Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide [Rental Edition]

For courses in Research Writing.

Celebrating 50 years of delivering current, detailed guidance on academic research and writing

The definitive research paper guide, Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide combines a traditional but practical approach to the research process with the latest information on electronic research and presentation. Written by the original author’s son, this text remains the foremost handbook for current, detailed guidance about academic research, writing, and documentation.

Over the last two decades, the world of academic research has changed dramatically. Most research is now done online, which has not only put an almost unimaginable wealth of new sources at our fingertips, but has also brought challenges in evaluating source credibility and usefulness. Marking the 50th anniversary of Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide , the 16th Edition confronts these new challenges and offers clear, detailed guidance to assist researchers as they struggle to keep pace with online research, electronic publishing, and new documentation formats.

Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide , 16th Edition is also available via Revel™, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience. Learn more.

Dr. James D. Lester, Jr. brings over thirty-five years of experience as a classroom English teacher to the 16th Edition of Writing Research Papers. Always aware of the varied and ever-changing trends in research styles, this latest version marks the 50th anniversary of the text. Dr. Lester received his Ph.D. in English Education from Georgia State University. With skilled instruction at Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, and as a part-time professor of composition at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Dr. Lester has created a practical and manageable guide to the research process that directs learners on the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels.

1. Writing from Research

2. Finding a Topic

3. Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals

4. Gathering Sources Online

5. Gathering Sources in the Library

6. Conducting Field Research

7. Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism

8. Reading and Evaluating Sources

9. Writing Effective Notes and Creating Outlines

10. Drafting the Paper in an Academic Style

11. Blending Reference Material into Your Writing

12. Writing the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion

13. Revising, Proofreading, and Formatting the Rough Draft

14. Works Cited: MLA Style

15. Writing in APA Style

16. The Footnote System: CMS Style

17. CSE Style for the Natural and Applied Sciences

18. Creating Electronic and Multimedia Research Projects