Case study

· Set a schedule according to the due dates and how long it will take you to complete each task. (Day-by-day, week-by-week)

Step 2: Begin Research

Some things to keep in mind when researching:

· Make sure you use a wide variety of sources (Internet, books, journals, video, interviews, etc.)

· Allow yourself enough time to research. This will be the most intensive part of the paper, allow at least two hours per researching session.

· Keep records and copies of all of the information you obtain. Get all of the bibliographical information while you are researching so you do not have to go back. Make sure you also make note of where you found the information in case you have to retrieve it later.

o Such information includes:

· Title of the article or book

· Date it was published or copy written

· Author(s) and publishing company

· Pages used

· Try to put information into your own words. It is helpful to paraphrase the information in your own words while you are taking notes to avoid plagiarism later. If you do take quotes directly from the source, make sure you make a note of that.

· You should also be making notes about specific conclusions that you are drawing from the material.

· Look specifically for details that support your thesis or question. Sometimes background information is also necessary.

Step 3: Construct an Outline

Once you have collected all of the research, it may be helpful to organize your thoughts with an outline. To construct an outline, you must group your notes together and match information that fits together. An outline should be formatted in this manner:

I. Introduction (Thesis Statement)

II. Main heading/idea of paragraph #1

a. Supporting detail 1

b. Supporting detail 2

c. Supporting detail 3

III. Main heading/idea of paragraph #2

a. Supporting detail 1

b. Supporting detail 2

c. Supporting detail 3

IV. Main heading/idea of paragraph #3

a. Supporting detail 1

b. Supporting detail 2

c. Supporting detail 3

V. Conclusion

Try to ensure that each paragraph contains approximately the same amount of information. Depending upon how organized your outline is, you should be able to write your paper directly from the information in your outline.

Step 4: Write a Draft

Now that you have organized your research material, the next step will be writing the first draft. Keep in mind that you will write multiple drafts, so do not put excessive pressure on the first one. Some things to keep in mind when writing a draft:

· Try to write with your own voice. Don’t just spit out researched information. Add your own conclusions and thoughts.

· Remember to cite your sources when you use them, even in a draft.

· Try to keep your information as organized as possible. That will help the reader understand what you are trying to say.

· Once you have written a draft, proofread it! Have a peer respond to it or bring it to the Writing Center/Library to have a tutor help you with it.

Step 5: Write a Final Draft

After you have revised your initial drafts, you should compose a final draft. This draft should have very few errors, have a clear organization, and be formatted correctly. Before you hand in your paper, you should make sure you have the following elements:

1) A cover page stating the course information, the title of your paper, and your name.

2) The final, revised, copy of your paper with any formatting necessary (Footnotes, page numbers, citations, etc.).

3) A works cited page listing the bibliographical information for each of your sources.

*This information is just to help you begin your paper. It will not answer all of your questions and it does not give specific details about writing a paper.