Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, Global Edition, 16th edition
Title overview
The definitive research paper guide, Writing Research Papers combines a traditional and practical approach to the research process with the latest information on electronic research and presentation.
This market-leading text provides students with step-by-step guidance through the research writing process, from selecting and narrowing a topic to formatting the finished document. Writing Research Papers backs up its instruction with the most complete array of samples of any writing guide of this nature. The text continues its extremely thorough and accurate coverage of citation styles for a wide variety of disciplines. The 16th edition maintains Lester's successful approach while bringing new writing and documentation updates to assist the student researcher in keeping pace with electronic sources.
Hallmark features of this title
- Each chapter has been revised to take into account the latest developments in academic writing, particularly the influence of technology.
- Updated documentation guidelines enable students to document sources correctly:
- Up-to-date coverage of MLA documentation style
- Revised APA documentation coverage
- Current standards for CMS style
- Guidelines for evaluating online sources enhances the understanding of what constitutes an appropriate source for an academic paper.
- Seven annotated student sample papers demonstrate format, documentation, and different academic styles.
- “Research Tip” helps in avoiding unintentional plagiarism by offering instruction and examples for citing sources appropriately and ethically.
- “Finding Reference Works for Your General Topic” provides a user-friendly list of sources for launching your research project.
New and updated features of this title
- New “Goals and Outcomes” at the beginning of each chapter provide students with a list of learning objectives that serve as a ready guide for finding documentation information quickly and that provide students with the key goals of the chapter.
- New explanations of research techniques in Chapter 4 show students how to apply cutting-edge tools and strategies in their research, including keyword searches with expanded Boolean operators and social networking sites.
- Three new student papers plus a new annotated bibliography provide fresh models of student research work.
- Updated coverage of MLA and APA documentation style brings students up to speed with the latest revisions, especially how to handle electronic source documentation.
Table of contents
Brief Contents
- Writing from Research
- Finding a Topic
- Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals
- Gathering Sources Online
- Gathering Sources in the Library
- Conducting Field Research
- Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism
- Reading and Evaluating Sources
- Writing Effective Notes and Creating Outlines
- Drafting the Paper in an Academic Style
- Blending Reference Material into Your Writing
- Writing the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion
- Revising, Proofreading, and Formatting the Rough Draft
- Works Cited: MLA Style
- Writing in APA Style
- The Footnote System: CMS Style
- CSE Style for the Natural and Applied Sciences
- Creating Electronic and Multimedia Research Projects
Author bios
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.