Developing Research Paper Writing Skills

Assignment Sequence B

Sherry Warren, 2010

This assignment sequence, though it is a particularly challenging area

for non-native speakers, is also a sequence that would be helpful for
native speakers. The sequence will take one week, and should be
taught after students have engaged in research, chosen a thesis and
composed an outline for their paper. The assignment will assist them
in beginning to write paragraphs that effectively use source material in
the context of a paragraph. The supplementary signal phrase resource
provides non-native speakers with the language they need to
effectively transition into a piece of source information within a
paragraph.Using Source Information in Academic Writing

Imagine you are writing an argumentative research paper designed to

convince an audience that it is important to understand and accept
gender differences. Consider the following quotations.
Part 1: Which of these would be helpful in proving your thesis? Which
would require more information to be able to support a statement
about gender differences? What kind of information would be
necessary?
Part 2: Which would you summarize, which would paraphrase, and
which would you quote?

1. Why are so many men reluctant to ask directions? Why arent

women? And why cant women understand why men dont want to
ask? The explanation, for this and for countless minor and major
frustrations that women and men encounter when they talk to each
other, lies in the different ways they use language--..
Source: Deborah Tannen Sex, Sighs and Conversation: Why Men and
Women Cant Communicate, pg 211

Assignment Sequence B

Sherry Warren, 2010

2. Don Elium, coauthor of the best-selling 1992 book, Raising a Son,

says that with troubled boys, theres often a common theme: distant,
uninvolved fathers, and mothers who have taken on more
responsibility to fill the gap.
Source: Barbara Kantrowiez and Claudia Kalb Boys Will Be Boys, pg
205

3. For girls, the first crisis point often comes in early adolescence.
Source: Barbara Kantrowiez and Claudia Kalb Boys Will Be Boys, pg
202

4. In early societies, mens role as hunters and warriors gave them

more prestige than women. With that prestige came power: men could
distribute food to the entire community and determine its social
structure.
Source: Hamilton McCubbin and Barbara Blum Dahle Sex Roles, pg
192

5. Real-life role models affect childrens thinking; so, too do the role
models in literature (including comics and childrens books), film and
television
Source: Hamilton McCubbin and Barbara Blum Dahle Sex Roles, pg
193

6. Realizing that a partners behavior is not his or her individual

failing, but a normal expression of gender, lifts the burden of blame
and disappointment.
Source: Deborah Tannen Sex, Sighs and Conversation: Why Men and
Women Cant Communicate, pg 213

Assignment Sequence B

Sherry Warren, 2010

Part 3: Choose one quotation and imagine how it could fit into the
context of a paper with the thesis mentioned.
1. Paraphrase the quotation.
2. Decide what type of source you have chosen to put into your paper.
Is this background information? Is it an argument source? An
opposing viewpoint? Consider the IBEAM model.
3. Where would this fit into a paper? Think about how you might
introduce this piece of information. Develop a short paragraph using
your paraphrase and include your in-text citation in MLA format.

The quotations used in this assignment were found in the following resource:
Gardner, P. (2005). New Directions: Reading Writing and Critical Thinking
Second Edition. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Assignment Sequence B

Sherry Warren, 2010

Supplementary resource for non-native speakers (though you

can give it to all students so as not to single them out):
Verbs to signal source material within an argumentative essay (either a
summary, paraphrase or a quote):
admit
agree
argue
assert
believe
claim
compare
confirm

Assignment Sequence B

contend
declare
deny
emphasize
insist
note
observe
point out

reason
refute
reject
report
respond
suggest
think
write

Sherry Warren, 2010

Sample signal phrases:

Morris and Warren (2009), psycholinguists, point out that
As Simin and Georgefski (1998) have noted,
Francis (2009) observes that

For use with quotations only:

, claimed Porter (2003).
In the words of Al Gore (2006),

For homework:
Have the students determine at least 6 pieces of information that they
think would be useful in defending their thesis. Have students bring
printed source material with this information highlighted to class.

Next class period:

Put students into groups according to topic. Have them explain to
partners what they plan to use the information to prove in their papers.
Then have individuals write a body paragraph, working from their
outlines, according to the guidelines above.