation and or a significan date and or a quotation.

However, you do not have to have quotations, but if you choose to, three quotations are the limit.
• Two quotations, each one cannot exceed 2 lines.
• One quotation that is 4-5 lines long (it is set off from the rest of the text).

These three quotations are enough. You may not have any other one. However, you can have, in addition, two citations for significant information and/or dates that the reader may question.

The limit to all citations in the paper is 3-5, depending on the number of sources the paper uses.

All in all, the paper is required to have three to five citations, each of a different source. All three, or just one or two can be quotations. The others can be significant information that the reader will want to know its source

Incorporating Information

It is important to take notes in a way that will help you keep track of the sources from which you took the notes. As you are taking notes from sources, it is a good idea, to write in the upper left hand margin, the name of the source and the page number from which the note is taken.

After you have taken all the notes, you may write the first draft.

Keep in mind that every part that is copied word for word from another source has to be enclosed between quotation marks and has to be accompanied by a citation that tells the reader the source of the quotation. Still, the use of quotations is limited. The entire paper has to be in your own words and sentence structure. Changing a word here or there is not enough.

This information comes from the librarian who oversees issues of copyrights:

“With respect to plagiarism, what is an acceptable percentage of unoriginal material in your writing is usually less than 12% overall and never 12% from one source”
Learning Object Info: Managing Information Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Writing the First Draft

Writing the First Draft

The first draft is the draft you write from the notes. You look at your notes, and write down the draft. Make sure it is your own words.

Perhaps the first thing you need to secure for the first draft is a good introduction. A good introduction starts with the definition of the topic. It answers the questions “What is ….(cocaine, a hurrican, the Statue of Liberty, etc…). It also provides some background information about your topic: history, or explanation of the problem, such as providing statiscs on people who are affected by the topic under discussion, and so on.
The Introduction
1.Defines the topic: kind of place/pheomenon/product/issue this is/Why it is significant.
2.States some background and catching statistics about the topic.
3.States a thesis statement = the main idea that the paper will discuss about the person/place/issue.
The last sentence in the introduction should be the thesis statement, which will state exactly what the essay will discuss. This sentence should be available to you from the proposal.

If the topic is a place, the thesis statement should state what about the place the paper will discuss..

If it is an issue, a law, a phenomenon, the thesis statement should state exactly what the paper will discuss about it.

There are some pitfalls to avoid in the thesis statement.
What to Avoid in a Thesis Statement

1. It is not an announcement: This paper will discuss the most important decisions Roosevelt made during his presidency

2. It is not a question: What were the most important decisions that Roosevelt made during his presidency?

3. It is not a title: President Roosevelt’s most important decisions.

4. It is not an absolute, general, vague statement: President Roosevelt is the greatest president in U.S. history
Examples of thesis statements:

Drug/alcoho/ Addiction can have many effects on the addicts and their families.

A hurricane can devastate the lives of many people.

What the first draft should accomplish:
You may consider Draft 1 complete when it accomplishes ALL the following:
1. It states several facts about the topic, addressing the topic from different perspectives.
2. It addresses all the questions the readers may have about the topic within the limitations of the thesis statement.
3. It addresses all the points in the tentative outline.
4. It has unity: it does not contain any irrelevant material.
5. It is clearly divided into introduction, discussion (body), and conclusion.
6. It is coherent: It has transitions between paragraphs.
7. It complies with the requirements of the paper: e.g. number of words, number of sources, etc….
8. It has no grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors.

While working on this draft, you may go back to check sources and to add or delete content as you deem necessary for the progression of the paper.

It is understood that the paper is from your reading. Therefore, you do not need to reference each piece of information. But you need to use some quotations or statistics that prove your ideas right. That is where you use quotations.

For example, if you state that Roosevelt was a very wise person, it is good to use a quotation that supports your opinion.
Learning Object Info: Writing the First Draft Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Writing the Final Draft

What is the Final Draft?

The first draft is not limited to the first draft. Many drafts may be written, revised, changed, and edited, until you are satisfied with a draft. That draft that you feel meets all the requirements and has your full approval will be the final draft.

What does the final draft achieve?
1. It incorporate quotations,
2. It cites quotations and vital pieces of information
3. It has the Works Cited page.

Each of these three elements receives an independent grade.

Quotations
A quotation is a word for word version copied from a source.
• For punctuating quotation marks, you may look at the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
• A quotation which runs up to four lines is incorporated into the text of the paper. But a quotation which runs more than four lines is set off from the text by ten spaces and is introduced by a colon.
Long quotations

When a quotation is more than four lines, set it off from the text by indenting it one inch or ten spaces from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks with an indented quotation. Your paper needs one long quotation.

