Steps on How to Research a Topic

What Is Research?

Research is a careful investigation of a study with regard to a particular concern or problem using scientific methods. Research usually involves either inductive and deductive methods. You will need to use inductive research methods to analyze an observed event. Also, it is vital to use deductive methods to verify the observed event. Inductive approaches are associated with qualitative research, while deductive methods are more commonly associated with quantitative research. There are many ways to research information, including doing research, online or offline. The objectives for conducting research can differ as well. You may simply need research for collecting information, validating sources, or creating a bibliography for your paper. Interested in finding out some good ways to research any information? – Then read our article!

5 Steps for How to Research

There are several ways to research information. Even still, there is a general structure that can make the whole process easier to follow. Read these steps to help you conduct research in an efficient and organized way.

Step 1: Pick a Topic

When choosing a topic for your writing project, you should consider these ways to do it:

  • Work Within the Assigned Parameters
    To get the best grade, follow the assignment’s instructions for what you should write about. However, if you weren’t given rigid limits, stick to the five-paragraph essay format as a safe bet.
  • Select a Topic of Personal Interest
    If you force yourself to research a topic you have no passion for, you’re likely not to have the enthusiasm needed for doing in-depth research. The quality of your paper will reflect this, and the result will not reflect your best work.
  • Find a Question to Answer Through the Research
    While researching, you should be asking yourself questions about the material. If you end up with an unanswered question, you’ve found your topic. These types of questions are usually those that you can find being discussed among experts in the field. Quite often, they might cover them in a lecture on YouTube, in a TED Talk, or a university campus debate.

The questions you should be asking yourself begin with:

  • Who?
  • What?
  • Where?
  • Why?
  • When?

 Step 2: Are There Enough Sources?

Try to pick a topic that will be easy to find research for. Topics that have plenty of sources are your best bet. If there aren’t enough sources, it’s possible that the topic will not be fully backed by scientific consensus. Having limited sources will also mean that the statements you will make in your paper will be limited. The number of sources needed to support your topic sufficiently will depend on the length of your paper. For an essay, you may simply need 3-7 sources, but for a dissertation, for example, the number of sources can reach several hundred.

When researching, it’s tempting to dive straight into the first exciting thing that you find, but you should try to start as broad as possible. Otherwise, you might miss some fascinating information and end up with a poor understanding of your topic.

Step 3: Validation: Find the Best Sources

Wondering how to perform research? Here is advice from our economics essay writing service. When looking for sources, you might occasionally have doubts about the credibility of what you’re reading. Some websites, authors, or public figures might claim to have a valid perspective, when in reality, they have perhaps voiced their opinions to make money, gain recognition, or push an agenda.

Evaluate the information you find based on who has written it, whether or not it is an opinion, and whether or not other sources say the same thing. Also, make sure your source is educating you on a subject rather than trying to sell you something.

If you’re looking for someplace that exclusively has credible books and other material, search using the Aleph Integrated Library System. Their website states that their system “provides academic, research, and national libraries with the efficient, user-friendly tools and workflow support they need to meet the increasing requirements of the industry today and in the future.”

Use search engines with the right keywords. The more precise the keyword, the closer you are to the source material of the topic you’re researching. If you’re researching the impact of caffeine on employee productivity, you should search for the keywords “caffeine” and “employee productivity” because they relate directly to the topic. In this case, avoid searching for unrelated keywords such as “how to make coffee”. While it does sound relevant, making coffee has no educational input on the analysis of the effectiveness of employees under the influence of caffeine.

After you have finished your research, make sure that all of your information is accurate. You can save yourself a lot of heartbreak by double-checking all of your research before doing any writing.

Do not forget to reread the information from your sources because there’s a chance you might misinterpret what they have said. Of course, you’re not the only person that can misread a source, so it’s good to check any citations that you have found on a website.

You should also consider how you have used Google to research your topic. If you have included any bias in your search terms, then there’s a chance that the information that you have gathered will reflect that bias.

Get essay help from our professionals anytime you need.

Step 4: Make Notes

When you make notes during your research, you will have readily available material to refer to when structuring your paper. Be sure to write down the author, publisher, and any other relevant information for further use.

Organizing your information can save time, and it can save you from forgetting or misremembering anything you’ve learned from your research. You should keep a link to every webpage that you visit from the start to the very end of your research. It’s best to write down a little bit of information for each link so that you can remember why you have saved them and to keep track of what kind of information you can take from them. You should also save any PDFs or images related to your research because you can use them as valuable primary sources.

Having all of the relevant facts are what you will use to build your supporting arguments. Your notes will be where you look when you need to prepare evidence and examples for your supporting arguments.

Step 5: Organize Your Information

Arrange the data from your notes into the research paper format that you will use. After analyzing everything you have researched, you should have a thesis statement –
a conclusive statement based on where all the data points to.

Next, select the data that supports this all-encompassing statement. These will be your supporting arguments. Each supporting argument must have proof – provide at least two facts in the form of examples. Analyze the evidence of each supporting argument.

Lastly, make a conclusion containing a restatement of the thesis statement, your commentary on the results, and a call-to-action (what the reader should do, given all the evidence).

The structure should look approximately like this:

Thesis statement

  • 3 supporting arguments

Supporting argument 1

  • Evidence 1 to support SA1
  • Evidence 2 to support SA2
  • Analysis of the evidence

Supporting argument 2

  • Evidence 1 to support SA2
  • Evidence 2 to support SA2
  • Analysis of the evidence

Supporting argument 3

  • Evidence 1 to support SA3
  • Evidence 2 to support SA3
  • Analysis of the evidence

Conclusion

  • Restatement of thesis statement
  • Commentary that looks over the results
  • A call-to-action

Lastly, you should check that all of the information you have selected is relevant. Sometimes you’ll spend a lot of time double-checking all of your research, and you’ll realize that things don’t seem to line up. In this situation, it’s tempting to stand behind some information that may not be entirely factual. After all, it’s a lot easier to go along with inaccurate information than to redo your entire research process.

Nevertheless, you should never write or publish any information unless you’re confident that it’s accurate. If you run into conflicting information while researching a topic, go back to the drawing board or try to spin the pieces of contradictory information in your favor.

5 Essential Research Tools

Sometimes, the best solution for how to conduct research is to use online tools and software. Our custom essay writing service has compiled a list of the five best tools to help you with your research process:

Todoist

To help you get organized when doing research, Todoist is a popular means of organizing tasks. With it, you can set productivity goals, get notifications to remind you to do your work, and access your projects from any device.

EndNote

This program will help you organize your bibliography and references. If you’re not keen on installing anything, EndNote Web is an online research tool you can use.

