Writing an Effective Library Research Paper In taking notes for your research paper look for specific facts,

ideas, and pertinent statements that will give substance to your work. You may consult the table of contents and subject index of books to help determine which pages to read for relevant information. To produce a good research paper, you must systematize your note taking. Your note cards should have provisions for sorting and arrangement. It should have the subject or topic at the upper corner left hand corner, for easy handling, sorting and arrangement of note cards. The following kinds of notes may guide you in your note taking. Direct and Mixed Quotations Paraphrase Summary Prcis

Guidelines in taking notes: 1. Write the notes on separate index cards. 2. Write on your note cards: The title of the book/periodical, author/ss surname/s, and page number/s on the upper right part of the card The name of the website, author/ss surname (if it is available), the complete url, and the date when the material was copied The name of the newspaper, title of article, writer/ss surname, and page section markers and page numbers

3. Subject that shows the content of your notes. Sample note card format
website author url Subject ____________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

4. Write only one idea on the note card. 5. Write only on one side of the card. 6. Write notes accurately. 7. Be sure that your notes are complete.

There are three main ways to integrate quotations into your essay: (1) direct quotation, (2) paraphrase, and (3) mixed quotation. You should usually paraphrase the material, and only directly quote it or give a mixed quotation when the phrasing of the quotation is interesting or catchy in some pleasing way -- quote when the text is quotable, in other words. 1. Direct Quotation Direct quotation involves quoting word for word one or more sentences from an author or source. When you quote, be sure to introduce your quotation with a signal phrase. A signal phrase is a clause that lets the reader know who the author or source is. In the following examples of direct quotation, note how the signal phrases precede the quotations:

According to Karl Menninger, a Freudian psychoanalyst, "the wish to kill, unexpectedly robbed of certain external occasions or objects of unconscious gratification, may be turned back upon the person of the wisher and carried into effect as suicide" (54). (Notice how the phrase "a Freudian psychoanalyst" explains who Menninger is. Phrases that rename their subjects like this must always be enclosed in commas.) Menninger says that "suicide occurs when an individual thus treats himself as an external object, frequently identified with the very object toward which his love and hate, particularly his unconscious wish to kill, had been directed" (55). (The inclusion of the word "that" allows you to omit the comma. If you don't use "that," however, then you would need the comma.) Menninger says, "In Catholic countries there is usually a higher homicide rate, a lower suicide rate; in Protestant countries a higher suicide and lower homicide rate" (61). (The number in parentheses indicates what page the quotation is on. If your source doesn't have page numbers (e.g., a website), then do not invent any page or paragraph numbers here.) Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

2. Paraphrase Paraphrase, instead of quoting the author word for word, involves putting the original phrasing into your own words. Be careful to substantially reword the original, however. If you leave just several words in a row unchanged, it will be considered plagiarism -- because you're essentially stealing someone else's phrasing. As far as signal phrases and paraphrasing go, when you paraphrase you can choose whether or not to use a signal phrase. If you do not use a signal phrase, you must identify the author in parentheses following the paraphrase. Here are a few examples:

Freudian psychoanalyst Karl Menninger says that people who are deprived of the ability to kill others usually end up turning their murderous anger back upon themselves to commit suicide (54). (Notice how this is totally reworded from the previous section. The rewording is an original phrasing.) Suicide occurs when an individual redirects his initially outward-directed hatred back upon himself (Menninger 55). (Notice that there is no signal phrase here, so the author in parentheses following the paraphrase is identified.) Menninger explains that Catholic countries report higher rates of homicide and lower rates of suicide, while Protestant countries report the reverse: more suicides and less homicides (61). (Notice that the author is identified in the signal phrase, so the writer doesn't need to identify him again in the parentheses following the paraphrase.)

3. Mixed Quotations Mixed quotations are a mix between direct quotation and paraphrase. Mixed quotations involve paraphrasing half of the original but mixing in a few direct selections from the author. When you insert mixed quotations, be sure to blend in the quotation with the grammar of your own sentence. The sentence as a whole must flow smoothly. To achieve this smooth flow with mixed quotations, you may need to omit or add words from or to the original. To omit words, insert an ellipses . . . in place of the words you take out. Ellipses always indicate omission. To add words, insert them inside brackets [ ] to indicate the insertion. Notice that there are spaces between the ellipses dots and that the brackets are square, not rounded like parentheses.

e.e. Cummings asserted that the poet's imagination and his "preoccupation with the Verb" results in an ability to surpass normal standards of logic and create "an Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

irresistible truth [in which] 2 x 2 = 5" (34). (Notice that the words "in which" inside brackets are the authors original insertion. It is needed to be added up so that the sentence would flow grammatically.)

