Research Paper Notes

Research Paper Notes

There are 5 parts of the MLA research paper 1. Bibliography 2. Notecards 3. Outline (double spaced) 4. Research paper (double spaced) 5. Works cited (double spaced) We will look at each of these elements in detail.

Bibliography A Working Bibliography is a collection of sources you may use during your research. (You probably will not use all of them.) You will record the information about these sources on notes cards. The Working Bibliography will eventually evolve into the Works Cited page of your research paper.

Bibliography 1. Keep these sources on separate note cards. - This will help you later as you discard, alphabetize, and organize cards. 2. Prepare the cards with care. - This information is needed for the Works Cited page at the end of your paper it is extremely important that you are accurate

Working Bibliography 3. Each card must have ALL of the information illustrated in the cards that are shown here. 4. Prepare your cards as the following examples are prepared. (except your titles should be italicized)

Writing the Research Paper Book with ONE Author Author--Last name, First name Title of book--underline Numerical order City of Publication of this card after ALL are Name of Publisher alphabetized by author. Date of Publication

Writing the Research Paper Book with an Editor Editor--Last name, First name Title of book--underline! Numerical order City of Publication of this card after ALL are Name of Publisher alphabetized by author. Date of Publication

Writing the Research Paper Internet Article Author--Last name, First name Title of article--in quotation marks Complete web site address Numerical order of this card after ALL are alphabetized by author.

Outline An MLA outline is not really different than other formal outlines you may have done. Use Roman Numerals Double space Type your topic at the top Then Type your thesis

How to create an outline Type the thesis (double spaced) at the top Skip a couple lines and start your outline with Roman Numeral I. Below that I use an A, B, and C to list your supporting details. Continue in this format until you have 3 main topics and supporting details for each. Note: You do not outline introductions and conclusions Note: Outline must match the order of your thesis

What does an outline look like?

Writing the Research Paper What an outline looks like Benjamin Franklin made significant contributions in science, politics, and journalism. I. Franklin as an inventor A. Invented Franklin Stove 1. Previous heat through fireplaces inefficient a. more fuel b. heat up through chimney 2. Stove more efficient a. used less fuel b. in middle of room-heat in room B. Invented Bi-focal glasses. 1. Need for different glasses. 2. Franklin combined different lenses. II. Franklin as a politician A. Helped draft Declaration of Independence B. Ambassador to France

What is a research note card? Notecards are 3x5 index cards with only one, just one, no more than one fact per card. There are 4 components to making an MLA notecard. Example on next slide.

4 Items to include on card.

So, what goes on the Note Card?? As you find interesting facts about your topic, you will write them down. Each idea should be paraphrased/ summarized (in your own words) or quoted and written on a card.

How do you record information on the notecard? Paraphrase/Summarize shorter, in your own words; rewrite what the author said Quote stating exactly what the author said; must use quotation marks DON T PLAGIARIZE!!!! ALWAYS GIVE THE CREDIT TO THE REAL AUTHOR!

PLAGIARISM It's like lip-synching to someone else's voice and accepting the applause and rewards for yourself. IF YOU PLAGIARIZE, YOU WILL FAIL!!! any time you take a writer s words and use them as your own, you are plagiarizing

1. Card Topic Topic is the kind of information on the card. Think of it as the title, or main idea of the card. After writing down the information, figure out how you could briefly categorize, or title it.

2. Source Title The source title is the name of the book, magazine, website, etc., in which you found the information.

4. page numbers It is important to be accurate with the page numbers on your note cards, as you will need them for citations throughout your research paper.

Sample Note Cards Organized by Card Topic

The research paper Double spaced Times New Romans Length 4-5 pages Written in paragraph form (Introduction, body, conclusion) No contractions, slang, you, I Parenthetical documentation Last name and page numbers in header (Latif 1) Do not use footers

Things to remember about the research paper The organization of your paper needs to match the outline EXACTLY. For example, if the main points in your outline are family, education, and career, then your first body paragraph in the paper should be about family. The second about education. The third about career.

Parenthetical Documentation What does parenthetical mean?

Parenthetical Documentation What does parenthetical mean? Inside of parentheses (like this)

Parenthetical Documentation What does parenthetical mean? Inside of parentheses (like this) What does documentation mean?

Parenthetical Documentation What does parenthetical mean? Inside of parentheses (like this) What does documentation mean? Written down, documented

How do you write a PD? Author s last name and page number (Huguley 46) Notice I did not use pg or page before I listed the number. Don t do that. Very important!! Whatever name you list in the PD must match your works cited. More on this later.

What does the paper look like?

Let s take a closer look at the PD in that paper

Works Cited You might know the term bibliography better, but it s the same as a works cited. A WC page lists (in a very detailed manner) each of the sources you used in research.

How to cite a book Citing a Book 1. author s last name, first name period 2. title of book (underlined or italicized) period 3. city of publication colon 4. publishing company comma 5. year of publication (use the year that is closest to 2010) period Example of book citation: Smith, Jane. For the Love of Puppies. Philadelphia: Harper Collins, 1999. Print. Notice the indention of the second line!

How to cite an AVL article 1. author s name period 2. Name of article in quotations period 3. Name of magazine/periodical the article came from (underline this) no punctuation after 4. Date the article was published 5. AVL (or you can name the database specifically, like KidsSearch) period 6. Date you accessed the article--period Example of AVL citation Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report. 18 Oct. 1999: 3. Alabama Virtual Library. 28 Feb. 2003. Again, notice the indention!

How to cite a website 1. author s name period 2. Article title in quotes period 3. Website s title (in the blue bar) 4. Article date--period 5. Date you accessed the website--period 6. URL of the website period (just use the basic website, not the whole crazy URL) Example... Schuster, Alan. "Spa and Hot Tub Chemical Questions." Ask Alan. Aqua-Clear Industries. 18 Aug. 2008. Web. 10 Oct. 2008. www.askalan.com. Notice the indented lines!

What do I do when all my resources have been cited? 1. Alphabetize them according to the first word of the citation 2. Double space everything 3. Make sure every line under the first one is indented 4. Type Works Cited at the top of the page in the center.

What does the final WC page look like?

THE END!

Citing my source!! Information for this presentation came from the following source Researching and Organizing Your Paper: The Note Card System. English Works! at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. Published: 1997-present. Retrieved 7 March, 2006. <http://depts.gallaudet.edu/ englishworks/writing/notecard.html>