This document provides an overview of the key components of a research paper. It defines research as a systematic process of investigation to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The key players in a research paper are primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. Primary sources are original materials from a specific time period, secondary sources interpret or evaluate primary sources, and tertiary sources are collections of information based on primary and secondary sources. The document also discusses the writing process, works cited pages, MLA documentation, planning the research paper, and avoiding plagiarism. It advises focusing a research paper project on 2-3 primary and secondary sources to support an existing stance.

1. COMPONENTS OF
A RESEARCH PAPER
SY1516 Multicultural Lit

2. What is Research?
“The systematic investigation into and
study of materials and sources in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions”
(Merriam-Webster).
“Research is a process of investigation. An
examination of a subject from different
points of view. It’s not just a trip to the
library to pick up a stack of materials, or
picking the first five hits from a computer
search. Research is a hunt for the truth. It
is getting to know a subject by reading up
on it, reflecting, playing with the ideas,
choosing the areas that interest you and
following up on them. Research is the way
you educate yourself” (www.usg.edu).

3. Who are the key players?
Primary Source(s)
Secondary Source(s)
Tertiary Sources (used for finding
primary/secondary only)
Writing Process
Works Cited Page
MLA Documentation

4. What is a Primary Source?
Original materials from a specific time
period, presenting original thinking, a
new discovery, or new information

5. Which of the following would be
considered a “primary source”?
Novel
Email
Dictionary
Painting
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

6. What is a Secondary Source?
Generally, a secondary source would be
written after the account of a primary source
in order to interpret or evaluate the primary
source

7. Which of the following would be
considered a “secondary source”?
Poem
Biography
Commentary
Short Story
No
Yes
Yes
No

8. What is a Tertiary Source?
A collection of information based on
the primary and/or secondary sources
available for a certain subject

9. Which of the following would be
considered a “tertiary source”?
Textbook
Encyclopedia
Almanac
Guidebook
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

10. Example of Sources
Primary Secondary Tertiary
Letters by MLK,
Jr.
Website on King’s
writings
Encyclopedia
entry on the Civil
Rights Movement
A scientist’s first-
hand lab notes
regarding his/her
findings
A journal article
about the
scientific
discovery
A science textbook

11. Planning Your Research Paper
The Writing
Process!You are officially a research specialist, and you are
beginning a journey through the American
Literature we have discovered. You are, in affect, a
scientist. That means that you have to follow a
very specific protocol- just like a scientist- and
every step is very important. So, the first thing I
want you to know is to work very hard and pay
very close attention. DO NOT skip one step in
the LMS, and please, make sure to turn in each
assignment along the way, so that I can make sure
you are on the right track.

12. What is a Works Cited Page?
To cite = to name, to mention, to quote
When researching, it is vitally important to
keep track of the sources you find and use
within your paper.
The specific and proper way to do this is on an
MLA-style formatted Works Cited page
Essentially you are citing (naming,
mentioning, quoting) the specific works
(primary and secondary sources) that you use
to collect your information

13. What is MLA Documentation?
MLA = Modern Language Association
This group develops a set of standards by
which all writing in the humanities is
formatted for consistency and ease of access
We will discuss this in more detail as you get
more into your project!

14. What is Plagiarism?
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or
borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and
"borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize"
means
to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
to use (another's production) without crediting the source
to commit literary theft
to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an
existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both
stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.

15. Your Project
Focus on primary & secondary sources: you
will need 2-3!
Research to find information that supports
your existing stance

16. Questions?
Send me a kmail!