Writing Research Papers with 2009... | Buy

A friendly, easy-to-use guide, Writing Research Paperswalks students through every step of the research process from finding a topic to searching the Web to formatting the final manuscript. The seventh edition is thoroughly revised to help students find and evaluate the very best sources amidst the flood of information that electronic searching makes available.

STEPHEN WEIDENBORNER was a professor of English at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York for over thirty years. He coauthored several other composition textbooks with DOMENICK CARUSO, also a former professor of English at Kingsborough Community College.

GARY PARKS is an English professor at Shoreline Community College, in Shoreline, Washington. He has been teaching composition, literature, and creative writing for almost 20 years. His research interests include online communication and distance learning, and he helped pioneer his college's first Web-based distance learning courses. A member of NCTE and CCC, he has given presentations at various assessment and distance learning conferences as well as at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. He is a contributing author to the Bedford/St. Martin's VirtuaLit Fiction site and has had short stories published in several literary magazines.

  Preface

PART I. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

  1. Understanding the Research Process
    Basic Steps in the Process
    Some Essential Definitions
    A More Detailed Look at the Research Process

  2. Deciding on a Topic
    Moving from Subject to Topic
    Finding the Best Topic
    Doing Background Reading or Preliminary Research
    Brainstorming to Find a Topic
    Four Students Find Their Topics

  3. Moving from Topic to Hypothesis
    Benefits of a Hypothesis
    Arriving at a Hypothesis by Brainstorming
    Four Students Form and Revise Their Hypotheses

  Reviewing Part One
    Questions
    Exercises

PART II. SEARCHING FOR SOURCES

  4. Developing a Research Strategy
    Types of Sources
    The Role of Libraries and Librarians
    The Library's Home Page
    The Data Record
    Search Strategies

  5. Finding Books
    Using the Library Catalog
    Evaluating Results of a Library Catalog Search
    Using the Library's Reference Section
    Locating Books
    Using Electronic Books

  6. Finding Periodicals
    Understanding Types of Periodicals
    Using Periodical Databases
    Evaluating Results of a Database Search
    Using Print Indexes
    Acquiring Articles from Print-based Periodicals
    Acquiring Articles from Web-based Periodicals

  7. Finding Internet Sources
    Understanding Types of Web Sites
    Understanding Web Addresses
    Using Search Engines
    Evaluating Results of a Web Search
    Using Other Web Resources

  8. Finding Other Kinds of Sources
    Other Materials in Your Own Library
    Other Print Sources
    Television and Radio Programs
    Audio-Visual Material from the Web
    Interviews and Surveys

  Reviewing Part Two
    Questions
    Exercises

PART III. WORKING WITH SOURCES

  9. Developing a Working Bibliography
    Setting Up the Working Bibliography
    Gathering Potential Sources
    Reassessing Your Topic

  10. Evaluating Potential Sources
    Skimming Your Sources
    Judging the Usefulness of Sources
    Evaluating Online Sources
    Using Primary vs. Secondary Sources
    Cross-Checking Sources
    Creating an Annotated Bibliography
    Reviewing Your Hypothesis

  11. Taking Effective Notes
    Using a Preliminary Outline as a Guide
    Using a Statement of Purpose as a Guide
    Practical Aspects of Note-Taking

  12. Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting
    Paraphrasing
    Summarizing
    Quoting
    Note-Taking for Non-textual Sources
    An Extended Example of Effective Note-Taking

  13. Avoiding Plagiarism
    Understanding Documentation
    Plagiarizing Ideas
    Plagiarizing Paraphrases
    Paraphrasing without Plagiarizing
    Plagiarizing Language
    Plagiarizing Facts

  Reviewing Part Three
    Questions
    Exercises

PART IV. WRITING THE PAPER

  14. Organizing and Outlining
    Organizing Your Notes
    Refining the Outline
    The Traditional Outline Format

  15. Writing the Rough Draft
    Getting Ready to Draft
    Working on a Computer
    Drafting the Introduction
    Drafting the Body
    Drafting the Conclusion

  16. Revising the Rough Draft
    Revising for Organization
    Revising for Support
    Revising for Language
    Revising for Documentation
    Two Examples of Revision
    Writing the Polished, Final Draft

  Reviewing Part Four
    Questions
    Exercises

PART V. DOCUMENTING SOURCES

  17. Understanding Documentation Requirements
    Types of Material That Require Source Notes
    General Information about In-Text Citations
    General Information about the List of Sources
    Abbreviations for Bibliographical Terms

  18. Using the MLA Parenthetical System
    Guidelines for Parenthetical Citations
    Sample Parenthetical Citations
    Blending Notes into Your Text Smoothly
    Numbered Notes for Special Purposes
    Guidelines for Works Cited
    Directory to MLA Style for Works Cited
    Sample Entries for Books
    Sample Entries for Periodicals
    Sample Entries for Electronic Sources
    Sample Entries for Other Material
    Citing Sources of Illustrative Material

  19. Using The APA (Author/Year) System
    Guidelines for Parenthetical Citations
    Sample Parenthetical Citations
    Guidelines for a List of References
    Directory to APA Style for a List of References
    Sample Entries for Books
    Sample Entries for Periodicals
    Sample Entries for Electronic Sources
    Sample Entries for Other Material

  20. Using Other Documentation Systems
    The Chicago (Endnote/Footnote) System
    The Number System
    Format Preferences for Various Academic Disciplines

  Reviewing Part Five
    Questions
    Exercises

PART VI. PREPARING THE MANUSCRIPT

  21. Following Format Requirements
    Basic Formatting
    Following a Particular Format
    Creating a Title Page
    Creating an Abstract
    Paginating Your Paper
    Selecting an Appropriate Font
    Using Color

  22. Four Sample Research Papers
    MLA-Style Paper: "The New Immigrants: Asset or Burden?"
    MLA-Style Paper: "Emily Dickinson's Reluctance to Publish"
    APA-Style Paper: "Solenopis invicta: Destroyer of Ecosystems"
    Chicago-Style Paper: "Cotton Mather's Necessary Witches"

  Appendix of Reference Sources

  Index

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