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BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE FOR RESEARCH PAPERS and REPORTS

STEP ONE:

List the three or four most important things you have learned through your study.

1. ___________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________

STEP TWO:

Ø For #1 on your list:

Free-write for ten minutes or so about what you have learned. Have no sources in front of you.

Ø For #2 on your list:

Free-write for ten minutes or so about what you have learned. Have no sources in front of you.

Ø For #3 on your list:

Free-write for ten minutes or so about what you have learned. Have no sources in front of you.

Ø For #4 on your list:

Free-write for ten minutes or so about what you have learned. Have no sources in front of you.

STEP THREE: Return to your free-writing and highlight or mark the significant parts. Then inflate the highlighted or marked parts into paragraphs.

Inflate Point #1: (Most likely you will need more room to write than is available in the space below.)

Inflate Point #2: (Most likely you will need more room to write than is available in the space below.)

Inflate Point #3: (Most likely you will need more room to write than is available in the space below.)

Inflate Point #4: (Most likely you will need more room to write than is available in the space below.)

STEP FOUR: Blend in words/ideas from your sources.

When doing this, please remember the four rules of using sources:

Ø Use words from a source if the source says something particularly well. (You want to share this wording with your reader.)

Ø Use words from a source if you need authoritative support for a point you are making. (In other words, you feel you should offer corroboration (authoritative support) for a point you have made.)

Ø Keep citations as short as possible.

Ø Give proper credit to the property (words, ideas) you use.

Point #1: List sources and locate wording/ideas to consider blending. Be sure to carefully note source and page number of each item.

Point #2: List sources and locate wording/ideas to consider blending. Be sure to carefully note source and page number of each item.

Point #3: List sources and locate wording/ideas to consider blending. Be sure to carefully note source and page number of each item.

Point #4: List sources and locate wording/ideas to consider blending. Be sure to carefully note source and page number of each item.

STEP FIVE: Create your Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA) page. Return to rough draft and insert the appropriate citation information.

STEP SIX: Draft an introduction (list ideas that might work)—add you thesis to the end of it.

Draft a conclusion: Wrap up, cheerlead, recommend a course of action.

STEP SEVEN: Polish your completed draft, check accuracy and conformity to the standard (MLA or APA), and submit by the due date.

STEP EIGHT: Relax and enjoy a job well done. -)