How To Write A Research Paper
...School East and Cranston High School West prepared this booklet for students learning the fundamentals of research paper writing. Much of the material was gleaned from sources listed on the acknowledgements page. The information chosen is considered suitable to fulfill the instructional needs of the teachers and to facilitate practical use by the students.
1. Topic Selection
Topic selection will vary with the teacher or the course. If you are given a choice of topic, consider the following questions before choosing:
a. Is the subject you are considering significant/relevant to the assignment?
b. Does the subject interest you?
c. Are research materials readily available for the subject?
d. Can the subject be presented objectively?
2. Limiting the Subject
If the subject you plan to research is too broad, your paper may exceed the assigned length. If you attempt to develop a broad subject within the confines of the required length, you may also find that you have merely skimmed the surface of the subject. Either case may lead to an unacceptable outcome. Therefore, you must carefully analyze a subject to divide it into its parts. You might consider narrowing it in relation to pertinent time periods or certain examples, features, uses, and causes.
The paper you are usually asked to write in English class is an evaluative research paper which goes beyond mere reporting of facts found in an informational research paper. Rather, it may address solutions to a problem, determine causes or effects, formulate evidence to prove or disprove, compare or contrast, assess, analyze or interpret. By presenting facts, figures, and opinions from both primary and secondary resources in the paper, the reader gains a new point of view or sees information in a new light.
Informational paper topic: The training a meteorologist needs
Evaluative paper topic: A...
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