Introduction to Writing with Sources of Support

The first thing to keep in mind is that writing a research paper is a separate activity from doing research. A good research paper is built on good research. Many students focus on the paper and skimp on the research. The result is a poorly written paper that simply repeats what other people have already said. This is not research. It is this faulty approach to research that has many students questioning the value of writing a research paper. After all, if a research paper just involves a student copying in his or her own words what someone else has said, then it is nothing more than busy work.

In a good research paper, a student evaluates the various materials available from sources and makes a decision about what point to make. The student then organizes the information from sources in order to support the point he or she wishes to make.

Anyone building a house uses the same basic materials: cinder blocks, cement, 2x4s, gypsum board, shingles, and so on. What distinguishes one house from another is the builder's plan or blueprint for the house and the quality of the workmanship that goes into building the house. In the same way, two students using the same source material to write papers on the same subject will not create identical papers. Each paper will be distinguished by each student's conceptualization of the paper and his or her skill in using language. Just as the design and workmanship of a house determine its worth, the design and workmanship of a student's research paper are what an instructor evaluates in assessing the worth of the student's paper.

ENGL1010 Composition I