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Social Studies 7: Research Paper (Brown): Research Tips

What Makes a Good Notecard?

  • Has one fact or idea
  • Is directly related to your topic
  • Clearly states what kind of note it is:
    • a direct quote
    • a paraphrase
    • your own idea
  • Indicates the specific source it came from

Writing a Thesis Statement

How Can You Stay Organized?

  • Create a folder in Google Drive or on your computer for this project
  • Save all your sources, keywords, questions, links, and drafts to this folder
  • Whenever you find a good digital source, save a copy (download or email to yourself)
  • Keep all your print sources together too
  • Create a citation for each source as soon as you begin using it
  • Make an outline for your paper
  • Create a pile of notecards for each paragraph

What's the Purpose of an Outline?

  • Helps you keep your thoughts organized
  • Helps you determine which notes are important to your research
  • Makes it easier to begin writing your paper