Success Center Tips For Writing A Research Paper - Southwestern Illinois College Page 2
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2Create a list of sources including all citation information in a working or annotated bibliography
Draft the paper according to an organizational format that meets the rhetorical purpose of the
assignment and the instructor’s specific guidelines
Introduction
•
Frame your issue and state your thesis
Body
•
Use your own words to connect ideas for the reader when introducing new paragraphs and
direct quotes
•
Integrate direct quotations into the paper that are purposeful, and use them sparingly– no
more than 10% of the paper should be directly quoted from your sources
•
After a direct quote, explain its significance to the argument set forth in your thesis
•
Follow a formal documentation style, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago style, to list all works
cited on the final pages of the paper. Use the style guide required by your specific discipline
of study according to the instructor’s directions
Conclusion
•
Reinforce your argument with a call to action, additional insights, or further observations
Revise and proofread the paper
•
Research papers are formal papers, so the language should fit the rhetorical situation
•
Reword confusing sentences or weak paragraphs
•
Improve the organization of ideas
•
Proofread grammar and spelling and check the formatting of the paper for accuracy
•
Use the guidelines below to check the use of sources in the paper to avoid plagiarism
Avoiding Plagiarism
The SWIC student Handbook Student Conduct Code defines plagiarism as “the use or close imitation of
the language thoughts, or work of another to include copying, quoting, paraphrasing, or using another’s
creation, images, or illustrations to represent them as your own work without proper acknowledgement
of the source.” Avoiding plagiarism is vital when using research sources because, even if it’s intentional,
plagiarism violates academic integrity and carries harsh penalties.
To avoid plagiarism, follow the steps below during the research process:
•
Allow enough time to read, think, and write about your sources
•
Incorporate summaries, direct quotes, and paraphrases in the paper and credit the sources.
•
Cite the source of any ideas that are not your own, but do not cite your own thoughts or widely
known information
For additional information about plagiarism, consult the handout “Success Center Tips for Avoiding
Plagiarism in Paraphrases and Summaries.”
Bean, John C. et al. Reading Rhetorically. 4th ed., Pearson, 2014.
“Evaluating Information-Applying the CRAAP Test.” California State University, Chico. Accessed 24 Mar. 2017.
https://
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Palmquist, Mike. The Bedford Researcher.5
ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015.
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