The Research Process

1. The Research Process Taking notes Writing a Thesis

2. Taking Notes • Paraphrase information, but also include direct quotations that will support your ideas & make your paper more interesting. • Follow these guidelines: • Use a separate index card for each piece of information. • Write a heading on each card indicating the subject of the note. • Write the number of the corresponding source card on each note card. • Copy direct quotations exactly, & put them in quotation marks. • Record the number of the page where you found the material in the source (if applicable).

3. Paraphrasing Restate the author’s ideas in your own words. If you use any of the author’s original words or phrases, put them in quotation marks. Example note card: Language acquisition experiments 7 On ability to understand sentences, Kanzi slightly outscored Alia by the end of nine months. 76 Title & source card # Paraphrase Page #

4. Quoting • Direct quotations – especially long ones – should be used sparingly. • Save them for when the author has: • Used strikingly original language • Made an extremely important point • Used unusually concise language

5. Creating a Good Thesis Statement • A thesis statement contains your central idea that is supported by the research you have collected. • Will indicate your point of view, & should be a statement that can be supported by various kinds of evidence. • Will be found at the end of your introductory paragraph. • Consider this checklist: • Will my thesis allow me to write a paper that will fulfill my assignment? • Is my thesis focused & sufficiently limited? • Have I state it concisely, in a sentence my readers will understand?

6. Example Thesis Statements • The following three statements express different ideas about mountain climbing. Each is successful because it clearly states a subject & can be supported with facts & reasons. • Many climbers have perished on Mount Everest as a result of poor planning, lack of experience, and bad weather. • Different climbing routes on a mountain require different kinds of climbing skills. • To prepare for a trip up Mount Everest, climbers need money, training, & experienced guides.

7. One More Example… Research question: Should states regulate use of cell phones in moving vehicles? Tentative thesis: States should regulate use of cell phones on the road because many drivers are using the phones irresponsibly & causing accidents. Revised thesis: States must regulate use of cell phones on the road because drivers using phones are seriously impaired & because laws on negligent & reckless driving are not sufficient to punish offenders.

8. Your Turn to Write • What information have you found in your research? What can you prove? • Some ways to approach writing your thesis: • Define a problem & give your opinion. • Discuss the current state of an issue & how it might be resolved. • Put forth a possible solution to a problem. • Compare two or more of something similar & give your opinion.