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Writing an Argumentative Research PaperAn argumentative research paper involves advocacy or persuasion. The writer takes a stand on an issue and defends it against opposing points of view. After you select your topic, you should research the issues surrounding the topic and read other writers’ arguments for and against. You should present supporting evidence in favor of your position on the topic as well as anticipate and deflect arguments against your position. In other words, you should to make your case persuasively and also defend against possible opposition.
The Library can provide you with a list of interesting topics, but this list is by no means conclusive. Select a topic that you find interesting. Below are some general handbooks and websites that will help you work through the process of writing a research paper. Guides to Writing Research Papers
Internet Guides to Writing Research Papers A+ Research and Writing for High School and College Students
OWL:
Online Writing Lab at Purdue MLA Style Style Sheet for Citing Internet Sources Once you have selected a topic for your paper, use the general reference books available in the library to get background information on your topic. Reference books such as encyclopedias are a good starting point for your research because they help you become better acquainted with your topic. The GaleNet and Facts.com databases are online resources that provide useful background information as well. The RAND California database may provide you with useful statistics. The library also has several series that focus on current newsworthy and/or controversial issues. The following series are available directly behind the Reference Desk.
Once you have done your background research you will be ready to look for more information on your topic in books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet. Books Use the Library Catalog to find books available in the Cerritos College Library. Books can provide a broad overview of a topic or in-depth information. You can search for books by Author, Title, Subject, or Keyword. It is often best to do a Keyword search to find books on your topic. If you find one book that is useful to your research, click on the Subject links to see others on the same subject. Newspaper and Magazine Articles Journals and magazines usually provide the most current information on a topic. Journal articles are more scholarly or professional while magazine articles tend to be shorter and more general. Newspaper articles, while not usually scholarly or professional, can give you the most current news and some additional facts on your topic. To find articles on your topic, use one of the online databases listed below. These databases usually provide full-text articles on almost every topic. Conduct your search in these databases by using subject headings and keywords similar to those you used to locate books. Online Databases
For remote access to the
library databases,
see
E-Resource Login &
Searching Options.
Print Indexes
Internet Sites The Internet can be a valuable source for supplementing the information you have gathered from books and periodicals. It is important that you evaluate the information you get from the Internet to determine if it is reliable and useful to your research. When evaluating a website, look for:
Finding Websites
Google Search Engine Librarians' Internet Index Controversial Issues Websites
LG 10/2000; Rev 8/2002; Rev JK 09/06; SW 04/07
Web Author:
Lorraine Gersitz
(lgersitz@cerritos.edu) |