B.F. Skinner, a social constructionist, believes that our behavior is "a genetic endowment traceable to the evolutionary history of the species" and that whatever predispositions or character we have developed, it is a consequence of our environmental immersion rather than innate character (78). (This is chosen to be quoted partially to appear accurate with Skinner's definition, but the writer didn't want to quote too much from Skinner because his writing may be difficult for the audience to understand.) Poet Wallace Stevens, when asked about his literary influences, explained that he was "not conscious of having been influenced by anybody and ha[d] purposely held off from reading . . . Eliot and Pound" in order to refrain from unconsciously imitating their works and ruining his originality (234). (Note the ellipses. The writer omitted several words to shorten the quotation around the essential point he wanted to communicate. The writer also had to change "have" to "had," and so wrote ha[d] to indicate the alteration...)

When directly quoting, remember the following points: Do not overload your research paper with quoted notes. Youre finished paper should not be a collection of quotations. 1. For a short quotation, use quotation marks " " to indicate that these are someone elses words. For example: In fact, Rumelhart suggests that schemata "truly are the building blocks of cognition" (1981). 2. For quotations longer than three lines, take a new line and indent the quote to separate it from the main text (in this case you do not require quotation marks) For example: In fact, Rumelhart suggests that schemata truly are the building blocks of cognition. They are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing depends. Schemata are employed in the Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

process of interpreting sensory data (both linguistic and non linguistic), in retrieving information from memory, in organising actions, in determining goals and subgoals, in allocating resources, and generally, in guiding the flow of processing in the system (1981). Rumelhart (1981) attempts to unravel the functions of schemas, explaining them through a series of analogies. 3. Ensure that the grammar of the quote is consistent with the grammar of your sentence For example: Incorrect: Past attempts to deal with organisational conflict problems "lead to the development of integrative and mixed structures such as committees, task forces and matrix structures" (Dawson 1986). Correct: Past attempts to deal with organisational conflict problems have led "to the development of integrative and mixed structures such as committees, task forces and matrix structures" (Dawson 1986). 4. To omit words from the original quote use three period marks ... to indicate that you have removed certain phrases or words For example: In fact, Rumelhart asserts that schemata "are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing depends. Schemata are employed ... in allocating resources, and generally, in guiding the flow of processing in the system" (1981). 5. To add words to the original quote use square brackets [ ] For example: In fact, Rumelhart asserts that since schemata "are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing ... [and play a large role] in guiding the flow of processing in the system" (1981). 6. To indicate a grammatical or spelling error in the original quote place (sic) after the error

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

For example: In 1845, the explorer, Eyre stated: Whenever European colonies have been established in Australia, the native races in that neighbourhood rapidly decreasing(sic), and already in some of the older settlements, have totally disappeared (cited in Coupe, 1991).

Plagiarism Plagiarism -- its original meaning, "to kidnap" -- is a serious academic offense that can result in your failure of the course and possible suspension from the university. It is important that you know what plagiarism entails so that you can avoid the consequences. Ignorance is no excuse. In short, plagiarism occurs whenever a student attempts to pass off someone else's ideas or phrasing as his or her own, rather than giving due credit to the author. Even if the student mentions the source, if he or she fails to put quotation marks around phrasing not his or her own, it is considered plagiarism, because the student is attempting to pass off phrasing that does not belong to him or her.

Paraphrase, Summary, and Prcis Three writing strategies that will help you understand what you are reading are the paraphrase, summary, and prcis. All three ask you to put the information that you're reading into your own words. Paraphrase When you paraphrase, you are explaining your source's argument, following its line of reasoning and its sequence of ideas, in your own words. The paraphrase should give the reader an accurate understanding of the author's position on the topic. The purpose of a paraphrase is to convey the meaning of the original message and, in doing so, to prove that you understand the passage well enough to restate it. Remember, your job is not to prove yourself correct, but to uncover and explain all the facts and arguments involved in your subject.

