Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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“RESEARCH PAPER”
Definition of the research paper…
• To present our views and research findings on a
chosen topic in a typewritten paper.
• It is also called as “Term paper” or “Library paper”.
• The research paper is usually five to fifteen pages
long, but usually teachers stress for minimum
number of pages (5-6 pages).
• The task is to read on a particular topic, evaluate
information about it and report our findings on our
paper.
Format of the research paper…
• It cannot be written according to a random formula
but must conform to a specific format.
• The format governs the entire paper from the placing
of the title to the width of the margin, and to the
notations used in acknowledging the material drawn
from other sources.
• The format of scholarly writing, is simply an agreed
upon way of doing things.
Format of the research paper…
• The citation is followed in a style wherein the
author of a quotation is briefly introduced, the
quotation cited and a page reference supplied in
parentheses.
• This sort of standardization is time saving to
scholars. To do research or even to read articles
about it, we must be familiar with the major citation
styles used by scholars.
Why a scientific format is followed?
• Though the scientific format may seem confusing
for the beginning science writer due to it’s rigid
structure, one reason for using this format is that it
is means of efficiently communicating the scientific
findings to the broad community of scientists in a
uniform manner.
Main Desk
This functions as an information centre as well as a
checkout counter for books. Librarians and clerks
stationed here are well trained to help the researcher
find out what they want or track down difficult
sources.
Audiovisual Desk
This room contains cassettes, tapes, picture slides,
filmstrips, and other non-book media and generally
indexed by whatever conventional filing system the
library uses.
Newspaper racks
Many libraries subscribe to major national and
foreign newspapers. Current issues are displayed on
long wooden clamps (Newspaper racks).These hold
and store newspapers and are often surrounded by
comfortable chairs.
Xerox room : Xerox machines are available in most
libraries for photocopying and the charges differ from
one library to another.
Typing room : Typewriters are available in many
libraries, either at a reasonable rental rate or without a
charge. The machines are usually kept in a designated
typing room, which is usually sound-proof.
The computer : The computer is fast becoming an
invaluable research tool in the library. Information is
stored in databases and accessed through a terminal.
ORGANIZATION OF THE LIBRARY
Knowledge has grown so enormously, and classification
systems have become so complex, that today librarians
are trained extensively in classifying books. Two main
systems are used.
They are,
1. Dewey decimal system.
2.Library of congress system.
The Dewey decimal system
This system devised by Melvil Dewey in 1873 divides all knowledge
(except fiction and biography) into 10 general categories. They are,
Classification of non-books…
Non-book materials-films, microfilms, recordings, news
clippings, reproduction of masterpieces, transparencies,
slides, programmed books, and other audiovisual
material-are listed either in the general catalog or as a
special collection.
DOING THE RESEARCH
Where to look for information …
• Check an encyclopedia for general information on the
subject.
•Definitions of technical or controversial terms can be seen in
various standard dictionaries.
•The periodical indexes can be checked for magazine articles
on the subject.
•Check the specialized references .
•Check the book review digest for summaries of the contents of
the viewed books.
•For information about places and countries, the gazetteers
and atlases can be consulted.
Domino theory
• Quality of scholarship
• Force of argument
• Accuracy of detail
Verify one opinion against another.
Note the date of evidence as recent data is important.
Try to evaluate the logic and probable authenticity of
any source we intend to use.
Check our evaluations against those of the
professionals.
Beware of statistics. The accuracy and inclusiveness
of the study should be determined. Evaluate all data
and statistics with an open mind.
NOTE - TAKING
Author/Work(MLA) Language
Literature
Author/Year Agriculture Geology
Anthropology Home economics
Archaeology Linguistics
Astronomy Physical Education
Biology Political Science
Botany Psychology
Business Sociology
Education
Traditional Art Philosophy
(Footnote/Endnote)
Dance Religion
History Theater
Music
Numbers Chemistry Mathematics
Computer Science Medicine
Health Nursing
Parenthetical Documentation : Author and Work (MLA Style)
Subsequent references
To refer the same study in the same paragraph the name
alone can be indicated without the year.
Corporate authors
If a work is authored by a committee, an institution, a
corporation, or a governmental agency, the names of such
corporate authors should be spelled out each time they appear as a
reference source in our text.
Parenthetical Documentation :Numbers
Content notes
This consists of material that is relevant to our research but that
does not need to interrupt the flow of our text. These notes may
contain an explanation, additional information, reference to other
sources, information about procedures used to gain information,
or acknowledgement of special assistance.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A separate title page is not required. Instead the first page should contain
the full title of the paper, name, the date, and the opening text of the
paper.