Download - RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST. WORKSHOP SECTIONS: CONTENT CITATION CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL
THE CONTENT
1. Research and source evaluation2. Thesis statement & Outline3. Claim sentences4. Organization5. Support6. Introduction7. Conclusion
Keyword search
• Use synonyms for maximum data collection• Don’t type too little or too many search words
– whole prompt=> too little data– cold war US Russia => too much data
• http://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research-synonyms/12540/
Recommended search engines
• http://www.jstor.org/• http://scholar.google.com/• http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/americ
a-history-and-life• http://libguides.bc.edu/history• http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/
nytarchive.html
• As you collect data, make sure to record all the data (url address/writer/date) on 1 document.
• It makes citation much easier later.
• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
THE CITATION
Who wrote it? Knowing a person helps us identify the following:
Consider:• Name?• Expertise?• Did they do their own research? (references?)• Belongs to an organization?• When was it published?
Based on this, determine whether you can trust the information.
Refer to: http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Source-Evaluation-Cheat-Sheet
THE CITATION
Remember, if you think that a source might not be reliable, do not be afraid to set that source aside, and find a more reliable one.
Thesis definition
Thesis Statement=
What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it
Bad example:
-> doesn’t include a specific topic
-> doesn’t include a plan of argument
Thesis statement
• If your prompt asks for a viewpoint: agree, disagree, or quantify
• If your prompt asks for an analysis: Identify and consider most important ideas. Then discuss what happens in a specific event and why it is significant.
If your prompt asks to discuss:Summarize the overall content of your topic. Then pick out 1 or 2 points and say what you think about it. You can say the pro and con about the items involved.
THE CONTENT
The following are characteristics of a thesis. Is it :
CLEAR
ARGUABLE
APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED
THE CONTENTThe following examples show a thesis sentence that is not clear and one that is clear.
INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS
It decreases one’s ability to perform Smoking decreases one’s ability to
quality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace.
This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because the
it is not clear. What does the work “it” topic is clear: smoking.
mean?
THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is
not arguable and one that is arguable:
INCOMPLETE THESIS
SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO A PERSON’S HEALTH.
This is not a thesis statement because it is not arguable.
COMPLETE THESIS
SMOKING DECREASES ONE’S ABILITY TO PERFORM QUALITY WORK AT THE WORKPLACE.
This is a thesis statement because it is arguable.
THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is
not appropriately qualified and one that is appropriately qualified
INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS
Everyone knows that smoking Researchers maintain smokingdecreases one’s ability to perform decreases one’s ability toquality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace.
This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because it is not appropriately qualified. “Everyone” “[r]esearchers maintain” is appropriatelyIs too vague. qualified. “Researchers” is a specific one.
Thesis check
Exchange your thesis with a peer.Check their thesis: - includes an opinion/argument about the
prompt?-includes a plan on how they will argue?-all meanings clear?- nothing vague?