Assignment Planner: Research Paper Using Secondary Sources

Read the instructions carefully, highlighting the major questions being asked and goals of the assignment. This resource provides a list of questions to consider about your assignment. If you have questions, ask your instructor or TA during their office hours, or make an appointment with a tutor from the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center.

If you’ve never done this type of writing assignment before or would like a refresher, review the common expectations and features, and/or look at samples.

Gather together any readings already assigned in your class, your notes from class lectures and discussions, and any other sources you’ve already identified for the project.

(This step should take 5% of your project time)

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If you have the option to choose your topic, select one that matters to you!  

• What do you want to know more about? What topic corresponds to issues you’re already interested in? Try doing some brainstorming through the center-of-gravity technique, creating a concept map, or mind-mapping.
• As you brainstorm ideas for your topic, start a list of keywords that you can use to search for sources. 

Write the draft of a “guiding research question.” For example, “My paper will explore…”.  Be sure to double-check your instructor’s guidelines about the type of research inquiry you’re being asked to do.

(5% of your project time)

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Find secondary sources related to your topic, using books, peer-reviewed articles, newspapers, or other reliable and relevant sources.

• Use OneSearch in the UT Libraries to find sources. Use keywords that are central to your topic. You’re encouraged to ask a librarian for help finding sources. 
• If you’re taking a first-year composition course (English 101, 102, 112, 132, or 298), use the research guide that has been compiled by the UT Libraries.
• As you search for articles, read the abstract first–it will help you decide whether it’s a good fit for your paper.

Read your sources

• As you read, annotate each source–take notes on key ideas, themes, and important passages.
• Tip: Annotation tools like PowerNotes help you keep track of your quotes and make notes on digital sources as you read them. It also captures citation information. UTK students have no-cost access to PowerNotes using their @vols.utk.edu email.

Evaluate the credibility your sources

• Once you’ve determined that a source may be useful to your project, make sure it’s credible by using these guidelines or by viewing this tutorial. 

Finally, refine your preliminary research question, if needed, to take what you learned from your  reading into account.

(25% of your project time)

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Using your notes, look for patterns and themes in your research. What have you found out that helps you answer your guiding research question?

• Create a “working thesis” or main claim for your paper. (It will change as you work with your topic, and you will eventually create a final thesis that should make a claim, not just state facts.)

Plan out the parts of the paper.

• This resource includes examples of different outline formats. Watch this demo about creating  a traditional outline. 
• Use the BEAM/BEAT method to sort your sources according to the place in your paper where you may use them. (Open the section “Introduction to BEAM/BEAT: A Functional Vocabulary.”) Which of your sources provide background information, evidence for part of a claim you’re making, an argument you want to agree or disagree with, description or defense of your theoretical framework and/or methods?
• Consider doing some focused freewriting to create a “zero-draft”–a “first attempt to assemble thoughts related to your research topic or question. It is a more or less unstructured piece of writing that flows quickly from your own mind as you reflect upon your topic, your questions, and your reading.” This can be a helpful way to get your thoughts on paper without worrying about making them neat and organized.

This stage of the writing process is a great time to visit your instructor or TA during their office hours or a make an appointment with a tutor from the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center to sort through and clarify your ideas for the paper.

(10% of your project time)

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Using your outline and notes, write a first draft that includes an introduction with the thesis or main claim statement, a body section with the major supporting points of your researched argument, reference to and explanation of supporting sources, and a conclusion. Note: the steps are listed in a suggested order, but feel free to approach them in whichever order will best help you with your project.

• Consider the most important background information your readers will need in your introduction to understand your topic and claim. 
• Revise your working thesis. In what ways, however small, has your argument evolved since you started working on it? Remind yourself of the differences between a strong versus weak thesis. 
• For each body paragraph, write a topic sentence that summarizes the argument you make in that paragraph. To make your ideas within and between paragraphs connect, select appropriate transition words. How do your ideas connect with each other?
• Think about various strategies for including supporting evidence.
  • Use the BEAM/BEAT method to identify sources to use in various parts of your paper. (Open the section “Introduction to BEAM/BEAT: A Functional Vocabulary.”) 
  • Summarize and/or paraphrase  to condense source material in your own words. 
  • If you quote directly, be sure it includes three parts, sometimes called making a  “quote sandwich”: introduce the point you’re emphasizing, quote the relevant passage from your source, and then explain how the passage illustrates your current point and/or larger thesis. 
• Make sure you avoid plagiarism by acknowledging your use of others’ ideas and statements. Create your references page depending on the citation style you’re using e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago. Insert in-text citations consistent with the citation style that you’re using. 
• Format the paper according to your instructor’s instructions (margins, font size, line spacing, headings, etc.

(25% of your project time)

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First, review the assignment guidelines and/or rubric.

One effective way to review a draft is to read it out loud. See these suggestions.  Another is to use the reverse outlining technique to help you identify areas for revision.

Write down at least 2-3 major things you need to revise. Rather than focus on sentence-level concerns, think more about things like the thesis or main claim statement, the logic of the supporting points you make, and the quality and clarity of the evidence you provide. 

Get feedback from your instructor or TA during their office hours, from the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center, or from a peer.

(10% of your project time)

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Revise as needed, based on your own review and the feedback you received.

If you need to do further research because there are gaps in your argument or your evidence, use UT Libraries resources for finding sources–and remember, it’s always a good idea to ask a Librarian for help.

(15% of your project time)

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Check the assignment instructions to make sure you met all the requirements for the content and formatting of your paper.

Proofread your work carefully. Use the “read out loud” approach to reviewing your work–it can help you find things you might otherwise miss. 

Double-check that you have cited all sources (ideas, information, paraphrases, and quotes) correctly and that your reference/bibliography/works cited page is  accurate. See this resource on how to avoid plagiarism.

(5% of your project time)

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