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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
Table of Contents
Brief Chapter Outline...........................................................................2
Chapter Outline and Lecture Notes.......................................................4
Vocabulary Review.............................................................................11
Class Activities and Sample Assignments............................................12
Connect Resources............................................................................13
Discussion Questions for Online/Hybrid Classes...................................15
Graphic Organizers............................................................................16
Organizing Your Research Paper.........................................................16
Conducting Research.........................................................................17
Teaching Tools...................................................................................18
Research Paper Timeline....................................................................18
Research Paper Source List................................................................19
Writing Topics....................................................................................20
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution
without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
IM-13|1
Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
Brief Chapter Outline
I. Learning Outcomes
In this chapter you will learn techniques for achieving these learning outcomes:
Discover a meaningful research topic.
Narrow your research topic.
Create a researchable question.
Write a preliminary thesis.
Locate library and Internet sources.
Evaluate research sources.
Take notes from research materials.
Conduct primary research through a survey or an interview.
Create an outline.
Compose a first draft of your research paper.
II. Discovering a Research Topic
Learning Outcome 13-1: Discover a meaningful research topic.
III. Narrowing a Research Topic
Learning Outcome 13-2: Narrow your research topic.
IV. Creating a Researchable Question
Learning Outcome 13-3: Create a researchable question.
V. Writing a Preliminary Thesis Statement
Learning Outcome 13-4: Write a preliminary thesis.
VI. Locating Library and Internet Sources
Learning Outcome 13–5: Locate library and Internet sources.
a. Computerized library catalog
b. Stacks
c. Periodicals
d. Computerized databases
e. Reference materials
f. Audiovisual materials
g. Internet searches
h. Discussion groups
i. Tips for conducting Internet searches
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution
without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
VII. Evaluating Research Sources
Learning Outcome 13-6: Evaluate research sources.
a. Author and publisher
b. Date
c. References
d. Bias
e. Effectiveness
VIII. Taking Notes from Research Materials
Learning Outcome 13-7: Take notes from research materials.
a. Summarizing
b. Paraphrasing
c. Quoting
IX. Conducting Primary Research
Learning Outcome 13-8: Conduct primary research through a survey or an
interview.
a. Surveys
b. Personal Interviews
X. Creating an Outline
Learning Outcome 13-9: Create an outline.
XI. Composing Your Research Paper
Learning Outcome 13-10: Compose a first draft of your research paper.
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution
without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
IM-13|3
Research Writing in the Chapter
Student Writing:
“How Scared Are You?” Research paper rough draft by Neil Harris (pages 332-333)
Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
Chapter Outline and Lecture Notes
I. Learning Outcomes
In this chapter you will learn techniques for achieving these learning outcomes:
Discover a meaningful research topic.
Narrow your research topic.
Create a researchable question.
Write a preliminary thesis.
Locate library and Internet sources.
Evaluate research sources.
Take notes from research materials.
Conduct primary research through a survey or an interview.
Create an outline.
Compose a first draft of your research paper.
II. Discovering a Research Topic (page 315)
Learning Outcome 13-1: Discover a meaningful research topic.
a. Find a suitable topic.
b. Understand the parameters.
c. Read the instructions carefully.
d. Know what is acceptable.
e. Select your topic carefully.
f. Pick a topic that is interesting and meaningful to you.
g. Utilize various methods to find a topic.
III. Narrowing a Research Topic (pages 315-316)
Learning Outcome 13-2: Narrow your research subject.
a. Narrow your broad topic.
b. Use the assignment requirements to help you narrow your topic.
c. Consider the length of the assignment.
d. Know the number and type of sources required.
e. Consider the assignment deadline.
IV. Creating a Researchable Question (page 316)
Learning Outcome 13-3: Create a researchable question.
a. A researchable question serves as a guide to the research process.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
b. An effective researchable question helps to develop a thesis.
c. Determine what you know about your subject.
d. Decide what you would like to know.
e. You may go back and revise your question after you start the preliminary
research.
