RESEARCH PAPERCHECKLIST

WORKSHOP SECTIONS:

CONTENT

CITATION

CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL

THE CONTENT

1. Research and source evaluation2. Thesis statement & Outline3. Claim sentences4. Organization5. Support6. Introduction7. Conclusion

Gather/EvaluateData

Keyword search

• Use synonyms for maximum data collection• Don’t type too little or too many search words

– whole prompt=> too little data– cold war US Russia => too much data

• http://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research-synonyms/12540/

Recommended search engines

• http://www.jstor.org/• http://scholar.google.com/• http://www.ebscohost.com/academic/americ

a-history-and-life• http://libguides.bc.edu/history• http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/

nytarchive.html

• As you collect data, make sure to record all the data (url address/writer/date) on 1 document.

• It makes citation much easier later.

• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

THE CITATION

Who wrote it? Knowing a person helps us identify the following:

Consider:• Name?• Expertise?• Did they do their own research? (references?)• Belongs to an organization?• When was it published?

Based on this, determine whether you can trust the information.

Refer to: http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Source-Evaluation-Cheat-Sheet

THE CITATION

Remember, if you think that a source might not be reliable, do not be afraid to set that source aside, and find a more reliable one.

#1

THE THESIS

Fill out the thesis paper

Thesis definitionThesis Statement= What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it

Bad example:

-> doesn’t include a specific topic-> doesn’t include a plan of argument

Thesis statement• If your prompt asks for a viewpoint: agree,

disagree, or quantify

• If your prompt asks for an analysis: Identify and consider most important ideas. Then discuss what happens in a specific event and why it is significant.

If your prompt asks to discuss:Summarize the overall content of your topic. Then pick out 1 or 2 points and say what you think about it. You can say the pro and con about the items involved.

THE CONTENTThe following are characteristics of a thesis. Is it :

CLEAR

ARGUABLE

APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED

THE CONTENTThe following examples show a thesis sentence that

is not clear and one that is clear.

INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS

It decreases one’s ability to perform Smoking decreases one’s ability toquality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace.

This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because the it is not clear. What does the work “it” topic is clear: smoking.mean?

THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is

not arguable and one that is arguable:

INCOMPLETE THESIS

SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO A PERSON’S HEALTH.

This is not a thesis statement because it is not arguable.

COMPLETE THESIS

SMOKING DECREASES ONE’S ABILITY TO PERFORM QUALITY WORK AT THE WORKPLACE.

This is a thesis statement because it is arguable.

THE CONTENT The following examples show a thesis statement that is

not appropriately qualified and one that is appropriately qualified

INCOMPLETE THESIS COMPLETE THESIS

Everyone knows that smoking Researchers maintain smokingdecreases one’s ability to perform decreases one’s ability toquality work in the workplace. perform quality work in the workplace.

This is not a thesis statement because This is a thesis statement because it is not appropriately qualified. “Everyone” “[r]esearchers maintain” is appropriatelyIs too vague. qualified. “Researchers” is a specific one.

Thesis check

Exchange your thesis with a peer.Check their thesis: - includes an opinion/argument about the

prompt?-includes a plan on how they will argue?-all meanings clear?- nothing vague?

Outline

• Check if you have enough information to fit in the outline ->