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INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
A note about assignment requirements
Assignment requirements are important and will determine what types of sources you need.
Your assignment says to use 2 scholarly, peer-reviewed references. So what does this mean? Well, it means you must find, read, and analyze two academic journal articles that are peer-reviewed to write your paper. You will also need to reference them correctly on your references page and provide correct in-text citations within your paper's text.
Research Paper Process: Step by Step
1. Develop your Research Question.
Think about:
- What research is and what it isn't.
- The kind of research paper you will write.
- Ways you can choose a topic for your research paper.
- Who you are writing to (your audience) and why you are writing to them.
- Whether or not you understand the assignment.
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2. Decide what type of information you will use in your research.
Think about:
- Will you need print or e-books?
- Academic journal articles?
- Magazine or Newspaper articles?
- Web sites or other multimedia?
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3. Determine the kind of information you will need.
Think about:
- Are you looking for current or past (historical) information?
- Will you need Primary Sources or Secondary Sources?
- Should you use Popular, Trade, or Scholarly Journals?
- How will you evaluate the information you find for accuracy, audience, bias, or purpose?
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4. Read the articles you find in your research.
5. Enter your references into Academic Writer.
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6. Start the process of writing your paper.
Think about:
- Pre-Writing: Get your paper off to a good start.
- Think about the entire Writing Process.
- Write your Thesis Statement.
- Develop an Outline.
- Start your First Draft.
- When you find important information and quotes in your research, remember to cite them in the text of your paper.
- Proofread your First Draft.
- Revise your Draft using the Revising Process.
- Proofread and Revise again.
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- Direct Quotations and Paraphrases (Academic Writer)
Recognize the difference between direct quotations and paraphrases. Explain how to cite and make changes to direct quotations. Demonstrate the ability to correctly paraphrase information. - Grammarly (OCLS)
Grammarly is free to IWU & Seminary students.
Check out our tutorials page to get started.
7. Avoid Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism by citing and referencing the sources you use.
Indiana Wesleyan University uses APA Style, a set of writing and citation rules developed by the American Psychological Association for all of its academic programs. Check out the APA Style & Grammar Help tab of this guide for more information.
The Wesley Seminary requires that papers be written using The Chicago Manual of Style, a set of writing and citation rules. Check out the Chicago Style Helps tab of this guide for more information.
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Ask Open-Ended Thoughtful Questions
|
Topic |
Question |
|
The Influence of Drugs on Crime |
Could the legalization of less harmful drugs like marijuana reduce crime in the U.S.? |
|
Abortion |
Are laws requiring waiting, counseling or sonograms effective in reducing abortions? |
|
Sports Injuries |
Why do heat exhaustion deaths occur and how can they best be avoided? |
|
Working Women |
In what fields have women achieved the greatest equality and through what means? |