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ECE 107 - East - Human Development and Relations: How to write a research paper

1. Choosing a topic and getting started

Choosing a Topic from OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab

Brainstorming
Provides a host of techniques - freewriting, Listing, Cubing - to brainstorm about and refine topics.
 
Selecting & developing a Research Topic Weber State University
 

Narrow your topic by focusing on:

  • Social Aspect
  • Cultural Aspect
  • Historical Aspect (time)
  • Type
  • Place
  • Combining two similar topics*
  • Combining two or more of the aspects above

* Narrow your topic by joining together related concepts.  But beware.  The outcome must be feasible, not too narrow, and  interesting. This is why you need to perform some background research.

 
Where do I begin?  from OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab

2. Research question

Developing a Research Question

Forming a Research Question Examples

 

3. Thesis Statement

Writing a Thesis Statement

Picture a person saying to you, "I don't have time to read your whole paper. Just tell me in one sentence what your main point is." Your answer-- --is the thesis

4. Writing outlines and Abstracts