Disabling Beliefs

1. “The professor knows what I mean”

2. Writing is putting down what is already known

3. Good writers do not re-write

4. The longer the paper the harder and better it is

5. Thoughts and words have a one-to-one relationship

Key Points to Note

1. Knowledge does not make itself easily available!

2. Waiting for last minute inspiration will not cut it!!

3. Research/Term papers are not the trials…

Is the paper Descriptive? You are shooting for a “C” range

Is the paper Analytical? You are shooting for a “B” range

Is the paper both Original + analytical? You are shooting for an “A”

1. Searching for information

a. From topic to title

b. Title should contain implied thesis statement

c. Recipe shapes the shopping (your topic determines your search)

2. Gathering/Compiling: remember knowledge does not…

a. Primary or secondary data

b. “field” notes should include page #s, etc. (the first time!)

3. Writing: organization, structure, logic

a. Drafts

i. 1^st draft is survival writing

ii. subsequent drafts: opportunity for serious revision (“re-vision”)

b. 1^st paragraph should lead to thesis statement

c. Length: “if I had more time I could make this shorter”

d. Quality means…

i. reduction of contractions (e.g., I’ll instead of I will)

ii. clear logic: dazzling idea may simply not belong

iii. sufficient evidence (no orphan thesis please!)

4. Conclusion

a. tie thesis and evidence together

b. be clear and forceful (the punch line must pack a punch!!)

5. Documenting (avoid plagiarism)

a. citing: paraphrasing and quoting

b. full and complete accounting (page #s and all)

c. referencing style: consistency

(Delivered by Dr. Samuel Abaidoo October 14, 2004

in the session: “How to Write a Research Paper”)