How many quotations can my paper have?
A paper can have up to three quotations.
1. Two quotations, each not more than 2 lines.
4. One quotation of 4-6 lines (long quotation)

What is a citation?

A citation is a piece of information that states the source from which a quotation or a specific piece of information is taken. In MLA format a citation is between two parentheses and it states the author’s last name and the page number (it does NOT state the date of publication) . Here is a sample citation (Johnson 5). This means that the author’s last name is Johnson and the page number from which the quotation or piece of information is picked is 5.

MLA format requires that every source used in a research paper be cited. Use citations to support the main points in the paper, not a minor point. For example, if you give a date for a major event, or you give the opinion of an expert on a major point in your paper, you need to tell the reader where this opinion comes from.

The purpose of the citation is to state the source of information of vital importance to the paper.

The number of required citations is 3 from three different sources. Do not use more than 5 from five different sources.

Here is a snapshot of a citation in a research paper

Citing Quotations and information

To cite sources, you need to mention two pieces of information directly after the piece of information or the quotation, between parenthesis (author’s last name + page number)
1. The author’s last name.
2. The page number of the source where the information/quotation is taken.

These two pieces of information are mentioned between parentheses (….) ; that is why they are called parenthetical notes.

Here is an example:

Repetitive strain injury, or RSI, is reported to be “the fastest-growing occupational hazard of the computer age” (Taylor A1)

Sometimes, however, the author’s name is mentioned in the lead in sentence. In this case, only the page number is to be given in the parentheses.

Note that the Works Cited page will have a list of the works that have been mentioned in the body of the paper.

The Lead sentence/phrase

A lead in sentence/phrase is a sentence/phrase incorporated in the body of the text. It states the name of the author of the source with a verb that describes the author’s contribution to the ideas expressed in the paper. Example: T.C Boyle argues that “…..”

The lead in sentence is also called the signal sentence/phrase. For more on citing sources, you may go to the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.
Works Cited Page

The Works Cited page is a list of all the sources that were cited in the paper. In MLA format, the Works Cited page lists ONLY the works that are cited in the body of the paper. You are required to cite each work that you used in your paper in the body of the paper and to list it on the “Works cited page.

Citing the source within the text is not enough. It merely tells the reader the name of source the information/quotation is taken from. It does not, however, tell the reader where to find the source itself.

This is what the Works Cited page does. It gives the reader all the information needed to find the source.

The Works Cited page is the last page in the research paper and it lists, in alphabetical order, the works used in writing the paper.

Each item on the page gives the following information, separated by a period. Any information that is not available is skipped.
1. The author’s name
2. The title of the article/short story/song/episode/chapter (between quotation marks)
3. The title of the book/magazine/television program/film/website (italicized)
4. The place of publication (for printed sources)
5. The date of publication (for printed sources)
6. The date of access (for electronic sources)

Omit any information that is not available. For example, if the author is unknown, list the title where it belongs in the alphabetical order.

If the author is a corporate, not a person, mention the name of the corporate as the author.

Formatting the Works Cited page

It is important to note that the following formatting rules in the Works Cited/Works Consulted page
• It is the last page of your paper and that it receives a separate grade for correct formatting.
• Your last name and page number are in a header on the upper right hand corner throughout the paper upper.
• Each entry is formatted with a hanging indent: the first line is typed flush to the margin and the rest of the lines are indented.
• No extra space is left between items.
• Items are not numbered.

Formatting the Final Draft

For a hard copy, use only 81/2″x 11” white paper.

Title and Identification: MLA does not require a title page. You need to state on the left hand side of the first page of the paper the following:
1. Your name
2. Your instructor’s name
3. The course title
4. The date of submission

Then you need to center the title of the paper.

Pagination

Throughout the paper, your last name+ page number, should appear on the right hand side of the top of the paper, beginning with page one and ending with the last page of the Works Cited. You need to use a header for the pagination part. This should be in a header.
Inserting a Header

To insert a header, go to View –> Headers and Footers and proceed from there.

Margins, Line spacing, Paragraph indents:

Leave a one inch margin all around the paper: top, bottom, left, and right. Double space the paper all through beginning with the very top line. Indent the first line of a new paragraph.
Learning Object Info: Writing the Final Draft Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Citations and Works Cited Coordination
How are the citations related to the works cited page?
The citations and the works cited page are closely related:

If the paper has no citations, the works cited page will receive no credit. It will receive a grade of zero.

1. For Every citation in the body of the research paper an item on the works cited page has to be created.
The citation provides only brief information about the source: the author’s name and the page number. The works cited page provides full information on where to find the source if the readers wish to read it.

