Research Project Planning Guide

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of a research question?

To keep you on track and provide the main question that your paper will answer.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

To prove the thesis written at the end of the introduction.

What are examples of key themes?

  • theory (correct)
  • hypothesis (correct)
  • point of view (correct)
  • opinion (correct)

A research paper should be written in a professional and formal tone.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of things that are used to achieve continuity in presenting ideas?

<p>punctuation marks (A), cause-effect links (B), contrast links (C), transitional words (D), addition links (E), time links (F), pronouns (G)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some things to avoid when writing a research paper?

<p>irrelevancies (A), etc/soon (B), informal expressions (C), like (D), ambiguity (E), contractions (F), sudden shifts in tense (G), thing (H), good/bad (I), you/your (J), abbreviations (K), abandoning an argument before finishing it (L), get phrases (M), question forms (N), lots of (O)</p> Signup and view all the answers

It is important to avoid redundancy in writing.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

It's important to be cautious about making general statements in your writing.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An abstract provides a summary of the research paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The abstract should be written before you write the rest of the research paper.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The abstract should be complete and informative.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The abstract should be specific and self-sufficient.

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The abstract should be a part of the paper that reports what you did and what you found in the research.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The abstract should be a roadmap that helps the reader to understand what is included in the research paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The abstract should provide a description of sources used in the research.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identifying keywords is a crucial step in searching for relevant sources.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The “NOT” operator excludes any sources that include a particular keyword.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When searching for relevant sources, it is important to consider whether they are accurate, relevant, authoritative, current, and objective.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Primary sources provide original work, while secondary sources offer interpretations, analyses, and summaries of primary sources.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Tertiary sources offer brief overviews or summaries of information, often drawing from secondary and primary sources.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Tertiary sources can be considered to be reliable because they summarize original research.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

You should use evidence to support your claims and arguments in a research paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

It is important to maintain a neutral tone when reporting evidence from sources.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Paraphrasing involves using your own words to express someone's ideas in a clear and concise way.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Paraphrasing should be used thoughtfully and critically to ensure that you are not accidentally plagiarizing.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Plagiarism occurs when you represent other people's work as your own.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

It's important to understand and apply the APA style guidelines for formatting your paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The introduction of a research paper should clearly state the research question and provide necessary background information.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The literature review should only list key findings and issues of other researchers.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The introduction should include a brief overview of how the research paper will be structured.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The methodology section details the methods used to collect and analyze data in the research.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The results section presents the key findings of your research, but it should not include any interpretation or analysis of the results.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The discussion section integrates the results of your research with existing literature and offers an interpretation of the findings.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The conclusion section provides a summary of the key findings and reiterates the main points of the research, but it should not introduce any new information.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The appendix should be used to provide extra information that is not essential to the main body of the text.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Each source cited in the references list must be cited within the text of the research paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The references list contains all the sources that were used in the research paper, including sources that were not directly cited.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An appendix can be used to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a particular topic in the research paper.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Research Question

A specific question that guides your research and provides the main answer in your paper.

Thesis Statement

A concise and focused statement that expresses the main argument or claim of your research paper.

Continuity in Presenting Ideas

The flow of ideas in your writing, making it clear and easy to follow.

Smoothness of Expression

Writing that is clear, concise, and avoids ambiguity, irrelevancies, and sudden shifts in tense.

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Professional Tone

The appropriate tone for a research paper, which is formal, objective, and avoids informal expressions.

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Economy of Expression

Expressing ideas efficiently, avoiding unnecessary words and redundancy.

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Precision & Clarity

Using language carefully and precisely, avoiding vague terms and ambiguity.

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Cautious Language

Using cautious language to avoid overly general or absolute statements.

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Abstract

A short summary of your research paper that appears on a separate page.

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Finding & Evaluating Sources

The process of finding, evaluating, and analyzing information for your research.

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Conducting a Search

A crucial step in research, involving identifying key words, selecting databases, and conducting searches.

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Evaluating Sources

Assessing the reliability, validity, and credibility of your sources.

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CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test is used to evaluate the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of a source.

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CAFÉ Method

The CAFÉ method helps you adapt, file, and evaluate information from various sources.

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Literature Review

A crucial part of research, involving synthesizing information from different sources to build a comprehensive understanding.

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Development of a Literature Review

The process of identifying and analyzing the research problem, searching for relevant literature, evaluating data, and interpreting findings.

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Organizing a Literature Review

Different ways to organize your literature review, such as by chronology, methodology, theme, or current situation.

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Quotation

The exact words of a source, enclosed in quotation marks.

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Paraphrasing

Writing someone else's ideas using your own words and style, while still acknowledging the original source.

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Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's work as your own, without proper attribution.

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Introduction

The introduction section of a research paper provides background, states the research problem, and introduces the research question.