RefWorks

Browser-based, RefWorks helps users find the right research data—which the program organizes and stores. It also automatically generates citations for you from that data, so you’re guaranteed a ready-made bibliography.

DataElixir

DataElixir offers the latest news, developments, and data in the scientific world for those of you needing to do scientific research. The website is curated once a week. To access their service, subscribe to a free weekly newsletter.

DeepDyve

Are you ever frustrated with the paywalls that prevent you from reading the full text of a scientific paper abstract? This resource allows you access to the full text of an abstract, free of charge. Doing so helps you decide if you want to spend money on access to the entire research paper.

Conclusion

Researching is not the easiest task in the world. Perfecting it takes practice and effort, which will then serve to help you develop a sense of intuition about the credibility and relevance of your sources. You will be able to find the right information on any subject if you follow the above steps on how to do research. This skill is essential in most high-paying institutions and is crucial to helping you get that much-needed diploma.

 

How to Cite Your Medical Papers AMA Citation Format

How to Cite Your Medical Papers AMA Citation Format

If you belong to the medical or scientific community, you may be familiar with the AMA format and the AMA citation. The AMA guidelines have made the lives of students worldwide difficult as the guideline is 1032 pages! The guideline discusses how to write in AMA format. If you don’t have enough time for reading it, but still would like to master it, this article from Assignmentshero — coursework help — will guide you through the basic paper format and citation rules according to the American Medical Association (AMA) Style. For your extra benefit, our paper writers have added a format example, a template for print, and electronic sources. But let’s start with the definition.

What Is AMA Citation  Format?

AMA format is a guideline for arranging and organizing your academic papers. It helps students studying health care, medicine, and nursing to present their ideas with a clear structure for their reading audiences. The American Medical Association first published the AMA Style Guide in 1962, along with the AMA Citation Guide, and they have not introduced many changes since that year. The goal was to make a simple and standard structure for students to present their essays and research papers with evidence from credible sources to support their arguments.

It is important to master the AMA reference format for several reasons:

  • To logically structure your papers
  • To make it easier to follow your texts
  • To follow a guideline for your arguments and thesis statement(s)
  • To credit the names of talented contributors
  • To avoid issues with plagiarism

Finally, using AMA format is almost always a requirement for medical research papers. It is impossible to earn full credits without formatting your work. Without citing sources, a student risks having problems with plagiarism, and it often results in an ‘F’. AMA style has numerous variations for various educational institutions and publications. To provide a complete answer to the question of “What is AMA format?”, we should analyze the parts of this writing style.

Basic Formatting of AMA Papers

We have mentioned that AMA guidelines have not changed dramatically since 1962. So, what are its basic principles? Each time a writer needs to add an AMA style citation, they need to come up with a number in superscript and then need to cite the source in full in the “Reference List” with that corresponding number.

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General Rules of AMA Citation  Formatting

Making sure the numbers are in chronological order is important. Memorize these basic rules of formatting:

  • Double space your text
  • Use 1″ margins
  • The Font Size should be 12 and can be any font type. You can use two typefaces (a serif for body text and a sans serif for titles and subheads) with appropriate use of styles, such as bold and italics for a scholarly publication. (5.22.4)
  • Use 1/2″ indents
  • You should add page numbers—beginning with the title page. Pages should be numbered consecutively. Page numbers are usually placed in the upper right corner.
  • References should be listed and numbered in the order they were cited in your paper.

Basic Rules for AMA Citation

  • The superscript numbers will make it possible to discover the complete reference on your AMA “Reference List” page.
  • Each citation number should match the reference number.
  • Apply Arabic superscript numerals.
  • The complete references must begin with their corresponding numbers.
  • The way a reference is written depends on the type of source a student has to cite; knowing how to cite a website does not mean a student automatically knows how to cite a book.
  • A bibliographical entry should have the writer’s last name and the first & middle initial without punctuation.
  • Apply a comma to add more than one writer. Example: 3. Lawrence T, Barman PJ. Cardiac denervation in diabetes. BMJ. 1973;4:584-586.
  • Apply sentence case for titles—with no exceptions (capitalize the first word of the title—no need to do it with the rest of the words. Example: GONE with the wind).
  • Abbreviate and italicize titles of materials based on the National Library of Medicine database.
  • Separate every reference with periods into bibliographic categories.
  • Invert the names of the writers. Use initials for the first and middle names without putting periods between initials. It should be like this: AuthorLastname, FirstInitialMiddleInitial.
  • Add issue numbers in parentheses after volume numbers (for journals).

Rules in Regard to Punctuation Marks

  • Use a comma in cases where the items are sub-elements of a bibliographic component or a set of interconnected components like writers’ names.
  • Use a semicolon if the elements in the category vary from one another (the release date & title of the source) / if numerous occurrences of interconnected components are available within a group + before the volume identification information.
  • Use a colon before the publisher’s name, between the title and the subtitle, and after a connective phrase (e.g., “In,” “Presented at”).

References in the AMA Bibliography

AMA paper format means using proper references within the text and Reference List, but also using the proper stylistic matters. This includes such things as using headings and capitalizing them appropriately, or using line spacing, margins, text styles (such as using “one” or “1”, using AM, a.m., or A.M.), placement of page numbers, font, spacing for graphs, size and shape for tables, etc.

AMA style requires the use of standard National Library of Medicine [NLM] abbreviations for all journal titles when available.

Here are some AMA citation general formatting guidelines:

  • Corresponding superscript number.
  • Author(s).
  • Article title.
  • Abbreviated Journal Title.
  • Date; volume(issue): pages.
  • Online Journal Articles.

Here are other important rules:

  • Acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms: It is discouraged to use acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms, except if they are well-known. It may include accepted units of measurement and some well-recognized terms. If you do use an acronym, abbreviation, or initialism, spell it out with its first use, even if it is well-known. Do not place periods between the letters of an acronym, abbreviation, or initialism. Stated names should always appear as full names in the text of a manuscript. If included in references, use the two-letter abbreviation (first name initial and middle name initial).
  • Numbers: Numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) should be used in all writing, except when: the number begins the sentence or title. To indicate a time of day, use AM or PM in small letters (6 pm). Conventional 12-hour clock time is preferred. However, 24 hour or military time convention can also be used if you need to show precise timing.
  • Dates: When you need to provide a date in the text, it is preferable to use numerals for the day and year, and write out the month – e.g. October 2, 2020. If you are using dates in a table, you may use numerals for the month (e.g. 4/2/2010).
  • Measurements: To write measurements, it’s better to use SI standard measurements (The International System of Units). Numbers are always written in plain text. There is a space after the number and before the unit, and never a period after the unit (unless it ends a sentence). Do not include commas in longer numbers (e.g. 1600 km, not 1,600 km).