2. The first word in the citation has to serve as the first word in the item on the works cited page.

Here are two snapshots
1. A snapshot of a section in a research paper with three citations (marked by arrows).
2. A snapshot of the three citations on the works cited page (marked by arrows).
Here is a snapshot of a section in a research paper. This section has three citations:

888888
Coordinating Citations with Works Cited Page

Learning Object Info: Sample Set off Quotation Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
How to Create a Hanging Indent

Where does the works cited page start?

The works cited section starts on a new page. To make sure that no matter how the paper is saved, the works cited section will always be on a new page, you need to start a new page through the system, not through the key board. If you hit Enter on the keyboard until the cursor is on a new page, the works cited section will soon jump back to its original position on the previous page.
To make sure that the works cited section starts on a new:
1. Place the cursor where you want the new page to start.
2. Go to Insert.
3. Click Page Break.

Formatting items on the Works Cited section:

Type the works cited page starting at the left margin.
•Do not indent the first line of any entry.
•Do not leave extra space between the entries.
•Just type all the information.
•Select all with your mouse.
•Right Click the mouse.
•Click Paragraph.
•In the new widow, click the down arrow at Special.
•Click Hanging

Here is a snapshot of the new window that appears when you click Paragraph

Hanging Indent in Word

Hanging Indent 1

Snapshot of a Works Cited Page

Snapshot of Works Cited Page

Learning Object Info: How to Create a Hanging Indent Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Originality Report

Originality Report

Turnitin generates an originality report for each paper submitted. This is especially important in determining the originality of the research paper. Every part that is copied word for word from another source has to be enclosed between quotation marks and has to be accompanied by a citation that tells the reader the source of the quotation.

Note also that the use of quotations is limited. The entire paper has to be in your own words and sentence structure. Changing a word here or there is not enough.

Please read Rules for Writers pp. 405-410. Make sure your paper does not show more than 30% plagiarism and that will account for the quotations, citations, and the works cited page. Also, make sure that your papere does not show more than 10% copied from one specific source.
Learning Object Info: Originality Report Type: HTML Submitted By: Noha Kabaji
Homework

Research Paper Homework

Research Paper Template

Sample Paper Rules for Writers p.527

The Works Cited Page

1. Has no numbers

2. Has a hanging indent

3. Has no URL (web addresses)

4. Has the word Web for a web source

4. Has the word Print for a printed source

5. Has no extra space between entries

6. Has a citation from every work used in the paper (at least, 3 citations from 3 different sources).

Note that the research paper should not have a plagiarism percentage of more than 10% from one source and more than 12% as a whole paper.

One long and set off quotation of only 4-6 lines is allowed. Two short quotations are also allowed, each is not more than 2 lines. Those short quotations are integrated into the text. They are not set off. But they are enclosed within quotation marks.

For the size of this paper, 3-5 sources are alowed. Make sure each source you use is long enough to cover a substantial part of the paper.

For the size of this paper, do not use subtitles. The paper is too short to be divided into segments. It will be fragmented.
To make sure that you have citations, please highlight each citation in a light color before you submit the paper (The citation is the name of the author and the page number if available between parentheses. If the name of the author is not available use a short form of the title).

Do not highlight the quotations. Highlight only the citations which state the source.

For the research paper to receive credit
1. The proposal has to have been submitted and approved.
2. The paper has to meet all the requirements, including the number of words and the plagiarism report.
Research paper checklist (check the sample paper in Rules for Writers p. 527 and the sample Works Cited p. 532

1. My paper is not in chronological order. It does not tell a story or the history of a place for more than one paragraph.It does not tell a number of stories or an extended story.

2. My paper is complete, with 3-5 citations and a works cited page of 3-5 sources.

3. My paper does not discuss ‘without’. My paper does not use “we” or “our.”

4. My paper does not have sentences such as “Most people are not aware that…”

5. I have revised the paper for grammar and language, guided by the Handbook section on the class website and by my textbook.

6. My paper has has one highlighted citation from every source that I used to write it. If it has quotations, 2 quotations are not more than 2 lines each, and 1 set off quotation that is not more than 6 lines.

7. My paper is 1,300- 1,350 of my own words, not counting the quotations, the works cited page, the title and subtitles, and the personal information.

8. My paper (including citations and the works cited page) is properly formatted in MLA.

9. My paper is typed in Times New Roman size 12 black font.

11. I have reviewed the rules of capitalizing titles.

12. My paper does not use the word ‘you’ except in quotations.

13. My paper uses the word ‘they’ only to refer to a clear and plural noun in the sentence.

14. My paper uses Standard Language.

15. My paper does not have a cover page (MLA format does not accept a cover page, unless the teacher asks for it)

16. My paper has no subtitles: this paper is too short to be divided into segments, each with its own title.

17. My paper is not divided into sections, each with its own subtitle.