How To Write College Papers.pdf

HOW TO WRITE COLLEGE RESEARCH PAPERS Mayland Community College S.O.A.R. Program 2004 2 As a college student you will be required to write research papers for many of your classes. A research paper is an in-depth report on a particular topic. It involves seeking sources of information that may include facts, statistics, historical writings, etc. The topic is usually one that you select, although the instructor may assign a topic area. This module is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the basics of developing and writing research papers. The second section covers information on different types of papers. You will learn how to approach writing assignments, how to find and document resources, how to prepare an outline, how to present your papers, and how to avoid plagiarism. Section One covers the following topics: 1. Getting Started 2. Brainstorming Your Topic 3. Beginning Your Research 4. Outlining Your Paper 5. The First Draft 6. Writing the Paper 7. Proofreading and Revising 8. Documenting (Citing) Your Sources 9. Delivery Section Two covers: 1. Book Reports 2. Term (Research) Papers 3. Short and Long Reports 4. Avoiding Plagiarism 1. GETTING STARTED The first step in any research paper assignment is to decide on your topic. Be sure your topic is manageable, meaning you can cover it adequately; it is appropriate to the topic; and it is interesting to you. For example, in Sociology class you may be studying changes in society. The broad theme may be societal changes in the last hundred years. A topic more limited in scope is the effect of television on American society. Always try to narrow your topic down to something that you can cover adequately in the number of pages you are required to write. On the other hand, be careful not to select a topic too narrow or too difficult to research. 2. BRAINSTORMING YOUR TOPIC 3 Think of a brainstorm as a w