1. Choose Your Topic
Choose your topic wisely - not too broad or too narrow, avoid controversial or overworked topics.
Take time to narrow your topic - Do some reading on the broad subject area before narrowing - this may seem like extra work, but it will be MUCH easier to write your paper when you have intelligently narrowed your topic! Use encyclopedias, journal articles, books, web pages.
Does some preliminary research - What kinds of information are available? Choose a topic you can easily research.
Write a thesis statement to define the main idea of your paper. What will you describe or prove? Your thesis statement is your compass; it will keep your paper going in the right direction
2. Research your topic
Make a list of keywords to use. (Write them down!) List synonyms - you never know what will bring up a 'hit' in a database.
Use the Catalog to find books in the TSU collection. Try a variety of keywords, and keywords that are broader than your topic
Use World cat to find books in other libraries. You can borrow them through inter-library loan. Allow a week or two for delivery
Use appropriate databases to find articles.
Use print indexes if your topic is older or historic (e.g. the Vietnam War). Try the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature - Ask for assistance - a librarian will be glad to help.
Use the Internet wisely. Evaluate your sources, check government sites, make precise searches
3. Write the paper
Find a way to organize your materials - chronologically, or by point or subtopic
Don't forget that tool from English class - an OUTLINE. It will make writing easier, since you know where you are going.
Don't expect the first draft to be a finished product. Write it up quickly and REWRITE! It's easier in the long run.
Consider writing your bibliography FIRST - you will be less likely to overlook material and more likely to see 'the forest ' instead of 'the trees'.
4. Details Matter
Use correct spelling and grammar - PROOFREAD.
Use correct citation format - be consistent
Follow the instructor's specified format. Double-spaced? Name on each page? Footnotes or endnotes? Check your assignment or syllabus to make sure you understand the requirements.
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