Music Appreciation                                                                  Ferrara

How to write a research paper                                                City College of San Francisco

 

Preparing to Write:

 

  1. Understand the assignment
  2. Think about possible topic, position or argument to write about, (brainstorm).
  3. Jot down ideas on paper
  4. Think about what resources for your research are available and which you are going to use
  5. Select a topic, position or argument to write about
  6. Focus on the most important aspects of your topic, position or argument so when you do your reading you can organize your thoughts and your research
  7. Find and collect information about your focus or support of the main point(s) of your paper (your topic).

 

Writing the paper:

 

1.      Introduction. Summarize to the reader the main points of your topic, in which you will then proceed to discuss in the paper.

  1. Paragraphs 1 and 2. History of the topic.
  2. Paragraphs 3 and 4. Whom or what is currently affected by your topic?
  3. Paragraphs 5 and 6. Repercussions of your topic. (how does it affect the future?)
  4. Paragraphs 7 and 8. Solutions or future practice(s) of your topic, position or argument and what affects take place because of that.

               Please cite sources when necessary.

  1. Conclusion. Summarize your findings and state your conclusion.

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

1.      Alphabetize by the author’s last name. Give last name first and first name second.

2.      Underline or place in quotations the title of the work cited.

3.      Place and publisher of publication

4.      Date of publication

5.      When using a web page for information see item 3 under FOOTNOTES

 

FOOTNOTES

 

1.      Whenever you quote or paraphrase a source, provide a note by placing a number by your statement. List on the bottom of the page your source by giving the information similar to a bibliography and if necessary also give the page number from where you are citing the information.

2.      Footnotes are not necessary for wide and generally known facts.

3.      When using a web page for information give:

a.      Author of Web page, if known, followed by a comma

b.      Name of the Web page, followed by a comma

c.      Date of information, if known, followed by a comma

d.      URL of the Web site (web address)

e.      Date the Web page was accessed by the reader