Subject Guides: LIBS 351: Critical Food Studies: Write Your Paper

Behavioral Sciences and Women's & Gender Studies Librarian

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Contact:

4021 CASL/1153B ML
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Subjects: Anthropology, Behavioral and Biological Sciences, Criminal Justice, Faculty Resources, Food Studies, Integrative Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Women's & Gender Studies

Writing Your Final Paper

Writing Tips

Decide on the research paper's main focus and main points first
Everything in your research paper should point back to the thesis statement

Research Paper Format

Research papers should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion:

1. Introduction: summarizes what you will write and puts it into context. Should consist of 3 parts:

"What You're Studying": start with a thesis statement about your research question which includes background contextualizing your question
"So What?": demonstrate why your research question and project is important and why your reader should care
"Game Plan": outline the main points of your project and the order in which you will address them

2. Body: presents the main points of the paper, with each paragraph representing one aspect of the paper's main focus. Prioritize and organize your main points and paragraphs to logically build your arguments to a compelling conclusion. Each paragraph should include a topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and a transition sentence:

The topic sentence summarizes the paragraph's main idea
Use evidence from your research sources to support or make the argument for your main ideas
Analyse your evidence to show how it links to your broader thesis
Include a transition sentence at the end of each paragraph to connect what you discussed in that paragraph with the main idea of the next paragraph

3. Conclusion: summarizes what you wrote and what you learned

Restate your thesis from the introduction in different words
Briefly summarize your main points or arguments and pull them together into the paper's main thesis
End with a strong, final statement that ties the whole paper together and makes it clear the paper has come to an end
No new ideas should be introduced in the conclusion, it should only review and analyze the main points from the body of the paper (with the exception of suggestions for further research)

4. References list: a list of the sources you cited

Cite your sources in APA Style
Format your References list in APA Style

For more writing help, contact the Writing Center and make an online appointment to meet with one of their consultants.