This document provides guidance for students on analyzing research articles, drafting a formal research paper, and undergoing the peer review process. It instructs students to become experts on their research topic by coding patterns in source materials and developing a thesis statement. When writing, students should use headings to organize their paper and cite sources using correct verbs. The paper should include a synthesis of research in third person and a personal reflection in first person. Direct quotes should be minimized and references properly formatted. Sample papers and guidance on peer review are also provided.

1. READ 4534
Seminar
Analyzing the Matrix
and
Drafting the Paper

2. MAIN IDEA
• Become an expert on your topic and share
your knowledge in a formal written paper and
engaging digital resource.
• G-r-o-w as a reading teacher AND a writer.

3. The RUBRIC RULES!

4. Analyze the Matrix
• Consistencies, inconsistencies, and patterns
• What should your reader know about your
topic? Tell your reader what your articles say.
Be an expert!
• Navigation article sample coded matrix

5. Thesis/Purpose
Develop a working thesis statement: a rough idea of your topic and the
important point you want to make about that topic. Write it at the top of a
rough draft or outline and look at it often to keep you focused throughout
the essay. NOTE: the thesis statement that you begin with is not set in stone.
If you find that your essay shifts topic slightly, you can change your thesis in
later drafts so that it matches your new focus.
In your paper, include a statement or two in the
first paragraph that make it obvious what the
paper is about.

6. Introduction
• Get your reader on the “right planet.” What
are you talking about?
• Usually one or two pragraphs.
• Include a thesis/purpose statement in the
introduction.
• Tell your reader what is coming next.

7. First or Third Person?
• SYNTHESIS: THIRD person
– Report what is “out there” on your topic – you’re
not part of this portion of your paper.
– Objective
– They, educators, teachers, them, he, she, etc.
• REFLECTION: FIRST person.
– This is about YOU!
– Subjective
– I, we, me, us, etc.

8. Synthesis: Headings
• Use headings to help your reader understand
the organization of the paper and follow your
writing.
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/

9. Synthesis: Use the right verbs
• Butcher (2006) stated…
– The author said something
• Smith and Jones (2009) posit…
– The authors said something or theorize something
• Keeting (2008) found…
– Results from the author’s study are…
• Billings (1999) and Yinley (2001) recommend…
– These authors recommend something based on the
findings of their study.
• Miles, Yinley, and Zhang (1999) suggest…

10. Synthesis: Change it Up
• Many researchers posit … (Geurney, 2009; Smith and
Roberston, 2006; Yang & Zhang, 1999).
– These researchers claim that …
• Research has demonstrated … (Kuhn & Stahl, 2003;
Rasinski & Hoffman, 2003)
– Results from several studies show …
• Some researchers recommend … (Billings,1999; Yinley,
2001).
– These authors recommend something based on the
findings of their study.
• Research suggests … (Rasinski, 2006; Samuels, 2007).
– These research studies suggest these implications …

11. Direct Quotes
• Minimum direct quotes; better to paraphrase
Swaggerty (2013) explains that “snow skiing is super-
dee-duper fun” (p. X).
Snow skiing is “super-dee-duper fun” (Swaggerty, 2013,
p. X).
• If your quote is more than 40 words, there are
special rules to follow:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/

12. References
• Ref list starts on a separate page.
• All references in your ref list should be cited
within your paper, and vice-versa.
• Make sure ref list is in ABC order. Don’t
change order of authors for an article, though.
• USE THESE LINKS (notice the links on the left
related to references):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

13. SAMPLE PAPERS:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/128913117/READ-
4534-Sample-Paper
http://www.scribd.com/doc/128914677/READ-
4534-Sample-Paper-2

14. PEER REVIEW
• Due dates are a tad bit flexible as long as all are
done before the final draft is done and you have
time to consider all feedback prior to submitting
manuscript and you don’t mess with someone
else’s schedule (e.g., submit your paper late to
someone and mess up their planning).
• Communication is KEY.
• MOVE YOUR PARTNER’S PAPER FORWARD!!!!!!!