Page 523 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

subscription databases through a college library

The next step is to take careful notes from your sources. As you note

the information, also note whether you are directly quoting the material

or paraphrasing it. Direct quotations should be used sparingly and

only to highlight the most important points. Most of your paper should

be in your own words. When you paraphrase, recheck your
paraphrases to make sure your wording is not too close to that of the

original material.

Real-World Writing: Is Research

Easier Because of the Internet?

Yes. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, first-year
college students are becoming increasingly Internet-savvy and

are thus finding libraries and research less intimidating.

Step 4: Draft Your Paper

Drafting a research paper is quite similar to drafting a personal essay.

Your draft should contain the following elements:

An introduction that provides necessary background to the issue
you have researched. The introduction should end in a thesis