This document provides tips for writing a research paper, including choosing a specific topic within your knowledge, developing a clear thesis, gathering supporting details from at least three credible sources, taking notes to avoid plagagiarism, considering opposing viewpoints, and organizing materials with note cards before writing draft paragraphs. The summary should focus on the key steps for writing a research paper as outlined in the document.

2. Choose a Topic Be specific as possible and limit your subject to only your knowledge Think about the purpose of the paper Who is your audience? Who is reading the paper? i.e. teacher, students, principal Develop a thesis or main idea Main Idea

3. As a rule of thumb you should have three sources Interview from a newspaper articles Journal articles Internet sites On-line video Blogs Magazine articles Getting the Supporting Details “Prove it”

4. Write brief notes in order to avoid plagiarism When researching don’t be afraid to shift your focus based on the information you accumulate Consider the opposite point of view makes your argument weak or strong? Look for statistical information and examples Gather twice as much information as you need

5. When organizing the material place the main ideas on note cards and the supporting facts and details on sticky notes attaching them to the main ideas

6. Write one paragraph using one main idea from one note card and its sticky notes Make sure the sticky notes support the main idea Repeat for the rest of topics on each card Example of One Card Paragraph and details

7. When writing your cards and paragraphs think of the following: WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY HOW Who What Where When Why How

8. Paragraph from Cards

9. When ideas are in the rough draft stage it gives the writer a chance to analyze their information Is the main idea clear and consistent? Are the arguments consistent? Are the supporting details relevant to the main idea in which they are stuck to. Main idea Support Support Remove does not support Support