        In-Text Citation: Format and Rules

  • In-text citations are the notes that you make within the text of your paper when you use a borrowed piece of information and/or idea and should be identified using superscript numbers. If you use a direct quote from another work, you should enclose the quote within quotation marks. If the direct quote is longer than four lines, the quote should be set off and indented in a distinct block, should be presented in reduced type, and should appear without quotation marks. The superscript numbers that identify your use of a borrowed piece of information and/or idea should appear outside (or to the right) of commas, periods, and quotation marks, and should appear inside (or to the left) of colons and semicolons.
  • If you borrow pieces of information and/or ideas from more than one source in a single passage or sentence, be sure to identify each of the sources with a unique superscript number. Multiple superscript numbers should be separated by commas and should not have spaces between them. Pieces of information and/or ideas borrowed from personal communications – including interviews, emails and letters – should be cited parenthetically within the text of your paper. You should include the person’s name, as well as the type and the date of the communication, in the citation.
  • Personal communications should not be assigned a superscript number and should not be included in the list of references at the end of your paper. Listed below are two examples of in-text citations using the AMA format citation style:

AMA Reference List

When using AMA format, you need to create a comprehensive list of references at the end of your paper that offers details about your chosen sources. The list of references should present detailed information about the sources that you consulted in your research, borrowed pieces of information, and/or ideas from other sources you used in your paper. The in-text citations appear throughout the text, while the full entry to each of those references are included on a separate page of the essay.

The AMA Reference List format allows readers to find the source of the information on the topic covered and allows them to go on researching the problem in-depth. A writer should link both the in-text citation, and its corresponding reference, by a superscript number. The superscript number is predetermined by its order of appearance within the essay (beginning with ¹, ², etc.)

General Rules

  • The references are to be listed numerically in the order that they appeared within the text of your paper.
  • The type, the order, and the format of the information that you are to include in a Reference List will vary depending on the type of source that you borrowed the piece(s) of information and/or idea(s) from.
  • Regardless of the type of source that you are referencing, you should never insert a comma between the last name and the first initials of an author, editor, or director.
  • If you borrow a piece of information and/or idea from a specific page or range of pages within a printed work or a paginated web resource, you should identify said page(s) at the end of the corresponding reference.
  • When you identify a page number, or numbers, in an entry in your list of references, be sure to insert the numbers in full (for example use 111–112, not 111–2).

Digital Documents

All references to digital journals should include the following elements:

  • Title of article and subtitle (as applicable)
  • Abbreviated and italicized name of the journal
  • Year
  • Volume number
  • Issue number
  • Part or supplement number, when pertinent
  • Inclusive page numbers—Do not omit digits from inclusive page numbers. The year of the publication is followed by a semicolon; the volume number and the issue number (in parentheses) are followed by a colon; the initial page number is followed by a hyphen, and the final page number is followed by a period.

Print Materials

All references to print books should include the following elements:

  • Authors’ surnames and first and middle initials
  • Chapter title (if there)
  • Surname and first and middle initials of the book’s author(s) or editor(s) (or translators if any)
  • Title of book, and subtitle (if any)
  • Volume number and volume title (when there is more than one volume)
  • Edition number (do not indicate the first edition)
  • Place of publication
  • Country names must be spelt out when they appear alone.
  • Name of publisher
  • Year of copyright
  • Page numbers (when specific pages are cited

 

 

 

How to Cite a Research Paper in Each Research Paper Format

APA Research Paper Format

There are specific rules to follow when you cite a research paper in APA.  APA (American Psychological Association) research paper format is often used in papers related to psychology and social sciences. In this citation, there is a general format in referencing through endnotes/footnotes, in-text, and reference pages. Academic papers in APA citation has general writing guidelines.

Papers should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″) with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Include a page header at the top of every page. To create a page header, insert page numbers flush right. Then type the title of your paper in the header flush left using all capital letters. The page header is a shortened version of your paper’s title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.

How to Cite a Research Paper in APA

There are specific rules to follow when citing a research paper in APA. The following are the specific formats to follow:

  • Book: Author, A.A.. (Year of Publication). The Title of work. Publisher City, State: Publisher.
  • Example: Finney, J. (1970). Time and again. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
  • Magazine: Author, A.A.. (Year, a month of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
  • Example: Tumulty, K. (2006, April). Should they stay or should they go? Time, 167(15), 3-40.
  • Newspaper: Author, A.A.. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Magazine Title, pp. xx-xx.
    Rosenberg, G. (1997, March 31). An electronic discovery proves an effective legal weapon.The New York Times, p. D5.
  • Website: Author, A.A.. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Article title. Retrieved from URL
  • Example: Simmons, B. (2015, January 9). The tale of two Flaccos. Retrieved from {link}

These citing formats are used to recognize related literary pieces and to mention references used. You don’t need to cite information about yourself or your own thoughts. For example, when listing education on resume you don’t need any citations. However, you should study various citing styles and research well before producing any other piece of academic writing.

MLA Research Paper Format

MLA (Modern Language Association) format format is commonly used in liberal arts and humanities. Let’s talk a bit about how to write a research paper in MLA format. This format has principles rather than a set of specific rules to be followed. Papers in MLA format provides a process of documentation.

MLA recommends using Times New Roman font in size 12. The entire paper should be double spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. Tab once to indent paragraphs (½ inch). Your last name and a page number should be inserted on the upper right-hand corner of the first page.

How to Cite a Research Paper in MLA Format

The following are formats to follow in citing research paper in MLA format:

  • Book: Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published. Medium.
  • Example: Smith, John. The Sample Book. Pittsburgh: BibMe, 2008. Print.
  • Magazine: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Magazine Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
  • Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” Time 21 Jan. 2009: 21-23. Print.
  • Newspaper: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
  • Example: Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2 Feb. 2009: 4-6. Print.
  • Website: Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title.Sponsoring Institution/Publisher. Publication Date: Page Numbers. Medium.
  • Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 21 Jan. 2009. Web. 1 Feb. 2009.

Research Paper in Chicago Style

  • The Chicago style of citing is commonly used in humanities. It requires writers to cite sources in endnotes or footnotes. This citation provides the author with an avenue to express accountability and credibility to related literature or references used in written material. It helps an academic writer provide quotations in a research paper, as well as being commonly used for book bibliographies.

How to Cite a Research Paper in Chicago Style

The following are Chicago style formats to follow:

  • Book: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Published.
  • Example: Brown, Dan. The DaVinci Code. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
  • Magazine: Last Name, First Name. Article title. Magazine Title, Month Date, Year of publication.
  • Example: Chan, Dan. The art of pandas. Panda Magazine, Nov 10, 1985.
  • Newspaper: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name, Publication Date.
  • Example: Smith, John. “Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 2, 2009.
  • Website: Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title. Web Address (retrieved Date Accessed).
  • Example: Smith, John. “Obama inaugurated as President.” {link} (accessed February 1, 2009).

