Research Papers

1. Shaping Your Topic. Uses of Research. Conducting Your Research. Making Preliminary Decisions. Some Helpful Techniques. Searching for a Topic. Formulating a Thesis. Writing a Prospectus. Recording Possible Sources. Considering Main Points. Exercise A: Preliminary Decisions. Exercise B: First Steps. 2. Learning Library Procedures. Layout of a Library. Using the Catalog. Locating Books. Computer Searching. The Reference Room. Exercise C: Exploring the Library. 3. Using Basic Reference Sources. Listings of Books. Listings of Articles. Listings of Both Books and Articles. Exercise D: Searching Reference Works. 4. Finding, Evaluating, and Recording Material. Evaluating Sources. Kinds of Sources. Fact vs. Opinion. Purposeful, Proficient Reading. Using Sources Efficiently. Taking Notes. Types of Notes. Plagiarism. Exercise E: Differentiating Fact and Opinion. Exercise F: Taking Notes. 5. Constructing Your Outline. Types of Outlines. The Outlining Process. Conventions of Outlining. Examples of Formal Outlines. Exercise G: Classification. Exercise H: Classification: Specific to general. Exercise I: Classification: General to Specific. Exercise J: Arrangement. Exercise K: Analyzing a Faculty Outline. 6. Writing Your First Draft. Putting Words on Paper. Getting Started. Managing Borrowed Material. Plagiarism Once More. Exercise L: Avoiding Plagiarism. 7. Preparing Your Final Copy. Effective Revision. Developing Your Outline. Writing in an Appropriate Style. Proofreading. Manuscript Form. Exercise M: Proofreading and Revision. 8. Documenting a Paper: MLA Style (In-Text Citation). Consistency. Listing Sources. In-Text Citation. Explanation and Reference Notes. Sample Papers: In-Text Citation. The Edsel: What Went Wrong? The Losers in "The Lottery". Exercise N: Listing Sources in Works Cited. 9. Documenting a Paper: Endnotes. Basic Procedure. Kinds of Citation Notes. Sample First Reference Note Forms. Sample Paper: Endnotes. Decline and Fall of the Oneida Community. Exercise O: Citing Sources in Endnotes. 10. Documenting a Paper: APA Style. Listing References. In-Text Author-Date Citation. Other Differences Between MLA and APA Styles. Sample Paper: APA Style. Road Rage as Cultural Inheritance. 11. Documenting a Paper: Other Styles. Variations of APA Style. The Number System. Documentation in Notes. Appendix A: Abbreviations and Basic Terms. Scholarly Forms. Library Terms and Abbreviations. Computer Terms. Publisher's Names. Months and States. Appendix B: Specialized Reference Works. Art. Biology. Business. Chemistry. Computer Science. Criminal Justice. Ecology. Economics. Education. Ethnic Studies. Film. History. Journalism. Literature. Music. Myth/Folklore. Nursing. Philosophy. Physics. Political Science. Psychology. Religion. Sociology/Social Work. Women's Studies. Index.