Analytical Research Paper Guide (Marks - AP Eng. Lit.)
Analytical research provides substantive analysis of a topic & presents an argument ​supported by EVIDENCE

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Explore Topics

• TMHS Library book list ​
• SLED Databases - Use the  Points of View  database to search for  topics.

 ​Narrow  and refine your topic
Read a general overview of your topic as you begin

• Read a topic overview in Points of View or Explora from SLED Databases
• Read an encyclopedia article.  (World Book Online)

After reading overviews, write a few questions about your topic. Write  "open-ended" questions.

• Example of a closed question:  Do plastic water bottles pollute the ocean environment?
• Example of an open- ended question:  How might countries reduce or eliminate oceanic micro-plastic pollution?

Question writing resources.  

• Question Brainstormer Chart
• Question Creation Chart
• Developing a research question (George Mason Univ.)
• ​Fill-in-the-Blank Question Formulation Exercise ​
• Writing Strong Research Questions  - Includes Criteria and Examples

Thoroughly research the topic​​

1. Use an organized system to collect and organize the information you find. 
   1. Digital Note-taking Template
   2. Digital Note-taking Guide 
2. ​Find good keywords to search for information.
   1. ​Find keywords in an encyclopedia topic overview or other articles about your subject.
   2. SLED Databases, Google often autofill possible related topics/keywords.
   3. Use a thesaurus like Visuwords. ​
3. Use a variety of sources, both:
   1. ​Primary (Immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic.)   and
   2. Secondary (One step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. Secondary resources cover the same topic, but often add a layer of interpretation and analysis.
4. Evaluate your internet resources - look especially for authority and biases!
5. ​Library Catalog
6. Databases - Try MasterFILE Complete or Academic Search Premier
7. Internet :  use these Search Shortcuts

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Research,  8th Edition MLA Format,   7th edition APA Format

• Must use a minimum of five sources:  journal, magazine or newspaper articles, books, interviews, audio recordings,  documentaries, documents, interviews, etc.
• Cite information and synthesize  
• Thesis Statement generator
  • ​An analytical thesis states the topic of your paper, what specifically you analyzed, and the conclusion(s) you reached as a result of that analysis
    • Go beyond summarizing to make a judgement
    • Relate the source materials to each other​
• Bowdoin College Reading, Writing and Researching:   resource for the process of writing a long research paper ​​
• Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Perdue: 
  1. MLA format
  2. APA format

1. Introduce quotes correctly
2. Videos:  MLA formatting of papers, bibliography, and in-text (parenthetical) citations
3. MLA Core Elements 2021 - Slideshow
4. ​APA:  Paper Format and In-text Citations
5. APA References Guide (citations)
6. Common Reference Examples Guide, APA Style 7th Edition