Guidelines for Research Project - Week 3

Changing China, Spring 2009

Guidelines for Research Project:
Research Paper First Draft with Bibliography (4-7 pages) -

due Thursday, May 14, 11:50pm, Week 7

Now you are starting to write your paper.  We expect you to do a good job at the same time while you are enjoying (or learning to enjoy) the writing process.

You have probably heard a lot about how to write a good paper.  All those instructions you have heard and studied in the past are all right and good, and the good news is that with your submission of the first research project assignment, you are in a better-than-ever shape to launch into a successful research paper writing project.  We just have a few tips for you:

1. Stick to your thesis.  Give your main idea in the first paragraph.  The clearer and more concise the introduction is, the more attractive and inviting the paper will be as a whole.  Then come back to it at the end, in your conclusion.  Always ask yourself if you are on the track of the thesis.  Don't digress, don't get distracted.  No matter how interesting some ideas are, if they don't belong, they don't.  Remember that.

2. Follow your outline.  You have come up with an involved but workable outline for your paper.  Please use it to its best advantage.  You will find out that the outline will easily facilitate the flow of your thinking and the structure of your thoughts on the paper.  Let the outline work for you by remaining open and flexible too.  If you want to add any new ideas, simply find the place in your outline where it can fit in-don't discard the whole outline.  And don't ever give it up.  Give it a try, trust it, and let it carry you.  

3. Present a conclusion.  Don't let all the good information go to waste by leaving it all hanging there.  You need to wrap up the paper with a solid, tangible conclusion.  You don't have to present a definite answer to your thesis or question.  Even a statement about the continuous drive for questioning and searching for answers is a good, strong conclusion.  Let the reader know that you have completed the journey and there is a concrete set of intellectual discoveries.

4. Check your grammar and spelling.  Please do spell check and proofread your paper before you submit it.  The comments from faculty cannot indicate all the grammatical errors you have made in the paper; but for a serious researcher and writer, a paper full of grammatical and spelling errors is very disconcerting and stops a reader from wanting to read it.  Your faculty will have less an enjoyable time with it-I guarantee it.  Show your paper to a friend you can trust, or better yet, go to the writing center to work with a tutor.

5. Add the visual images such as maps, graphs, pictures or charts if you have them ready.  But you can leave those technical things to later.  Focus on the writing first.

6. Use consistent documentation.  This is one of the most important elements of a research paper.  Check MLA and APA manual to find out the correct form of citation and documentation.  Use the system consistently throughout the paper.  Follow the right format for bibliography.  The citation and the bibliography should coincide very well together.  Don't take chances.  Don't assume you can fool your faculty either (remember our learning covenant on our academic program website).

Most importantly, be very understanding and compassionate to yourself at the same time pushing yourself to your upmost potential.  You can do it, and it is for your own good.  No matter how it turns out, it will be rewarding because you did it.