ASA Research Paper Format

The leading American method of referencing and quotation created by Sociological Association. Sociological students and scholars use the ASA citation format primarily for writing university research papers in sociology or for submitting articles to ASA journals.

For the detailed information about ASA elements of style, visit the American Sociological Association official website or read our Guide to ASA Citation and Writing Style.

How to Cite a Research Paper in ASA Format

  • Book: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher.
  • Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Barns & Noble Books.
  • E-Books: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. Title. Country of Publisher: Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
  • Example: James, Henry. 2003. The Turn of the Screw. New York: Penguin Books Kindle Version. Retrieved January 18, 2017. {link}
  • Journal Article: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Publication. “Title.” Journal Name issue #: inclusive page numbers.
  • Example: Feekins, Bo. 2008. “Chasing Tree Frogs.” National Geographic #182. 6-10
  • Magazine Article: Author’s Last and First Name. Year of Pub. “Title.” Magazine Name, Month Year, pp. Inclusive page numbers.
  • Example: Geary, Rachel. 2012. “The Issue with Mastery Learning.” New York Times, April 2002. Pp. 15-23.
  • Website: Author’s Last and First Name. Date of Publishing. Title. Publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year {link}.
  • Example: Lee, Bruce. 03.09.2004. Birth of a Nation. Retrieved 18.01.2017. {link}

 

A Clockwork Orange Summary and Short Synopsis

A Clockwork Orange Summary and Short Synopsis

A Clockwork Orange is English-writer Anthony Burgessthe’s most famous book. The book was published in 1962, written in the dystopian genre, and made into a movie in 1971. The text is narrated by young Alex, whose entire life is full of criminal wrongdoings. Through Anthony’s novel, the author attempts to demonstrate that human behavior is predictable and can’t be corrected externally. However, Anthony also stresses that a person is only a person when he or she is making their own choices.

The novel is written in a very peculiar style – it is full of invented slang, some of which the author has adapted from the Russian language. There is also a little political twist among the book’s themes – the author couldn’t resist shaming totalitarian governments for disrespecting human rights. Overall, the text is full of interesting details and the book is definitely a worthy read.

You can get a good understanding of what the novel is about from this summary – feel free to use it to nail an essay or to get a taste of whether or not you would enjoy reading the book. But if you don’t have time to finish reading all of this but still need that essay, use our graduate paper writing service and get your paper in no time! Get help with writing an essay for any topic you need from professionals.

Characters in “A Clockwork Orange” Novel

Alex

Alex is the 15-year old protagonist of the story, he narrates the entire text. He is a troubled teenager and, together with his gang, does a lot of terrible things – fights, rapes, steals, and partakes in drugs. Alex has a weird taste in music that his pals don’t get: he likes classical music; it makes him feel powerful and almighty. Such a lifestyle can’t end well for Alex: “Clockwork Orange” is the story of how he gets caught, is sent to jail, and undergoes experimental psychological therapy. But, his transformation isn’t genuine so his victim, and a fierce human-rights fighter, “help” him regain the rights to commit his wrongdoings.

George, Pete, and Dim

The are members of Alex’s gang whom he calls “droogs” (friends). They enjoy robbing local stores, beating up drunk people, and raping women together with Alex. But they aren’t genuinely loyal to him: George constantly takes advantage of any opportunity to undermine Alex as a gang leader, and all of them leave Alex behind to be caught by the police in the middle of one of their crimes. Dim would later become a police officer himself, while George gets murdered during a robbery. Pete finally departs his crooked path, gets married, and even starts speaking proper English. Alex’s encounter with Pete invokes a desire to stop his wrongdoings and start a family.

Billyboy

He is the leader of a rival gang, they fight a lot with Alex and his “droogs” before Alex goes to jail. He and Dim become policemen while Alex is incarcerated, and then beat him up when he gets released.

Alexander

Alexander is one of Alex’s first victims and friends mentioned in the book. When the boys break into his house, they find pages of a manuscript entitled “The Clockwork Orange” and make fun of his ideas. His wife dies after being brutally violated, which leaves F. Alexander notably frightened. Once he finds out that Alex has been put through Ludovico’s rehabilitation technique, F. Alexander uses Alex to advance his beliefs against messing with people’s choices. He puts Alex through further experiments hoping the boy will commit suicide. Instead, Alex survives jumping off the 7th floor and the fall helps him regain his will to undertake any actions he wants.

Dr. Branom and Dr. Brodsky

They are the scientists that develop the Ludovico technique – a method to rehabilitate criminals by administering them drugs followed by a demonstration of violent pictures and movies. As a result, the subjects are supposed to feel physically ill, even at the thought of committing any wrongdoings. During the treatment, they also turn Alex’s favorite classical music on to make him more “sensitive”. Consequently, Alex experiences pain while listening to the music he used to like and while thinking of the actions he used to commit on a daily basis.

The Minister of the Interior (The Inferior) and Prison Governor

The people who approve the usage of the Ludovico technique and choose Alex to be among the pioneer subjects to test the treatment.

Prison Chaplain

This man is one of the few people who stand against the Ludovico technique. He is convinced that people should change out of their own free wills and tries to dissuade Alex from participating. Alex doesn’t follow the chaplain’s advice.

Key Facts about Clockwork Orange

  1. The book is written in the dystopian genre – which means it portrays a bad future for society.
  2. A Clockwork Orange’s characters speak a slang language called Nadsat, it has an abundance of invented words. The author considers his book a “linguistic adventure”.
  3. The protagonist of the story is Alex. He is a troubled teenager who commits a lot of crimes with no remorse.
  4. Alex was forcefully repelled from committing criminal wrongdoings by Ludovico’s technique. It is depicted as an experimental clinical and psychological treatment believed to be able to prevent recidivism. It is supposed to be able to alter the bad behavior of the worst criminals by providing constant negative reinforcement.
  5. In the end, Alex regains his ability to commit crimes, but soon loses interest in carrying out wrongdoings. He decides that creating something is better than self-destruction.
  6. An introduction was added to the later editions of the book where the author explains his main ideas. However, he also mentions that: “It is not the novelist’s job to preach; it is his duty to show” (Introduction). The author states that he tries to describe the events as neutrally as possible and leaves it to the readers to make their own conclusions.
  7. The book is an immense source of topics and themes to write essays about – the freedom to do whatever one desires, the relationships between the state and ordinary people, human free will and how it changes throughout one’s life, the boundaries between freedom of action and criminal interference, humans’ ability to turn a blind eye towards things that disgust us, the role of police and penitentiary services in society, how the morality of individuals coincide (or doesn’t) with the morality of a group of people.