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Literature Review

The literature review section summarizes and synthesizes existing research relevant to your topic.

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Methodology

The methodology section describes the methods and procedures used to conduct your research.

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Results

The results section presents the main findings of your research and explains whether they support or reject your hypothesis.

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Discussion

The discussion section interprets the results, relates them back to the literature, and addresses the research question.

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Conclusion

The conclusion section summarizes the key findings, reiterates the main argument, and reflects on the implications of your research.

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References

A list of all cited sources in your research paper, formatted according to APA guidelines.

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Appendix

Supplementary material that provides additional information or data beyond the main body of your paper.

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Study Notes

Planning a Research Project

  • Getting Started:

    • Choose a topic
    • Narrow it down
    • Draft your research question
  • Finding & Evaluating Sources:

    • Locate & evaluate sources
    • Take notes
    • Outline
  • Writing the Research Paper:

    • Draft the paper
    • Correctly document
    • Revise, edit, proofread

Research Question

  • Not actually written in paper
  • Keeps you on track with main question
  • Provides answer

Thesis Statement

  • Helps identify key themes, hypothesis, theory
  • Narrows down topic
  • Explains the opinion, point of view, or argument

Research Paper Writing Style

  • Professional & Formal Tone
  • Avoid ambiguity, irrelevancies, abandoning an argument before finishing it, and sudden shifts in tone
  • Use punctuation marks, transitional words, pronouns, and time links
  • Use cause-effect links, addtional links, and contrast links to organize literature review and results

Economy of Expression

  • Avoid redundancy and unnecessary words
  • State only the necessary information
  • Use precision and clarity
  • Avoid ambiguity and colloquialisms

Evaluating Information

  • Use CRAAP Test to evaluate the credibility of sources.
    • Currency: Timeliness of information
    • Relevance: Importance of information to your needs
    • Authority: Credibility and expertise of the source
    • Accuracy: Reliability and truthfulness of provided information
    • Purpose: Reason the information exists
  • Use CAFE advice to adapt the format of your register to your audience

How to Evaluate Sources

  • Quality of source and writer qualifications
  • Bias in claims, vague references, unidentified studies, and "well-known information"
  • Appropriateness of source for your purpose and audience
  • Misrepresentation, twists, invented data, and opponent sayings

Internet Sources

  • Identify author or contact person
  • Date of creation and revision
  • Identify the source's URL (web address)
  • Link to home page and institution
  • Purpose of information
  • Classify sources as commercial, educational, government, or international organization

The Purpose of a Literature Review

  • Describe the relationship between each source and information
  • Identify new ways to interpret prior research
  • Reveal gaps in work
  • Resolve conflicts between previous studies
  • Identify areas for your own research, in context of previous research

Development of a Literature Review

  • Problem Formulation: Identify the topic being examined
  • Literature Search: Find relevant material
  • Data Evaluation: Determine how this information contributes to understanding of topic
  • Analysis & Interpretation: Discuss findings and conclusions

Organizing the Literature Review

  • Chronology of events and publications
  • Methodology
  • Themes
  • Current situation
  • Questions for further research

Common Mistakes in Literature Review

  • Sources don't relate to the problem
  • Don't take time to identify most relevant sources
  • Relying on secondary analytical sources
  • Accepting another researcher's findings without critiquing
  • Not describing the search procedure
  • Only including information that validates and doesn't consider alternative interpretations

Outline

  • Jotted outline: A sketch of an outline
  • Major points: A list of major points
  • Working outline: An expanded and divided into subtopics

Quoting

  • Used to avoid plagiarism
  • Use effectively in your writing
  • Avoid excessive quoting (more than 25% of paper): it lacks your unique contribution
  • Ensure quotations are grammatically correct.
  • Provide context and setting information

Integrating Quotations

  • Ensure the quotation fits your grammar, style, and logic
  • Be careful: Quotation sources words can be open to different interpretations
  • Paraphrase challenging passages
  • Using ellipsis or adding words, phrases in bracket to enhance the meaning
  • Make quotations more concise and focused

Reporting Verbs

  • Improve integration of quotations and summarization
  • Implies author position and view of the information
  • May give an impression of neutrality

Paraphrasing

  • Rewriting information in your own words
  • Legitimate way to express borrowed source ideas
  • Avoid plagiarism
  • Vary syntax and vocabulary
  • Effectively present the original information's full meaning.

Ways to Paraphrase

  • Use synonyms for non-key words
  • Change parts of speech (e.g., singular to plural, verbs, personal to impersonal)
  • Reverse the order of ideas.

Plagiarism

  • Borrowing someone's work without proper citation
  • Using phrases/ideas without citing the source
  • Turn in previously submitted work for another class

Research Paper Structure APA Style

  • Introduction
  • Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Appendix (Optional)

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