How many sources should you have in a research paper - How to Write a Research Paper (with Sample Research Papers)

A good source for this type of source is http: E-Books- These are books that are still under copyright but can be accessed online.

RSCC has quite a collection at http: Online news sites- These sources are usually the websites of a large news network i. CNN or MSNBC or a widely published newspaper i.

The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. Note that the articles found on these sites are distinct from those found in the databases because they may or may not be exclusively found on the internet.

These sites offer update news as well as archival items. Web pages- These are the most prominent web sources. It is important to truly evaluate these sources for validity.

A good rule of thumb is to limit the degrees of separation from publisher to topic as much as possible. How do I cite something inside my paper? An in-text citation must be used when paraphrasing, commenting on, quoting, or referencing any information from an outside source. Your citation should come right after the referenced information and before the period at the end of the sentence.

The basic formats are as follows: Smith 43 - One author with page numbers Gardening - First key word of title- No author, no page numbers websites Smith - One author with no page numbers Smith and Jones 43 - Two authors with page numbers Smith et al. According to Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr.

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY:

How does the in-text citation relate to an entry on my Works Cited Page? If you do not have an in-text citation for a source, it should not appear on your Works Cited page, and no source should be listed on your Works Cited page that was not referenced in your paper.

Simply put, if you did not cite a work in your paper in-text citationit cannot appear on your Works Cited page. These citations are linked so that your reader can find the sources for certain information on their own.

5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper - Essay Writing

Horses are a fantastic pet for teenaged children because they help develop responsibility, communication and health Smith It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic.

Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with methodologie de dissertation intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources.

The goal of a research paper classical greece essay questions not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand.

This is accomplished through two major types of research papers.

When to Cite Sources - Academic Integrity at Princeton University

Two major types of research papers. The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his how exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement.

An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic source should be debatable or controversial. For example, it would be difficult for a student to successfully have in favor of the following stance. Cigarette smoking poses medical dangers and may lead to cancer for both the smoker and those who experience secondhand smoke.

Perhaps 25 years ago this topic would have been debatable; however, today, it is assumed that smoking cogs 17 homework 3 is, indeed, harmful to one's health.

You better thesis would be the following. Although it has been you that cigarette smoking may have to paper health many in the smoker, the social source of smoking in public places should that many still do not consider secondhand smoke as dangerous to one's health as firsthand smoke. In this research, how writer is not challenging the current accepted stance that both firsthand and secondhand cigarette smoke is dangerous; rather, she is positing should the social acceptance of the latter over the former is indicative of a cultural double-standard of sorts.

The student would support this thesis paper her paper by means of both primary and secondary sources, with the intent to persuade her audience that her particular research of the situation is viable.

The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question a. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf. He has read the poem intently and desires to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community. His question may be as follows. How should one interpret the poem Beowulf?

What is a Research Paper?

His research may lead him alpha wolfram homework help the following conclusion. Beowulf is a poem whose purpose it was to serve as an exemplum of heterodoxy for tenth- and eleventh-century monastic communities. Though his topic may be debatable and controversial, it is not the student's intent to persuade the audience that his ideas are right while those of others are wrong.

Instead, his goal is to offer a critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources throughout the paper--sources that should, ultimately, buttress his particular analysis of the topic. The following is an example of what his thesis statement may look like once he has completed his research. Though Beowulf is often read as a poem that recounts the heroism and supernatural exploits of the protagonist Beowulf, it may also be read as a poem that served as an exemplum of heterodoxy for tenth- and eleventh-century monastic communities found in the Danelaw.

This statement does not negate the traditional readings of Beowulf; instead, it offers a fresh and detailed reading of the poem that will be supported by the student's research. It is typically not until the student has begun the writing process that his thesis statement begins to take solid form.

In fact, the thesis statement in an analytical paper is often more fluid than the thesis in an argumentative paper.

Such is one of the benefits of approaching the topic without a predetermined stance. Choosing a Topic The first step of any research paper is for the student to understand the assignment.

If this is not done, the student will often travel down many dead-end roads, wasting a great deal of time along the way. Do not hesitate to approach the instructor with questions if there is any confusion. A clear understanding of the assignment will allow you to focus on other aspects of the process, such as choosing a topic and identifying your audience. Topic A student will often encounter one of two situations when it comes to choosing a topic for a research paper.

How many sources should be used in a college research paper?

The first situation occurs when the instructor provides a list of topics from which the student may choose. These topics have been deemed worthy by the instructor; therefore, the student should be confident in the topic he chooses from the list. Many first-time researchers appreciate such an arrangement gmat problem solving tricks the instructor because it eliminates the stress of having to decide upon a topic on their own.

However, the student may also find the topics that have been provided to be limiting; moreover, it is not uncommon for the student to have a topic in mind that does not fit with any of those provided. If this is the case, it is always beneficial to approach the instructor with one's ideas.

Be respectful, and ask the instructor if the topic you have in mind would be a possible research option for the assignment. Remember, as a first-time researcher, your knowledge of the process is quite limited; the instructor is experienced, and may have very precise reasons for choosing the topics she has offered to the class. Trust that she has the best interests of the class in mind.

If she likes the topic, great! If not, do not take it personally and choose the topic from the list that seems most interesting to you.