Planning with a Thesis Statement

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Instructor's Notes

To download handouts of the Learning by Doing activities and checklists that appear in this unit, and to access lecture slides, teaching tips, and Instructor’s Manual materials, go to the “Instructor Resources” folder at the end of this unit.

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Writing a Research Paper

Your research project may call for writing a full-length paper, or you may simply want to review steps such as organizing and drafting. Whatever the case, moving from nuggets of information to a smooth, persuasive analysis or argument can be the most challenging part of the research process. Remember that the steps in writing a research paper are similar to the stages in most other writing processes, but in the case of research, you’re using outside sources to support your ideas.

Why Writing a Research Paper Matters

In a College Course

  • You’ve read everything for your hardest class, but your grade rides on the final paper you submit.

  • You gave an excellent oral presentation about life in your region during the 1940s, but you still have to write up the formal research paper.

In the Workplace

  • You’ve gathered all the background information assembled by your team, but now you have to pull it together in a report for your demanding boss.

In Your Community

  • Your term chairing the citizen committee is ending, so you need to present a final report about types of complaints, criteria for resolution, and recommendations to the board.

image When have you written a research paper? In what situations do you expect to do so again?