V. Writing a Preliminary Thesis Statement (pages 316-317)
Learning Outcome 13-4: Write a preliminary thesis.
a. A researchable question cannot replace the thesis statement.
b. Draft a working thesis.
c. Make sure your thesis includes your subject and your opinion.
d. The working thesis will help you select sources.
e. You may refine your thesis later as you gather new ideas from your
research.
VI. Locating Library and Internet Sources (pages 317-324)
Learning Outcome 13–5: Locate library and Internet sources.
a. Computerized library catalog
i. The computerized library catalogue is an index of the library’s
holdings.
ii. You can determine if the item is available or checked out.
iii. Search by title, author, ISBN, or subject.
iv. Type key words to find what you need.
v. Spell the words correctly.
vi. Try different key words until you find what you need.
vii. Use “and,” “or,” or “not” to help narrow a search.
viii. Print or jot down important information about your sources.
ix. Use the information to help locate the source in the library.
b. Stacks
i. The stacks are the shelves of books located in the library.
ii. Use the call number on the spine of the books to locate your
sources.
iii. Determine how the library organizes its shelves.
1. The Dewey Decimal System divides subjects into 10
categories.
2. The Library of Congress Classification uses 20 lettered
categories.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
iv. Look at books located near your item in case they may be useful.
v. If you can’t locate a book, ask the reference librarian for help.
c. Periodicals
i. Periodicals include magazines, newspapers, and professional
journals.
ii. Periodicals are good sources.
iii. They contain precise and up-to-date information.
iv. Magazines and newspapers tend to be more general.
v. Journals are more in-depth.
vi. Current periodicals are organized alphabetically by title.
vii. Old issues may be bound together and kept in the stacks.
d. Computerized databases
i. A computerized database contains a collection of abstracts and
articles about various topics.
ii. Check with your librarian to find out if a specific database is
available or useful for your topic.
iii. If a database is available, ask the librarian if you may use it.
iv. When you locate possible sources, read abstracts of the articles.
v. E-mail useful articles to yourself.
vi. Make sure to use the full article in your paper, not just the abstract.
vii. Some databases include: Info Trac, ProQuest, LexisNexis, eLibrary,
and eGlobal Library.
e. Reference materials
i. Reference materials include encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs,
handbooks, periodical indexes, and other sources.
ii. Most reference materials cannot be checked out.
iii. Do not use reference materials as primary sources.
iv. Online reference materials are also available.
v. Be aware that Wikipedia is not a credible source for a research
paper.
vi. Visit the Web site of the American Library Association
(http://www.ala.org).
f. Audiovisual materials
i. Audiovisual materials are non-print media.
ii. You may find useful sources in this section of the library.
iii. The shelves are usually organized alphabetically and by type.
iv. Ask your librarian for help if you are unable to find what you need.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
g. Internet searches
i. Use as a supplement to your traditional sources.
ii. You can access sources by using a Web browser.
iii. Search engines can help you find what you need.
iv. Remember, search engines are not sources.
h. Discussion groups
i. Use search engines to participate in discussion groups.
ii. Remember to check the accuracy of any information gathered.
iii. Listserves act as mailing lists for your subject, providing e-mail
updates.
iv. Newsgroups provide information but you must find it yourself.
v. Mailing lists provide email updates on your topic.
vi. Blogs are personalized online journals.
i. Tips for conducting Internet searches
i. Spell your keywords correctly.
ii. Use Boolean Logic to make your search more precise:
1. Use “and” to look for sources that contain both terms.
2. Use “or” to look for any of two or more words.
3. Use “not” to exclude one or more words.
iii. Click on hyperlinks to get more information from other sites.
iv. Use the “back” and “forward” arrows to navigate Web pages.
v. Bookmark or print out useful sources.
VII. Evaluating Research Sources (pages 324-325)
Learning Outcome 13-6: Evaluate research sources.
a. Author and publisher
i. Look to see if the author has the appropriate credentials.
ii. Make sure the publisher and/or the Web site is reputable.
iii. If in doubt, check for an author’s biography or the history of the
publisher.
b. Date
i. Check to see when the information was published or posted.
ii. If the information is too old for your topic, find more current
information.
c. References
i. Check to see if the author documented sources.
ii. Check to see if the source includes a bibliography.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
iii. If no sources are provided, you may consider looking for other
sources.
d. Bias
i. Make sure the information provided is fair.
ii. Determine if the author may have an agenda.
e. Effectiveness
i. Decide if the content is useful.
ii. Determine if the organization is clear and logical.
iii. Check for information accuracy.
