Report:
A report is typically a summary of a few sources on a given topic, put together
coherently. Proper documentation (explained later) and a works cited page (explained later) are required.
Research Paper
A research paper is a thesis-driven paper in which the writer proves a thesis (sometimes called a controlling idea) through research. It can be entirely argumentative in nature, as, for example, writing that cloning is wrong. It may be less argumentative, as, for example, writing that airports in the U.S. are unprepared for terrorism, or that Edgar Allan Poe's stories all have unreliable narrators. It, of course, follows required proper documentation procedures
Thesis (controlling idea):
A thesis (or controlling idea) is a statement that must be proved. In an essay this is usually done with examples of some sort. In a research paper, much of your argument is supported by facts, statements and statistics from other sources. Although it may not necessarily argue that something is right or wrong ("The death penalty is wrong."), it still argues a position on a topic ("The death penaltyhas not been a deterrent in the U.S." or "The best alternative car engine is the
hybrid."). See section on the thesis.
Active Reading:
Active reading is a manner of reading in which the reader is constantly
summarizing and evaluating what he reads by jotting down notes or questions every half page or so. If it is possible, it is best done in the margins of the material. This helps the reader better to understand what is being read.
Precis:
A precis is a summary of an essay or article in which you state first the thesis of the work, followed by a clear, general summary of the main ideas. Examples or details in a precis are unnecessary, just the big points. For a typical article, only about five or six sentences are needed. (A more detailed explanation with examples will be provided by your teacher.)
Tertiary Sources:
Tertiary sources contain general information on topics, and typically include dictionaries and encyclopedias (both general and specialized).
Secondary Sources:
Secondary sources are books, articles and other kinds of sources (such as TV shows) which focus specifically on a topic or even a point of view. These can include books, magazine articles, newspaper articles, internet articles, documentaries, and other recordings.
Primary Sources:
Primary sources are sources that haven't been interpreted by other people. They can include interviews with people, historical documents (such as The Decalaration of Independence), letters, diaries, or eyewitness statements.
Quotations:
A quotation is the borrowing of someone else's words or ideas while giving credit to that person or source.
Ex. "The use of violence to stop violence has proven itself time and
again to be of dubious moral and practical value."
Direct Quotation:
A direct quotation uses a source's EXACT wording, word-for-word. This
can be just a phrase of a few words to an entire paragraph. A direct quote requires quotation marks and proper citing of the source.
Indirect Quotation:
An indirect quotation takes the wording of a phrase, sentence or passage and puts them into the researcher's own words. It, too, must give credit through proper citation of the source, but no quotation marks are necessary.
Ex. (using the sentence from above) Using violence to end violence
not only doesn't work; it's wrong. (Notice most of the words are
not from the original sentence.)
Indirect quotations can be of two types: a paraphrase or a summary
Paraphrase: To paraphrase is to take a passage anywhere from part of asentence up to a small paragraph and put it in your own words.
Summary: A summary quote is to take a longer passage, even several pages' worth and in a sentence or short paragraph put it in your own
words
Partial Quotation:
A partial quotation is either a summary quote or paraphrased quote, but with a key phrase quoted word for word. Ex. The cloning of animals or humans is "an act of terror" against Civilazation.
(Note: more information on quoting will come from your teacher later.)
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of other people's words without giving proper credit. If intentional, plagiarism will result in a paper being given a zero. (More serious results are also possible, depending on circumstances. Further explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it will be given in class.)
MLA Style:
MLA is the abbreviation for the Modern Language Association which governs the rules for writing research papers. You should know that there are several styles of research papers, from the old-fashioned kind (footnotes on the bottom of every typed page) to the most recent (parenthetical documentation). You will be learning the most up-to-date style. In college, some professors may demand a different, older style (but they are readily available in books or on the Internet).
Parenthetical Documentation/Citation:
Parenthetical documentation is the most recent method of giving credit in your papers to sources for the information you have borrowed. This is sometimes called citing a source. Typical examples follow:
- parenthetical documentation for a direct quote: Most officers believe that "there is no simple solution for eliminating guns from our streets" (Smith 34).
- parenthetical documentation for an indirect quote: Most officers believe that there is no one method that will get rid of guns from our streets (Smith 34). The author's last name and the page number are all that appear in the parentheses after the quoted material. More instruction on this may be given in class.
Bibliography:
A bibliography is a formal list of sources used in preparing a research paper. It may include many sources that you do not actually CITE (give credit to) in the paper. In modern, MLA-style research papers, this is generally no longer done.
Works Cited:
Instead of a bibliography, modern papers have what is called a Works Cited page. This includes ONLY those sources that you have CITED (given credit to) IN THE PAPER. Thus, usually you have more sources in a bibliography than in a works cited page. Many teachers will require bibliography cards and those cards will be your bibliography.
This is a good place for a reminder on sources. ALWAYS gather more sources than you think you'll need, as the ones you discard cannot be used for a works cited page!
Note Cards:
Note cards contain generally one fact, quote or statistic and are done as part of the formal research paper process, taking the place of notes in a notebook.
Synthesis:
Synthesis is the process of combining information through YOUR point of view. It differs from analysis, which breaks information down into manageable parts. Synthesis, thus, is the heart of a research paper. |
