When You're Researching A Paper, It's Important To Organize

When Youre Researching A Paper Its Important To Organize And Docum

When you’re researching a paper, it’s important to organize and document your research as you go. This helps you keep track of how each source addresses your topic and where it fits into your paper. You’ll do this in a document called a research organizer, or an annotated bibliography. In the first three entries of your research organizer, you’ll include an SWS-style source list entry, a brief summary, and a description of how the source might support your essay. Summaries of a source should include the author’s main idea, supporting points, and any key pieces of evidence.

Then you’ll describe how you plan to use this information in your essay. Remember, the sources you find could be used to support your argument OR to identify a counter argument. James P. Smith. 2010.

In the last three entries of your research organizer, you’ll just include a source list entry in SWS style, like this: Kendall Green. 2018. Credit Union Uses New Approach to Teach Young Adults Financial Literacy. For your Prewriting & Research Assignment, you’ll need to find and cite a total of six sources: three with a source list entry, a summary, and a note on how the source will be used in your essay, and three more with just the source list entry. You can review SWS format for source list entries on the library’s Strayer Writing Standards webpage.

Start with a Summary As you saw in the example above, summarizing can be a great way to quickly explain the main idea of your source. But did you know that summarizing helps you better understand and remember the information contained within a source? The act of summarizing helps you process what a piece of writing is actually saying. Think of summarizing as pointing out what is most important in a piece of writing. Practicing this skill will help you focus on the writer’s central point and identify which information in the source will be most useful as you construct your argument.

To create a good summary for the sources in your Prewriting & Research Assignment, include the following information: the thesis, or main idea you want to convey the supporting points, or claims you make to support your main idea any significant pieces of evidence, or an overview of the types of evidence used Summaries are often written in your own words, using the skill of paraphrasing. Paraphrasing also helps you understand a source, as it forces you to think about what a writer is really saying in order to put it in your own words. To paraphrase effectively, do the following: Read the original source as many times as you need to until you understand it. Translate the passage into your own words using clear, simple language.

Try changing the sentence structure, flipping the beginning and the end. Identify the source by including the author’s name in sentences where you have cited information. Reread your summary to make sure no exact wording from the source is present. For example, look at this sentence from the summary above, and a paraphrase: Original sentence: “The authors examine which spouse makes financial decisions in the households and why, concluding that the reasons are often related to class and cultural conventions surrounding gender roles.†Paraphrased sentence: This study found that ideas about male and female roles, determined by the social class and cultural backgrounds of participants, mostly determined who made financial choices in the household.

Note that the paraphrase preserves the meaning of the original sentence, even using one or two of the same words, but changes the sentence structure and does not repeat phrases. Unlike a summary, a paraphrase does not need to be shorter than the original source. The key to paraphrasing is capturing the original meaning in your own words. You’ll learn more about summarizing and paraphrasing later in the webtext. Each summary will also include a note about how you intend to use the source in your paper.

Knowing how the source will fit into your argument will save time later as you begin constructing your draft. Noting specific evidence or information that can help support your stance, or even provide a counter argument to your position, will allow you to more easily develop an outline and build strong body paragraphs when you are ready to draft. Your Turn to Research You’ve already found some evidence for your supporting points. Remember, you need to include six credible, relevant sources in your Prewriting & Research Assignment. Document them in the Research Organizer template below.

Select your top three sources and include a summary for each, along with an indication of how you’ll use the information in your argument. Writing Activity 1: Research Organizer Document six sources below. You’ll write descriptions for your top three sources, but only include source list entries for the rest. Be sure to use SWS style. Writing Template Source 1: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your first source.

In at least three sentences, summarize the main idea and most important information from your first source. In one sentence, describe how you will use this source in your paper to either support your position or provide a counter perspective. Source 2: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your second source. In at least three sentences, summarize the main idea and most important information from your second source. In one sentence, describe how you will use this source in your paper to either support your position or provide a counter perspective.

Source 3: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your third source. In at least three sentences, summarize the main idea and most important information from your third source. In one sentence, describe how you will use this source in your paper to either support your position or provide a counter perspective. Source 4: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your fourth source. Source 5: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your fifth source. Source 6: List the location information as an SWS-style source list entry for your last source.

Paper For Above instruction

The importance of effectively organizing and documenting research cannot be overstated when preparing to write a comprehensive and persuasive paper. As researchers gather various sources, maintaining an organized research process ensures that ideas, evidence, and counterarguments are systematically captured and easily accessible for subsequent use in drafting.

One effective approach involves using a research organizer or annotated bibliography to catalog sources, summarize key points, and note potential uses in the paper. In particular, the first three entries should include a proper source citation following Strayer Writing Standards (SWS), a concise summary highlighting the thesis, supporting points, and significant evidence, as well as a brief note on how the source will support or oppose your argument. This structured method facilitates clearer understanding of each source’s relevance and strengthens the overall quality of the research process.

Summarizing sources not only aids in retention but also enhances analytical skills by requiring the researcher to synthesize and paraphrase the material. Paraphrasing is crucial, as it involves restating the original ideas in one's own words, ensuring comprehension and aiding in the avoidance of plagiarism. Effective paraphrasing must preserve the original meaning while restructuring sentences and vocabulary to reflect the researcher’s understanding.

Moreover, understanding how each source fits into the argument allows for better organization of the eventual paper, making it easier to build logical, well-supported paragraphs. When preparing the final draft, referencing specific evidence or counterarguments identified during the research process ensures that the argument is robust and comprehensive. The practice of meticulous documentation during research not only streamlines the writing process but also contributes to academic integrity by clearly attributing ideas to their original sources.

In conclusion, thorough organization and documentation, including detailed annotations and summaries, are essential components of effective academic research. They help maintain focus, increase understanding, and produce a compelling, well-supported argument, ultimately leading to a stronger and more credible final paper.