VIII. Taking Notes from Research Materials (pages 325-327)
Learning Outcome 13-7: Take notes from research materials.
a. Summarizing
i. Summarizing is using your own words to condense ideas from
articles, chapters, or passages.
ii. Include main ideas but not specific details.
iii. After writing a summary, go back to the original to check accuracy.
iv. Summarizing helps you manage large amounts of information.
b. Paraphrasing
i. Paraphrasing is restating a sentence or passage in your own
words.
ii. Your goal is to revise the original and keep every idea.
iii. Change the sentence structure and word choice.
iv. Don’t overuse paraphrasing in your paper.
v. Paraphrasing is helpful when the original text is too complex or
technical.
c. Quoting
i. Quoting is taking someone’s exact words and putting quotation
marks around them.
ii. Quoting should be used sparingly.
iii. Use a quote to show an authority’s words or to share vivid wording
from the original passage
iv. Make sure to copy the statement word for word.
v. Use an ellipsis (...) if you omit words.
vi. Don’t alter the intended meaning of the author.
vii. If the original passage contains an error, use [sic] immediately after
the error.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
IX. Conducting Primary Research (pages 328-331)
Learning Outcome 13-8: Conduct primary research through a survey or an
interview.
a. Surveys
i. Surveys are questionnaires intended to gain information from a
group.
ii. Clarify your purpose by knowing exactly what you want to gain.
1. Make your purpose known to the participants.
2. Consider including a cover letter.
iii. Choose your participants carefully.
1. Decide who will give the best answers for your survey.
2. Make sure the target audience is very familiar with the
subject.
3. Make sure to include a diverse population in your survey.
iv. Set clear expectations for the respondents.
1. Give a reasonable deadline for completion.
2. Make it easy for the participants to respond.
v. Design effective questions.
1. Make sure your questions or possible answers don’t
overlap.
2. Test your questions on a few people prior to distributing.
3. Stick to one or two types of questions at the most.
vi. Compile and interpret the results.
1. Analyze the significance of the results.
2. Include information in your report that reflects the results.
3. Attach the actual data as an appendix to your research
paper.
4. Remember, the results are based upon opinion.
b. Personal interviews
i. Clarify your purpose.
1. Know what type of information you want to obtain.
2. Let your interviewee know your purpose.
3. Keep your interview focused on information.
ii. Choose your interviewee carefully.
1. You may need to make several phone calls to pick the best
interview subject.
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without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Chapter Thirteen
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
2. Someone from your college or community may work.
iii. Determine how you will conduct the interview.
1. Try to set up a face-to-face interview if possible.
2. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.
3. Use the phone or e-mail if a face-to-face interview isn’t
possible.
iv. Prepare your questions.
1. Have 5 to 10 questions ready.
2. If you are nervous, practice asking a friend.
3. Open-ended questions are better.
v. Be courteous to the interviewee.
1. Be on time and dress appropriately.
2. Explain your purpose to the interview subject.
3. Listen attentively.
4. Ask questions if you need clarification about a response.
5. Make sure to thank the interview subject at the end.
vi. Take thorough notes during the interview.
1. Take thorough notes.
2. Document the time, date, and interview subject’s name and
title.
3. Write out all of the answers to the questions.
4. Ask the interview subject for permission before recording
the interview.
X. Creating an Outline (page 331)
Learning Outcome 13-9: Create an outline.
a. Select the major points.
b. The outline is the framework of your entire paper.
c. Be flexible during the writing process if all the points from your outline
aren’t covered.
d. You may need to revisit your outline if it is a required element of your
research paper submission.
XI. Composing Your Research Paper (pages 332-333)
Learning Outcome 13-10: Compose a first draft of your research paper.
a. Write a first draft of your research paper.
b. Consider your rhetorical star.
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