A Clockwork Orange Summary and Short Synopsis

The book is narrated by Alex, who welcomes the reader into what the future of modern society looks like. Alex and his young friends – Pete, George, and Dim – are having their usual evening: they are drinking, taking drugs, and beating up older people and members of other gangs. Their language is full of slang, and they like to insert Russian words into every sentence – such as “v kaif” (to enjoy), “tolchok” (kick), “starikashka” (old man) or “maltchiki” (boys). During the night, the boys break into some man’s house and rape his wife. The man, whose name is F. Alexander, turns out to be a writer. Pages of his manuscripts about some “clockwork orange” were scattered around the house. Alex gets intrigued by the weird title:

A Clockwork Orange Analysis and Interpretation

Title: The first question that needs explaining is usually: “What is the meaning of a clockwork orange? In the introduction added to later editions of the book, the author explains himself: “I mean it to stand for the application of a mechanistic morality to a living organism oozing with juice and sweetness” (Introduction). Another possible explanation comes from the word “orang” – which means “a man” in certain languages. Lastly, there is also a theory that the author overheard “clockwork orange” being used as a slang expression at a pub. This expression referred to somebody being “queer”.

Symbolism: The book is composed of 3 parts, each part has 7 chapters. In total, the 21 chapters are symbolic and represent the transition of a young man becoming an adult. Society tends to believe that people become adults when they turn 16, 18, or 21 years old. However, the book stresses that every person has to go through their own set of challenges to really grow up and start making responsible choices.

Ending: The original publication of the book in the US doesn’t include its final chapter. American publishers thought that their audience wouldn’t fall for such a miraculous turn in Alex’s behavior. A bad boy that all of the sudden decides to be good sounded too much like a fairy tale, so the publishers decided to omit the last chapter and let their readers come up with their own interpretation of what would happen to Alex. After 1986, the book has been published in full with its positive and reassuring last chapter.

Background, imagery, and allegory: The book was written at the time when the author returned to live in England. At that time, the country was overwhelmed with increasing rates of juvenile crimes. Burgess’ first wife was beaten by drunk soldiers stationed in their town during the Second World War. Little nuances like a “Home” sign at the entrance of F. Alexander’s house ,or gang boys mixing drugs with milk, mean that crimes coexisted with normal everyday life and nobody could feel 100% protected.

 

 

How to Cite a Research Paper Using MLA Format

How to Cite a Research Paper Using MLA Format

If you are a high school or college student, there will be a time when you find yourself in a position where you need to cite a research paper, dissertation, or create an annotated bibliography. There are various styles of formatting, but the most commonly used ones are the MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. In the article, writers of our argumentative essay writing service will teach you how to cite a research paper using MLA format correctly.

What is MLA Formatting?

MLA is the formatting style of the Modern Language Association used in areas such as English studies, comparative literature, foreign language, and literature or cultural studies. This academic style guides extensively used in the United States, Canada, and other countries.

Formatting the Front Page

So, how to format a research paper in MLA style? There are four key components that a research paper in MLA format includes.

Margins

Except for the running head, page margins should be precisely 1 inch on both sides of the text as well as on top and bottom.

Text Formatting

When writing a research paper or another academic assignment, it is recommended to use Times New Roman typeface as it is easily readable. Set the standard size, which is usually 12 points.

Change the line spacing from single to double-spaced. That makes reading less crammed on the eye and allows the professor to make essential comments in a neat and organized manner. Also, make sure to indent the first line of a paragraph ½ inch from the left margin.

Title

Enter the required course information on the top-left corner of the front page. The MLA format research paper title page should look like this:

  • Full Name
  • Name of Teacher/Professor
  • Name of Course
  • Due Date for Assignment

Type your title below the date after double spacing and align it centered with no period in the end. You shouldn’t make your title bold, italicized or underlined. There is only one exception from the rule: use italics if the title of another source included in yours. Make sure you follow the rules for capitalization. Check if it’s correct in MLA Handbook (67–68).

The MLA title for an MLA format research paper looks like this:

Sarah E. Johnson
Professor Lumpur
Biology 201
2 Apr 2019

How Does Human Memory Work?

Page Numbers

Set the automatic page numbering in the top right-hand corner. That is done to keep track of the page order, and it also looks pleasant on the eye. Leave a margin of ½ inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

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The In-Text Citation

In-text citations are most times subordinate, which means that information is always added to the end of the sentence in parentheses. But if you include that necessary information in the language of the sentence itself, you should not include the parenthetical citation.

For example, if the author’s name is found within the in-text citation, then there is no need to add it at the end; insert the page number, and you are all done referencing.

Having two sources from the same author may confuse the reader. When they check the source, they will find two different articles. To avoid this confusion, you must include a short title of the research citation, so the readers know which of the citations to look for.

When a source has two or three authors, you should include all authors’ last names. Whereas, when you have four or more authors then you have to write them all out following the last name of the first Author.

When citing a research paper in MLA style, include references within two sections:

  • The quotes used within the essay
  • The Works Cited page at the end

Quotes

The citation information in the body of the paper itself is called the “in-text citation.” The most obvious time to use it in the text is when you use a quote from a source directly or refer to it by title or author.

Generally, you need to list the writer’s last name and page number enclosed within parentheses straight after the quote. If the author’s name is included as a feature of your sentence, then you only have to add the page number in the bracket.

The Works Cited page

  • References: When providing references in a research paper in MLA style, you must inform the readers about the sources you used to cite this information. The reference page is known as the “Works Cited.” This page is where the author gives credit to the source. Things that are placed within a citation include alphabetical order of authors last name, the title of article and date issued.
  • Follow this format exactly: Author(s)-> “Title of Article.” ->Title of Journal Volume.->Issue (Year): pages
  • Electronic Sources. For electronic sources utilize the inventor’s name and page number or area number for in-substance references. This is only if the information does not have page or section numbers by any methods. By then, you would include the author’s name in the section after you have referred to the recorded information.

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How to Cite a Poem MLA and APA Formatting Quotations

How to Cite a Poem MLA and APA Formatting Quotations

Writing, and all of its connected skills, are essential to succeed in studying — especially humanities. One such skill is the proper use of quotations. To make a quotation means to place the exact words of another author in your essay — these words could be lines from a poem as well.

When to Use Poem Quotes

When is it appropriate to cite a poem? Most often, quotes from poems are used by liberal art students, literature students, and language students. It is hard to imagine writing an essay about a poet without including some pieces of his works, or describing some poetry trend without providing examples. Also, you may find poem lines used in descriptive, reflective, argumentative, and compare and contrast essays.

