Page 524 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

statement that directly answers the research question you have
asked.

Several body paragraphs beginning with topic sentences that

state the point that the paragraph will support. Support in your

body paragraphs will come from the sources that you found during

your research. As you write the draft, make a note of sources and

page numbers beside each paragraph.
A conclusion that sums up your paper. A summary conclusion is

always appropriate, but other possibilities include suggesting

avenues for further research or proposing solutions to a problem.

Step 5: Format Your Paper and

Cite Your Sources

The final draft of your paper will include proper formatting,

parenthetical references, and a Works Cited page. Citing sources is

considered so important that various academic disciplines have

adopted their own methods of formatting papers and acknowledging

sources. Fields such as psychology, sociology, nursing, and criminal
justice generally use the APA style of documentation, as outlined in

the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Scholars in literature and the humanities often use the MLA style of

the Modern Language Association, as outlined in the MLA Handbook

for Writers of Research Papers. When you are assigned a paper, use

the documentation style recommended by your instructor. The brief