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

To paraphrase, first substitute synonyms for the passage's more important terms. These synonyms should be accurate both in denotative and connotative meaning. It does not matter yet whether you agree or disagree with the passage; it only matters that you comprehend and show that you understand what the passage says. This restatement preserves both the original meaning of the passage and the author's position on the matter, but it may be difficult to read at some points. Fine tune the sentence construction, possibly even adding a phrase here and there to illustrate a point more clearly or show a connection between two ideas. The paraphrase alters the wording of the passage without changing its meaning. It retains the basic logic of the argument, its sequence of ideas, and even the examples used in the passage. Most importantly, it accurately conveys the author's meaning and opinion. Summary A summary restates only the author's main ideas, omitting all the examples and evidence used in supporting and illustrating those points. The function of a summary is to represent the scope and emphasis of a relatively large amount of material in an efficient and concise form. In your own words, state the thesis, main arguments and conclusion of the original. In both the paraphrase and summary, the author's meaning and opinion have been retained. However, in the case of the summary, examples and illustrative elements of the passage are omitted. Because they can be used to encapsulate everything from a long narrative passage of an essay, to a chapter in a book, to the entire book itself, summaries can be tremendously helpful. Prcis The prcis is a type of summarizing that insists on an exact reproduction of the logic, organization, and emphasis of the original texts. It is of particular use in situations in which you want to detail the relative order, proportions, and relationships of the original parts of a text. An effective prcis retains the logic, development, and argument of the original in much shorter form. Thus, a prcis is useful when you are dealing with lengthy passages that demand careful attention to the logic and organization of an argument. To write an effective prcis, read the passage several times for full understanding. Note key points. It may, in fact, be helpful to underline these words. Restate each paragraph in one or two sentences. In cases where there are very short paragraphs, combine them in your restatement. Make sure that you retain the precise order of the original points, and combine the sentences into one or more smooth paragraphs. Finally, check your prcis against the

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

original to be sure that it is exact and retains the order, proportions, and relationships of the original.

Study the passages below. Their corresponding paraphrases and prcis are provided. 1. Original material In a Muslim Community, sexual relationships are kept strictly with marriage and there is severe punishment for any transgression of this. For this reason, in any Muslim country, women in public are somberly dressed and veiled so that they do not constitute a temptation to men. Not only is there no sexual relationship outside marriage but there is no courtship either. Most marriages are arranged by parents. The bride is chosen, ideally, for her religious life and piety, not for her good looks or wealth. Paraphrase: Muslim women are somberly dressed to avoid being occasions of temptations to men. Sexual activities of men and women are allowed within the bounds of marriage only. They do not practice courtship that is why most Muslim marriages are arranged. Prcis: Muslims, who practice arranged marriages do not practice courtship and sexual activities outside marriage. 2. Original material A person who falls in love needs a certain level of emotional maturity. This is normally experienced during the teenage years. He should not confuse this with infatuation, which is an immature and overpowering feeling for someone and which can lead to extravagant and ill-judged actions. This is because true love puts the other person first, and treats him/her with special care and respect. Paraphrase: A certain level of maturity is necessary for a teenager who falls in love during his teenage years to avoid confusion which may lead him to danger. He should remember that true love treats the other person well.

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

Prcis: A person who falls in love during his teenage years needs a certain level of maturity: so he wants not confuse love with infatuation. 3. Original material An electrocardiograph is an instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart. The electrodes attached to the chest detect the electrical signals produced by the nerves that control the muscles of the heart. These signals are amplified and used to operate a pen recorder. The recorders trace, called the electrocardiogram or ECG, is used to detect some abnormalities in the hearts behavior. Paraphrase: An electrocardiograph records the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes detect the electrical signals of the nerves that control the muscles of the heart. These signals record the behavior of the heart through traces called electrocardiogram or ECG. Prcis: An electrocardiograph records the activities of the heart and picks out electrical signals for amplification and recording. The recorded data called electrocardiogram (ECG) detect the abnormal behavior of the heart.

