Research: Intro Primary Sources Wikipedia and Google Guide Final Note

Paper: Intro Hardcore Graphs Citations Sample

Presentation: Intro General Tips Simple Heavy

Paper
    So this is the longest and the hardest part, only if your paper requires primary sources. If not, then no problem,
just follow the basic conventions of writing with three things in mind: in-text citations (see below), stay on topic,
and keep basic form such as an intro-body-conclusion type deal. If you are not so lucky, continue on.


Hardcore
    If you are reading this, it means you have a lot to do. First thing to do is to read your sources. Pick the ones
that you can understand easily and read them. Choose the mini-topics for your paper and choose harder ones that
support or cross-checks the first papers you read. Now write the sections first. Ignore writng a general intro early,
but do write intros to the mini-topics and keep it simple for now. Your mini-topics should consists of facts and
observations of the papers you read followed by a conclusion or comparison. Avoid conjecture at all costs, everything
you say must either be cited or strongly supported by the papers you read. As research paper, you are piecing things
 together, hypothesises are for labs, thesis is for papers. Once you have made the body of the mini-topic, make one
sweeping conclusion and edit the intro to encompass that whole mini-topic. Repeat this cycle of mini-topics until you
have the required amount of pages. Do a mass edit so there are no contradictions, or if there are contradictions that
you want to be evident, leave it for now. Once done. Write your conclusion on everything, be sure to tie up any loose
ends like contradictions or missing links. Once that is over, just write a general intro introducing your topic, possibly
some background history, and spelling out any acronyms you will use constantly. Writing "EM" throughout your paper
without saying what it is is annoying. I should be told what EM is, I shouldn't have to guess or look up what it is.


Graphs
    Your paper should have graphs. It is part of your discussion. It is simple, make sure you explain what it is showing
and how it relates to your thesis/paper. And please don't cheat by making multiple one page graphs, you aren't fooling anyone.


Citations
    Easy, give credit where due. Don't get accused of plagurizing or making stuff up, citations also take space, so they are your friends.
Whenever possible, cite someone or several sources, that way you reduce risk taking blame for a bad fact (which is why you steer
clear of citing wikipedia).

Here is a simple guide for citing in scientific writing. For others, here is a guide to MLA and APA. I cannot choose for you, but usually,
for physics, chem, and biology, the first is good and the other two is for general writing, usually a professor will tell you which format he/she wants
if they are really picky. But most don't care so long as it is consistent throughout the paper.


Sample
    No way am I handing you a whole paper, but here is a small sample of how I do it. I got an "A" for it. It includes one minitopic, a
general conclusion, and a Works Cited page.

Sample



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