Writing a Research Paper
PET 3510
Writing a Research Paper• Choosing Your Topic
• Narrowing Your Topic
• Writing a Thesis Statement
• Creating an Outline
• Breadth. You may need to start broad and
let your research take you narrower.
“Cone it down”
• Originality. Choose a topic that will allow
you to contribute to the field, rather than
just regurgitate facts.
• Sources. Choose a topic that has scholarly
grounding.
Choosing Your Topic
• Focus on a specific TYPE or CLASS
• Focus on a particular PLACE or REGION• Focus on a certain TIME PERIOD
• Focus on a certain ASPECT
o Social, legal, medical, ethical, biological,
psychological, economic, political, philosophical, etc.
• Focus on a specific POPULATION
o Gender, age, occupation, ethnicity, nationality,
educational attainment, species, etc.
• Focus on a RELATIONSHIP with two or more topics• COMBINE different kinds of focuses
Narrowing Your Topic
1. Use journalistic questions: who?, what?, when?, where?,
why? how?
2. Review recent literature (journals, trade papers, etc.)
3. Recall questions asked.
4. Apply your paper to your career goals.
Narrowing Your Topic
Thesis sTaTemenT• The thesis statement is like an outline in miniature. It is a “roadmap” for the rest of the paper.
• A typical thesis statement gives brief mention to each of the paper’s main points, and it also states the
overall argument the writer wishes to make.
• It directly answers the question asked of you.
• It makes a claim that others might dispute.
• It is usually a single sentence near the end of the first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
idenTifying a sTrong Thesis sTaTemenT• Do I answer the question?
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test?
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and
without wandering?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test?
The Writing Process
• Aids in the process of writing
• Helps you organize your ideas
• Presents your material in a logical form• Shows the relationships among ideas in your
writing
• Constructs an ordered overview of your
writing
• Defines boundaries and groups
• Prevents you from “straying” from the topicBenefits of an Outline
• Research: Perform initial research to learn
about your chosen topic.
• Brainstorm: List all the ideas that you want
to include in your paper.
• Organize: Group related ideas together.
• Order: Arrange material in subsections from general to specific or from abstract to
concrete.
• Label: Create main and sub headings.
Creating an Outline
• Begin early! A strong, detailed outline is a
crucial step of the writing process.
• Refer to your outline often. A strong outline provides a consistent backbone during the
writing process.
• Be as specific as possible. This will be your guide throughout the entire writing process.
Outline Tips
• Avoid having too many subheadings. This may indicate that you can further narrow the topic of your paper.
• Don’t be afraid to change your outline.
Further research may provide additional
information or counterpoints.
• Allow yourself enough time to make
changes. Attempting a complete overhaul of your paper the night before it’s due is both
frustrating and often futile.
Outline Tips
7 Parts of a Research Paper
1. Abstract – Brief summary of the
paper (100-200 words)
2. Introduction – 5 W’s & The H
3. Review of Literature – The cone
4. Methods – The research recipe
5. Results – What you got – Use charts & graphs
6. Ace my homework – Write my paper – Online assignment help tutors – Discussion – Why you got what you
got – What it means – How to use this
information – Future directions
7. References
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The Art of Research Paper Writing
PET 3510 is a type of pet.
Writing a Research Paper• Choosing Your Topic • Narrowing Your Topic • Writing a Thesis Statement • Creating an Outline
• Breadth. You may need to start broad and let your research take you narrower.
“Cone it down”
• Originality. Choose a topic that will allow you to contribute to the field, rather than just regurgitate facts.
• Sources. Choose a topic that has scholarly grounding.
Choosing Your Topic
• Focus on a specific TYPE or CLASS • Focus on a particular PLACE or REGION• Focus on a certain TIME PERIOD • Focus on a certain ASPECT o Social, legal, medical, ethical, biological, psychological, economic, political, philosophical, etc. • Focus on a specific POPULATION o Gender, age, occupation, ethnicity, nationality, educational attainment, species, etc. • Focus on a RELATIONSHIP with