Nevertheless, even if you are not a humanities student, you are not limited to use poem citations in your works if the meaning of the line(s) you have chosen is relevant. While there are no rules on where you may cite a poem, there are a lot on how you should do it in different formatting styles. Continue reading to find out more about how to cite a poem correctly or simply use professional help.

Citing Poem Quotes in MLA Style

The most popular formatting style is MLA (Modern Language Association). Despite it possibly being the easiest style to use, you will need some time to learn all of the rules, and time Citing a Short Quote

  • There is no need to start a short quote on a new line; you may write it just between the text.
  • Though, it is obligatory to put it in quotation marks.
  • If question or exclamation marks are part of the poem, put them inside the quotation marks.; leave them outside if they are a part of your text.
  • Use a slash to mark line breaks, or a double slash if there is a stanza break; put a space before and after the slash.
  • Start each line of the poem with a capital letter (at the beginning and after the slash marks).

to train to apply them.

Citing a Long Quote

  • If you choose a long quote, some rules are just the opposite of how you would properly write a small quote — and you should be really careful not to mix them up.
  • Start your quotation from a new line, with a half-inch indent from the left margin.
  • Put it in a block quote. Include line breaks in the quote as they are in the original.
  • Keep the original formatting and punctuation as part of the author’s style.
  • Use double-space spacing inside the quote.
  • There is no need for quotation marks or slashes, just skip them.

Citing the Title of the Poem

Regardless of the length of a quote, you should clearly indicate the poet’s last name. You should also include the title of the poem if you cite more than one poem by the same author in your work. You may do it in two ways: mention it before the quotation in the main text, or include it in a parenthetical citation at the end of the lines. If you mentioned the name and the title before the quote, but you’re not sure if it will be obvious for the reader, you may repeat it in a parenthetical citation — it won’t be considered as a mistake.

Besides the poet’s last name and the title of the poem, a parenthetical citation should include a line or page number. Here are some brief rules for parenthetical citations:

  • If a poem was published with line numbers in the margin, put the line number. Use the word “line”, or “lines”, in the first quotation of your work. Only use numbers in all of the following quotations from the same sources you’ve already quoted.

How to Cite a Poem in APA Style?

APA is the abbreviation for American Psychological Association, and is the second most popular formatting style — used mainly in social studies. Here are some APA rules for poem citations that you need to know from our dissertation writing service:

  • For poem quotes up to 40 words (short quotes), using quotation marks is obligatory.
  • You don’t have to start a short quote from a new line.
  • Line breaks in short quotes should be marked by a slash.
  • Block citations should be used for quotes longer than 40 words (long quotes).
  • You have to start a block citation from a new line.
  • Do not use quotation marks for block citations
  • Block quotations should be indented 1.3 cm from the left margin, and in double-space formatting.

Tips and Tricks on How to Cite a Poem

Here are a few recommendations on how to format poem quotations properly. They will be useful whether or not you are a beginner or advanced user of poem citations, regardless of what formatting style you are using.

  • Read the whole poem to be sure you understand the meaning of the citation and author’s message correctly. Then, decide which lines can be used as a quote for your work.
  • Write a few words about: why you chose the lines from your poem, their message, and what their connection is with your essay topic.
  • Do not overuse quotations in your work. You may also paraphrase, instead of quoting, in order to share other’s views. Moreover, it is your own work and you shouldn’t rely on others’ words the whole time.
  • There is no need to cite the entire poem if you need a few lines in the beginning and a few in the end. Omit middle lines that you don’t need (use ellipses to point out that you will skip words), or create two quotations that connect with your text between them.
  • Use embedded quotes. These are quotes that are implemented as a part of your sentence. You may put it at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of your sentence. The idea is to make it an organic part of your text. Example: As well as Robert Frost, at first “I hold with those who favor fire”.
  • When citing a specific source (periodicals or a website perhaps), check the specifics on how to cite it in MLA or another format — as there are some particularities we didn’t have time to cover.
  • Together with the final review of your essay, proofread your cited quotes for both: appropriate usage, and correct formatting.

 

 

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay

A character analysis essay is a challenging type of essay students usually write for literature or English courses. In this article, we will explain what a character analysis is and how to approach it. We will also touch on how to analyze a certain character and will guide you through writing a character analysis essay.

Typically, this kind of essay requires students to describe the character in the context of the story. This can be fulfilled by analyzing the relationship between the character in question and other characters. Although, sometimes it is also appropriate to give your personal opinion and analysis of a certain character. Let’s start our article with how to do a character analysis by getting straight to what a character analysis actually is, our term paper writing service will have you covered.

What Is a Character Analysis Essay?

A character analysis essay explains the in-depth traits and characteristics of a certain character. Mostly, the characters are from the literature, but sometimes other art forms, such as cinematography. In a character analysis essay, your main job is to tell the reader who the character really is and what role he/she plays in the story. Despite your personal opinion and preferences, it is really important to use your critical thinking skills and be objective towards the character you are analyzing. A character analysis essay usually involves the character’s relationship with others, his/her behavior, manner of speaking, the way he/she looks, and many other characteristics.

Although, it’s not a section about your job experience or education on resume, so sometimes it is appropriate to give your personal opinion and analysis .

What Is the Purpose

More than to fulfill a requirement, this type of essay mainly helps the reader understand the character and the world he or she lives in. One of the essential purposes of a character analysis essay is to look at the anatomy of a character in the story and dissect who he/she is. We must be able to study how the character was shaped and then learn from their life.

A good example of a character for a character analysis essay is Daisy Buchanan from “The Great Gatsby”. The essay starts off by explaining who Daisy is and how she relates to the main character, Jay Gatsby. Depending on your audience, you need to decide how much of the plot should be included. If the entire class is writing an essay on Daisy Buchanan, it is logical to assume that everyone has read the book. Although, if you know for certain that your audience has little to no knowledge of who she is, it is crucial to include as much background information as possible.

After that, you need to explain the character through certain situations involving her and the things she said or did. Make sure to explain to the reader why you included certain episodes and how they have showcased the character. Finally, sum everything up by clearly stating the character’s purpose and role in the story.

Different Types of Characters

There are several types of characters based on their behaviors, traits, and roles within a story. We have gathered some of them, along with vivid examples from famous literature and cinema pieces:

  • Major: These are main characters; they run the story. Regularly, there are only one or two major characters. Major characters are usually of two types: the protagonist – the good guy, and the antagonist: the bad guy or the villain.
  • Protagonist(s) (heroes): The main character around whom most of the plot revolvement.
  • Minor: These are the characters who help tell the major character’s tale by letting them interact and reveal their personalities, situations, and/or stories. They are commonly static (unchanging). In The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the minor characters would be the whole Fellowship of the ring. In their own way, each member of the Fellowship helps Frodo to get the ring to Mordor, and without them the protagonist would not be a protagonist and would not be able to succeed. In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, minor characters are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They consistently help Harry Potter on his quests against Voldemort and, the same as Frodo, he wouldn’t have succeeded without them.