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

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Exercises
A. Below are original passages. Prepare note cards of quotation, paraphrase and prcis for each. 1. Original material In a secondary school in one of the cities in the United States, five hundred students wrote essays about the needed religious education that would be important and interesting to them. They wrote the essay with consistency and frankness. They wished to know if religion, Christianity in particular, had some realistic aspects to clarify the issues that they were facing. One issue which they wished resolved was How can people believe in a loving God who is not visible? Most of the students, though, were interested with personal and social issues. a. Write a note card of quotation. b. Write a note card of paraphrase. c. Write a note card of prcis. 2. Original material Planet earth is like a modern-day Noahs Ark like a space capsule with fauna and flora out with limited supplies of air, potable water and necessary fuel. The human families living in this planet used to take care and see to it that they survive even if the resources are limited. They had to do this because they were afraid of the aftermath of their actions-killer pollution. A careful balance has to be kept between various forms of plant and animal life or else, mans food supplies will be threatened. a. Write a note card of quotation. b. Write a note card of paraphrase. c. Write a note card of prcis. 3. Original material The world had embraced the child protg in Michael Jackson. At the tender age of five, he had been humming melodies of songs sung by his older brother, the Jackson 5. He had his stage debut when he was six years old. Though in the latter part of his life, Writing an Effective Library Research Paper

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he declared that he just wanted to be an ordinary child who would climb trees and tree houses and play water and balloon guns, he said he enjoyed every bit of his singing stint. He was sad but he was not sorry. His simple reason was that he loved his fan so much thats why he always did his best in every show that he had. a. Write a note card of quotation. b. Write a note card of paraphrase. c. Write a note card of prcis. 4. Original material Politics plays a very important role in the lives of people. People believe that politicians are pare-humans or holy creatures sent by the Divine to impose changes on the lives of the destitute. They believe that in the hands of the sweet-tongued politicians. Their lives would become better. They expect some kind of magic from the words the politicians utter specially during campaign periods. However, they should think twice. Politicians have no magic wands that would affect changes in just an instant. They, too, are humans who make promises and are capable of forgetting such promises. a. Write a note card of quotation. b. Write a note card of paraphrase. c. Write a note card of prcis. 5. Original material Many ecosystems have a very delicate balance. Even what may appear to be a slight change can have major consequences. A rise in temperature or rain fall changes will cause many species of plants and animals to disappear, possibly before we even know they exist; but animals and plants are not the only ones affected. a. b. c. Write a note card of quotation. Write a note card of paraphrase. Write a note card of prcis.

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B. Encircle the letter of the statement that best paraphrases the following sentences. 1. Talents differ. All is well and wisely put. - Aesop a. Humans have different talents while they are alive. b. Talents help a person succeed in his ventures in life. c. The distinct talents of humans need to be discovered and developed. 2. I shall not allow no man to belittle my soul by making myself hate him. a. Hating people for long time does not do good to myself. b. I will hate anybody who thinks small of me. c. I hate people who belittle others. 3. It is better to honor a good man in life than to worship him after he is dead. a. Help each other while there is still time. b. Show appreciation and honor to deserving people while they are still alive not when they have already died. c. Honor both the living and the dead by words of praises and appreciation. 4. A faithful friend is a strong defense, and he that hath found such, hath found a treasure. a. A person is lucky to have a true friend who fights for him. b. Treasure great friends everyday in your life. c. True friends stay with each other until forever. 5. It is painful and pointless to fixate on a period which cannot be relived or replenished. a. Living in the past is painful. b. It is wonderful to be thinking always of the past. c. It is useless to dwell in the past which cannot be lived through again and refurbished. Writing an Effective Library Research Paper Ecclesiastes 6:14

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C. Paraphrase the following: 1. Work is love made visible. Kahlil Gibran

2. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Emerson

3. Language is the dress of thought. Johnson

4. Democracy must be defended by arms when it is attached by arms; by the truth when it is attacked by lies. Mac Lesh

5. Education makes people easy to lead but difficult to drive; easy to govern but difficult to enslave. 6. Love is not love which alters when alteration binds. Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks. But bears it out even to the edge of doom. 7. Poems are made by fools like me; but only God can make a tree. 8. Building boys is better than mending men. 9. Money is a bottomless sea in which honor, conscience and truth may be discovered. 10. The gem cannot be polished without friction, man perfected without trials. 11. Ethics is what you do when no one is looking. 12. This is sad but true. The poorest persons in the world are those who have only money. 13. To a busy man, a day is twenty-four hours short. 14. Love can neither be bought nor sold. Its only price is love. 15. It is in literature that the concrete outlook of humanity receives expression. Kilmer Shakespeare

Writing an Effective Library Research Paper