How to Write A Research

Paper
Selecting a topic by asking some
relevant questions

Making a Research Grid

Browse through some texts and decide on
one of the four topics
Choose one that interests you and that
you feel is important
Come up with 5 relevant questions on the
topic
Choose Deep Thinking questions

What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of the relationship
between living plants, organisms, and
animals and their environment.

What Topic Interests You On Ecology?

Clean Water?
Whether were fishing off a dock, swimming at Oak
Street Beach or sailing along the coast, we should be
able to enjoy Lake Michigan without worrying about
sewage pollution and unsafe bacteria levels. But each
year , billions of gallons of sewage ends up in Lake
Michigan and all the Great Lakes, resulting in hundreds
of beach closings in Illinois.
Where do we get our drinking water?
How is the water purified?
How do we maintain accurate levels of safety?
What does the sewage do to Lake Michigan?
How does it affect this ecosystem (of Lake Michigan)?

What Topic Interests You On Ecology?

Effects of Fracking on and offshore?
As oil and gas become more expensive and
harder to find, fracking or the controversial
issue of hydraulic gas drilling in suburbia has
become a big problem.
What does fracking do to the
environment/ecosystem?
What is fracking?
What are the trade-offs for drilling offshore for
oil?
Are there fracking regulations? Do they need to
be changed?

What Topic Interests You On Ecology?

Genetically Altered Food?
The food we eat is one of our closest
connections to the natural world. Farms should
be environmentally friendly and provide food that
is safe and healthy.
What does genetically engineered crops do to
the food web?
How do caged chickens and feeding hormones
to animals to make them bigger affect our food
supply and the food web?

What Topic Interests You On Ecology?

Preserving Our Forests and Parks?
Thousands of deer overpopulate areas such as
Highland Park, River Forest and the Northern
Suburbs. Do we hunt them, or let them be?
Thousands die of deer disease for not having
enough food to eat. Many spread Lyme disease to
humans by ticks. Should we disrupt the natural
process of nature?
Why are coyotes coming to Chicago and Snowy
Owls in Illinois? Why are we finding them in
downtown Chicago? How can overpopulation affect
our ecosystem? What impact does overpopulation
of the human species and deforestation have on our
ecosystems?

What Topic Interests You In Ecology?

Preserving our Prairies?
Illinois is known for its native wildflowers and grasslands. We take
pride in our indigenous animals that help create our natural
environment. Many builders want to use our land to build and
develop these pristine (untouched) lands for commercial use.
Environmentalists say that we should not develop these lands.
Millions of dollars are spent to help preserve these lands by the
state of Illinois. Do you think its necessary to invest in our prairies?
What is a prairie? What are the animals and plants that are
indigenous to Illinois prairie ecosystem? Describe the prairie food
web? What are the producers, composers, and decomposers?
Draw the food web

My Research Grid
THE BIG
QUESTION
What was the
importance of
reversing the
Chicago River?

Book

Magazine Internet

Photograph Newspaper

Source

Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of
Greater Chicago) for
safeguarding Chicago's
water supply. It would do
so by constructing canals
to make the Chicago
River flow backwards,
away from the lake.

Why was the

reversal such a
major
responsibility?
Did the reversal
infringe upon the
rights of the
environmentalists
?
How was the river
affected? Is there
more to do?

Make Cook County a

center of
manufacturing for
rainwater harvesting
and green
infrastructure,
Chicago Tribune, Dec.
26, 2013

How are the long

term affects still

Newer solutions to
conserving old waste
water instead of sending

How Do I Develop A Thesis Statement?

A Thesis statement tells the reader or viewer in
1-2 sentences what your paper will attempt to
prove or analyze.
A good thesis statement takes a stand by
making a point which will be backed up by
EVIDENCE.
Has a narrow and specific focus.
Expresses one main idea.
Is presented as a statement, not a topic or a
question.

Some Questions to Consider

What do you think matters about this
topic?
What story are you going to tell?
What are the core issues?
Why does this topic matter?
What is the BIG PICTURE?
Is this topic historically significant?

What is the Difference Between a Thesis

Statement and an Abstract?
A thesis statement is a concise statement
usually 1-2 sentences that tells the reader
what your paper will prove or analyze.
An abstract is the second page of your research
paper and tells a brief summary of the paper,
allowing readers to quickly review the main
points and purpose of the paper.
The abstract should be between 150-250 words.
Abbreviations and acronyms used in the paper
should be defined in the abstract.

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Llneren@cps.edu- Ms. Neren
mmtherriault-jenk@cps.edu Ms. Therriault
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