On top of being categorized as a protagonist, antagonist, or minor character, a character can also be dynamic, static, or foil.

How to Analyze a Character 

While preparing to analyze your character, make sure to read the story carefully. You need to pay attention to the situations the character is involved in, his/her dialogues, and his/her role in the plot. Make sure you include information about what your character achieves on a big scale, and how he/she influences other characters. In spite of the categories provided above, try to think outside of the box and explore your character from all of their sides. Avoid general statements and being too basic. Focus on exploring the complexities and details of your character(s).

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

To gather a more profound sense of truly understanding these characters, one must completely immerse themselves in the story or literary piece. Take note of the setting, climax, and other important literary parts. You must be able to feel and see through the characters. Observe how the writer shaped these characters into life. Notice how little or how vast the identities of the characters were described. Look at the characters’ morals and behaviors and how they have affected situations and other characters throughout the story. Observe the characters whom you find interesting.

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How Do You Start a Character Analysis Essay

When writing a character analysis essay, first, you have to choose a character you’d like to write about. Sometimes a character will be readily assigned to you. It’s wise to consider characters who play a dynamic role in the story. This will captivate the reader as there will be a ton of information about these characters.

Read the Story

You might think that if you already have read the book, there is no need to do so again, however, now that you know the character you would like to focus on, reading it again will have plenty of benefits. It will give you an opportunity to be more precise while reading the scenes that relate directly to your character and are important for his/her analysis. While reading the book, pay attention to every tiny detail to make sure you grasp the whole array of your character’s traits.

Consider the following things:

  • What specific descriptions does the author provide for each character?

Choose a Dynamic Character

Choosing a dynamic character is a great idea. This does not necessarily have to be the protagonist, but a character that undergoes a lot of changes, has grown throughout the story, and is not boring and/or static. This gives you a perfect advantage to fully show the character and make your paper entertaining and engaging for the reader. If you choose a character that is not very dynamic, your essay might turn out seeming monotonous because your character will not end up doing much and will not be very involved in the story.

Take Notes

While you are reading, it is useful to take notes or highlight/underline any and all of the critical elements of the story. This will add depth to your character description(s). By providing vivid and specific examples, you connect your reader to the character, and the character comes alive in their eyes. When you’re finished reading with your character in mind, review your notes and formulate the main idea about your character.

Make an initial draft while taking note of the character analysis essay outline provided by your instructor. If you have not been provided with a sample, you may follow the recommended character analysis essay format.

Choose a Main Idea

While reading the story, make sure you keep track of your notes. It is a good idea to look at them, choose the ones that are the most representative of your character and find patterns. This will be your thesis. Then, you need to support this idea with examples and situations involving your character.

If your character were Jem Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the main idea would be how his personal character is shaped through racial conflicts, social inequalities and internal struggles between public opinion, his own views, and what is actually right. Essaypro offers you history essay help. Leave us a notice if you need to proofread, edit, or write your essay.

Character Analysis Questions

Now that you have jotted down some main concepts about your character, here is a list of questions that can help you fill in the blanks you might still have:

  • Where do the events involving your character take place?
  • What are the relationships of your character and other significant characters?
  • What is the primary change your character has gone through throughout the story?
  • What is your character’s background?
  • What is your character’s occupation?
  • What kind of emotions does your character go through?
  • What are your character’s values?
  • What is your character’s value?
  • Does your character have friends?
  • Is there a lesson your character has learned by the end of the story?
  • Does the character achieve the goals he/she has set for himself/herself?

Make an Outline

Writing a literary analysis outline can be considered one of the most critical steps in writing. A well-constructed character analysis outline will keep your thoughts and ideas organized.

 

How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay

How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay

The only thing you need to remember is that the conclusion of an essay is not just the last paragraph of an academic paper where you restate your thesis and key arguments. By the time you get to the final paragraph of your paper, you have already done so much work on your essay, so all you want to do is to wrap it up as quickly as possible. You’ve already made a stunning introduction, proven your argument, and structured the whole piece as supposed – who cares about making a good conclusion paragraph?

The only thing you need to remember is that the conclusion of an essay is not just the last paragraph of an academic paper where you restate your thesis and key arguments. A concluding paragraph is also your opportunity to have a final impact on your audience.

Instead of Intro: What Is a Conclusion?

Before we can move on, let’s take a moment here to define the conclusion itself. According to the standard conclusion definition, it is pretty much the last part of something, its result, or end. However, this term is rather broad and superficial.

When it comes to writing academic papers, a concluding statement refers to an opinion, judgment, suggestion, or position arrived at by logical reasoning (through the arguments provided in the body of the text). Therefore, if you are wondering “what is a good closing sentence like?” – keep on reading.

 

What Does a Good Conclusion Mean?

Writing a good conclusion for a paper isn’t easy. However, we are going to walk you through this process step by step. Although there are generally no strict rules on how to formulate one, there are some basic principles that everyone should keep in mind. In this section, we will share some core ideas for writing a good conclusion, and, later in the article, we will also provide you with more practical advice and examples.

Here are the core goals a good conclusion should complete:

  • “Wrap up” the entire paper;
  • Demonstrate to readers that the author accomplished what he/she set out to do;
  • Show how you the author has proved their thesis statement;
  • Give a sense of completeness and closure on the topic;
  • Leave something extra for your reader to think about;
  • Leave a powerful final impact on a reader.

Another key thing to remember is that you should not introduce any new ideas or arguments to your paper’s conclusion. It should only sum up what you have already written, revisit your thesis statement, and end with a powerful final impression.

When considering how to write a conclusion that works, here are the key points to keep in mind:

  • A concluding sentence should only revisit the thesis statement, not restate it;
  • It should summarize the main ideas from the body of the paper;
  • It should demonstrate the significance and relevance of your work;
  • An essay’s conclusion should include a call for action and leave space for further study or development of the topic (if necessary).

How Long Should a Conclusion Be? 

  • Although there are no strict universal rules regarding the length of an essay’s final clause, both teachers and experienced writers recommend keeping it clear, concise, and straight to the point. There is an unspoken rule that the introduction and conclusion of an academic paper should both be about 10% of the overall paper’s volume. For example, if you were assigned a 1500 word essay, both the introductory and final clauses should be approximately 150 words long (300 together).

Why You Need to Know How to End an Essay:

  • A conclusion is what drives a paper to its logical end. It also drives the main points of your piece one last time. It is your last opportunity to impact and impress your audience. And, most importantly, it is your chance to demonstrate to readers why your work matters. Simply put, the final paragraph of your essay should answer the last important question a reader will have – “So what?”
  • If you do a concluding paragraph right, it can give your readers a sense of logical completeness. On the other hand, if you do not make it powerful enough, it can leave them hanging, and diminish the effect of the entire piece.

