Format for the Research Paper (1600-3000 words)

Don't forget the sources that help you write your research paper:

Overview in Strategies for Successful Writing, Research. Chapters 20-23.
Overview in A Writer’s Reference p. 331-368 tabbed "Research" section.
Drafting - Strategies for Successful Writing Page 382
Citing sources - Strategies for Successful Writing page 395
Documentation - Writer's Reference Chart pp. 371-372. MLA-tabbed section.

(Remember you are required to have a minimum of 5 sources (and one must be a print source), so you must cite at least 5 different sources in the body of the paper, and have those 5 sources must be listed on your Works Cited page.)

6. Handling quotations - Strategies for Successful Writing Pages 376-377. (Be sure to read about dropped quotes and signal phrases.)

7. Revising and editing research paper. (Send it to the writing center for help with editing. Look at the essays I graded and make suggested corrections.)

8. Sample research paper: A Writer's Reference, page 436-440.

Due dates: 1^st draft due to The Writing Center early this week (writingcenter@swosu.edu). Make corrections as suggested by the Writing Center AND from the corrections and suggestions that I marked on your 3 essays.

Then the FINAL DRAFT due to me by the end of this week (Unit 14).

Formatting and Assembling the Research Paper:

1.) Place the heading in the upper left hand corner of the first page. This is the only page that needs a heading. On all pages keep a running header that has your last name and the page number in the upper right hand side.

2.) Type the title. Do not put quotation marks around it or underline it or put it in bold type. Capitalize titles as required, capitalizing major words except for article adjectives, prepositions and coordinating conjunctions, unless they are the first or last word . . . See Writer’s Reference p. 298 (P8-C) for full explanation and examples.

3.) Type the paper. Double Space. (In Microsoft Office ‘07, Double space is under “Home,” “paragraph,” click bottom right corner, then “Line Spacing” then change to “Double”.) Type in Times New Roman or Arial and use 12-point font.

4.) Next, locate your thesis. Underline it or highlight it so that I can easily find it when I’m grading.

5.) If you have any graphics or charts, insert them at the end of the body of the paper. (This is not a required or even necessary element, but this is where things go if you desired to add them.)

6.) Next, type Works Cited at the top, no quotations around it or anything, centered, still double spaced. Set your margin to indent secondary lines. (Choose "Ruler" from View menu. Clicking on the bottom tab, slide tab to the right to "5" then click on top tab, sliding it back to left to “0”.) Type the bibliographical information in alphabetical order. Remember to italicize titles of books and magazines, newspapers and videos. Put titles of pamphlets and internet articles in quotation marks. You are welcome to use a citation generator website, such as noodletools or easybib to create your Works Cited. Just make sure it is in MLA format. Also, make sure that every source you list on your Works Cited page is actually cited in the paper, and, make sure that each source you cite in your paper is on your Works Cited page.

7. Make sure each first word on the Works Cited page actually appears in the body of your paper, either in an in-text citation or in parenthetical citation. Make sure to italicize appropriately. Page 304 Writer's Ref.

8.) Take note of the Research Paper Grading Rubric, located in this module. Look over it carefully. Maybe you’ll want to print it out and look it over, checking things off for yourself. It points out many of the things that will cost you points. I’ll be using it to grade your paper.

Upload the corrected, edited, revised version. This is due by Friday, April 22 @ 11:59 PM.