• Three student-written model papers
• Entire chapter on documentation techniques
• Tips on using the latest computer searches and databases
• Appendix on writing with word processing

Chapter 1 - Choosing A Topic

1. Selecting and Narrowing a Subject
2. Developing a preliminary thesis sentence
3. Framing a research proposal

Chapter 2 - Using the Card Catalog and Reference Indexes

1. Learning about your library and its resources
2. Using the card catalog
3. Learning to use a computer search
4. Learning how to use an index to periodical literature
5. Developing bibliography entries from other sources

Chapter 3 - Taking Notes

1. Writing direct quotation note cards
2. Writing summary note cards
3. Writing paraphrased note cards
4. Understanding primary and secondary sources
5. Altering the sources
6. Understanding plagiarism and avoiding it

Chapter 4 - Outlining

1. Writing a rough outline
2. Writing a formal outline
3. Using the formal three-part outline

Chapter 5 - Using In-Text Citations

1. Begin with the author and end with a page number.
2. Put the name and page at the end of borrowed material.
3. Citing a source when no author is listed.
4. Identifying non-print sources
5. Citing somebody quoted in a book or article
6. Citing material from textbooks and large anthologies
7. Adding extra information to in-text citations
8. Punctuating citations properly and consistently
9. Indenting long quotations

Chapter 6 - Writing the Introduction

1. Identifying the topic
2. Providing background information
3. Establishing the problem
4. Expressing a thesis sentence in the opening

Chapter 7-Writing the Body

1. Using writing strategies to build the body
2. Writing effective topic sentences
3. Writing paragraphs of substance

Chapter 8 - Writing the Conclusion

1. Writing a fully developed conclusion
2. Writing conclusions that have substance

Chapter 9 - Works Cited

1. Writing bibliography entries for books
2. Writing bibliography entries for magazines, journals, and newspapers
3. Writing bibliography entries for other sources
4. A Sample ‘Works Cited" page

1. Formatting
2. Revising
3. Editing
4. Proofreading

Chapter 11 - APA Style

1. Proper tense for an APA paper
2. Using in-text citations in APA style
3. Preparing the bibliography page

Appendix-Writing with Word Processing

Matters of Mechanics

Index

James D. Lester, Sr., Professor of English at Austin Peay State University, is author of the best-selling and longest running research paper manual for college students, Writing Research Papers, now in its sixth edition.

James D. Lester, Jr., teaches English at Morrow High School in Morrow, Georgia. He has recently completed his Ph.D. in English Education at Georgia State University.

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