RESEARCH WRITING
8 th grade
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PAPER?
A research paper analyzes a perspective
or argues a point .
It is an expanded essay that presents
your own interpretation or arguement
Regardless of what you are writing on,
when you are finished you should be
presenting your own thinking backed up
with others’ ideas and information.
WHAT STEPS DO I TAKE TO WRITE A
RESEARCH PAPER?
Review literature pertaining to the field
Take notes while reading the literature
Do an analysis of the information
Develop an argument or position from the
information
Outline the paper
Draft the paper
Cite the paper
Present a final copy
REVIEWING LITERATURE
Reviewing literature requires you to research
information and then summarize and/or
paraphrase it.
The purpose is to show that you can find and
understand important information
By reviewing literature you are using it to
support your argument.
TAKING NOTES
Card Number
Your
Name
Citation of source
BACK
Brief Subject Heading:
In-text Citation Name:
___________________
___________________
Summary
Paraphrase
Direct Quotation
FRONT
Page or Paragraph NO:
__________________
HOW TO CITE A SOURCE - MLA
The citations contain the following elements in the order given:
 Author
 Title (italics)
 Edition (if any)
 City of publication
 Publisher
 Publication year
 Medium
HOW TO CITE
 O n e Au t h o r
D r y, Ri c h ard. L e av i n g . New Yo rk : St . M a r t i n ’ s P r. , 2 0 0 2 . P ri n t.
 Tw o Au t h o r s
D un n , E ri c a H . , a n d D i a n e L. Te s s aglia - Hy mes . Bi rd s a t Yo u r Fe e d e r: A G u i d e to
Fe e d i n g H a b i t s , Be h av i o r, D i s t ri b u t io n, a n d Ab u n d a nce . N ew Yo rk : W. W. N o r to n ,
1 9 9 9 . P ri n t .
 T h ree Au t h o r s
At wa n , Ro be r t , D o n a ld M c Qua de , a n d Jo h n W. Wri g h t . E d s e l s , Lu c k i e s , a n d
Fri gi d a i re s : Ad ve r t i s i n g t h e Am e ri c an Way . N ew Yo rk : D e l l , 1 97 9 . P ri n t .
 M o re T h a n T h ree Au t h o r s
B e l en ky, M a r y Fi e ld, et a l . Wo me n ’s Way s o f K n owi n g: T h e D eve l o p me n t o f S e l f,
Vo i c e , a n d M i n d . N ew Yo rk : B a s ic , 1 9 8 6 . P ri n t
HOW TO CITE A WEB SOURCE
Online Reference – Online Resources/Databases
 The citations contain the following elements in the order given.
 Author (if any)
 “Article title”
 Publication title (italicized)
 Editor of publication
 Volume number, if listed
 Publication information, if available
 Pages, if listed
 Database name (italicized).
 Publisher
 Medium
 Date of access
EXAMPLE OF WEB SOURCE
QUOTING
Using the author's exact
words. Always cite it and use
"quotation marks.“
SUMMARIZING
Condensing the author's words or
ideas without altering the meaning
or providing interpretation—you use
your own words for this. Basically,
presenting the original information
in a nutshell. Always cite it.
PARAPHRASING
Restating, in your own words, the
author's words or ideas without
altering the meaning or providing
interpretation. Paraphrases are
about the same length as the
original. Always cite it.
ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION
To analyze means to break apart a topic or
concept in order to understand it in terms that
make sense to you.
You are analyzing this information to help you
present your side of the argument – not tell
me what the other sources say.
MAKING YOUR ARGUMENT
An argumentative research paper needs
to support your stand on the issue.
It is like a lawyer using evidence to make
their case
Using your notecards, decide if you are
for or against your guiding question by
making a bullet point list of the reasons
why underneath.
YOUR ARGUMENT –
YOUR THESIS STATEMENT
What is a Thesis Statement ?
 ONE sentence that summarizes the main points of your paper
 A road map—shows the reader where you are going
 Is NOT an absolute fact—needs to have your opinion
A Thesis Must…
Take a position
Be supportable using details and examples
Be expressed in one sentence
A GOOD THESIS IS NOT GENERAL
 They must be specific
Examples
 General--Crime must be stopped.
 Specific-- The courts need to hand out stif fer sentences .
 General--Dickens writes good novels
 Specific--Dickens uses the setting of his novels to emphasize
the themes.
THESIS EXAMPLES
Drug addiction has caused a huge increase in
violent crimes, increased poverty, and more
children in foster care.
In recent years, baseball has become less
popular because of player strikes, increased
ticket costs, and the steroid controversy.
Parents need to participate more in their
children’s education to ensure they are
successful, monitor their progress, and to
keep them on track with their future goals
STEPS FOR WRITING A THESIS
 Step 1 – Read the following definition of a thesis statement. A
thesis statement is an opinion -based sentence that names the
topic of your paper.
 Step 2 – Write a sample thesis statement of your choice. Ask
yourself, “How do I know it is a good thesis?”




Use these tools or test questions:
Is it an opinion?
Is it debatable?
Is it specific?
 Step 3
 Step 4
belief
 Step 5
 Step 6
– Write a belief statement about your topic.
– Follow with three strong fact based reasons for your
– Combine steps 3 and 4 into one sentence
– Check your work using the test questions in step 2
OUTLINING