Strategies to Crafting a Proper Conclusion

  • Although there are no strict rules for what style to use to write your conclusion, there are several strategies that have been proven to be effective. In the list below, you can find some of the most effective strategies with some good conclusion paragraph examples to help you grasp the idea.
  • Prediction

One effective way to emphasize the significance of your essay and give the audience some thought to ponder about is by taking a look into the future. The “When and If” technique is quite powerful when it comes to supporting your Conclusion Paragraph Outline

The total number of sentences in your final paragraph may vary depending on the number of points you discussed in your essay, as well as on the overall word count of your paper. However, the overall conclusion paragraph outline will remain the same and consists of the following elements:

  1. A conclusion starter:

The first part of your paragraph should drive readers back to your thesis statement. Thus, if you were wondering how to start a conclusion, the best way to do it is by rephrasing your thesis statement.

Summary of the body paragraphs:

Right after revisiting your thesis, you should include several sentences that wrap up the key highlights and points from your body paragraphs. This part of your conclusion can consist of 2-3 sentences—depending on the number of arguments you’ve made. If necessary, you can also explain to the readers how your main points fit together.

A concluding sentence:

Finally, you should end your paragraph with a last, powerful sentence that leaves a lasting impression, gives a sense of logical completeness, and connects readers back to the introduction of the paper.

These three key elements make up a perfect essay conclusion. Now, to give you an even better idea of how to create a perfect conclusion, let us give you a sample conclusion paragraph outline with examples from an argumentative essay on the topic of “Every Child Should Own a Pet:

  • Sentence 1: Starter
  • Thesis: “Though taking care of a pet may be a bit challenging for small children. Parents should not restrict their kids from having a pet as it helps them grow into more responsible and compassionate people.”
  • Restated thesis for a conclusion: “I can say that taking care of a pet is good for every child.”
  • Sentences 2-4: Summary
  • “Studies have shown that pet owners generally have fewer health problems.”
  • “Owning a pet teaches a child to be more responsible.”
  • “Spending time with a pet reduces stress, feelings of loneliness, and anxiety.”
  • Sentence 5: A concluding sentence
  • “Pets can really change a child life for the better, so don’t hesitate to endorse your kid’s desire to own a pet.”

This is a clear example of how you can shape your conclusion paragraph.

How to Conclude Various Types of Essays

Depending on the type of academic essay you are working on, your concluding paragraph’s style, tone, and length may vary. In this part of our guide, we will tell you how to end different types of essays and other works.

How to End an Argumentative Essay

Persuasive or argumentative essays always have the single goal of convincing readers of something (an idea, stance, or viewpoint) by appealing to arguments, facts, logic, and even emotions. The conclusion for such an essay has to be persuasive as well. A good trick you can use is to illustrate a real-life scenario that proves your stance or encourages readers to take action.

Here are a few more tips for making a perfect conclusion for an argumentative essay:

  • Carefully read the whole essay before you begin;
  • Re-emphasize your ideas;
  • Discuss possible implications;
  • Don’t be afraid to appeal to the reader’s emotions.

How to End a Compare and Contrast Essay

The purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to emphasize the differences or similarities between two or more objects, people, phenomena, etc. Therefore, a logical conclusion should highlight how the reviewed objects are different or similar. Basically, in such a paper, your conclusion should recall all of the key common and distinctive features discussed in the body of your essay and also give readers some food for thought after they finish reading it.

How to Conclude a Descriptive Essay

The key idea of a descriptive essay is to showcase your creativity and writing skills by painting a vivid picture with the help of words. This is one of the most creative types of essays as it requires you to show a story, not tell it. This kind of essay implies using a lot of vivid details. Respectively, the conclusion of such a paper should also use descriptive imagery and, at the same time, sum up the main ideas. A good strategy for ending a descriptive essay would be to begin with a short explanation of why you wrote the essay. Then, you should reflect on how your topic affects you. In the middle of the conclusion, you should cover the most critical moments of the story to smoothly lead the reader into a logical closing statement. The “clincher”, in this case, should be a thought-provoking final sentence that leaves a good and lasting impression on the audience. Do not lead the reader into the essay and then leave them with dwindling memories of it.

How to Conclude an Essay About Yourself

If you find yourself writing an essay about yourself, you need to tell a personal story. As a rule, such essays talk about the author’s experiences, which is why a conclusion should create a feeling of narrative closure. A good strategy is to end your story with a logical finale and the lessons you have learned, while, at the same time, linking it to the introductory paragraph and recalling key moments from the story.

How to End an Informative Essay

Unlike other types of papers, informative or expository essays load readers with a lot of information and facts. In this case, “Synthesize, don’t summarize” is the best technique you can use to end your paper. Simply put, instead of recalling all of the major facts, you should approach your conclusion from the “So what?” position by highlighting the significance of the information provided.

How to Conclude a Narrative Essay

In a nutshell, a narrative essay is based on simple storytelling. The purpose of this paper is to share a particular story in detail. Therefore, the conclusion for such a paper should wrap up the story and avoid finishing on an abrupt cliffhanger. It is vital to include the key takeaways and the lessons learned from the story.

How to Write a Conclusion for a Lab Report

Unlike an essay, a lab report is based on an experiment. This type of paper describes the flow of a particular experiment conducted by a student and its conclusion should reflect on the outcomes of this experiment.

In thinking of how to write a conclusion for a lab, here are the key things you should do to get it right:

  • Restate the goals of your experiment
  • Describe the methods you used
  • Include the results of the experiment and analyze the final data
  • End your conclusion with a clear statement on whether or not the experiment was successful (Did you reach the expected results?)

How to Title an Essay Complete Guide

How to Title an Essay Complete Guide

A title can make or break an essay. So, what are the most eye-catching ideas to make a target audience want to start reading your paper? The goal of this article is to explain how to title an essay, research paper, article, and even a book.

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How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay and Why Is It Important?

A boring headline does not catch anyone’s attention. Your headline should engage your teacher or reader and incentivize them to read the rest of the paper. Without reading the entire work, a teacher will not grade it objectively. Having a catchy attention grabber is crucial when you do the custom writing of an essay, as it is one of the first things that readers notice.

Naming an essay is different from titling a research paper. An essay focuses more on attracting attention and impressing its readers. A research paper is about supporting a particular claim or finding solutions to an existing problem.

Every student should know how to choose a good title for an essay. Brainstorming is what comes first. When brainstorming, keep in mind that your goal is to get the “Oh my god, I want to read the entire story” reaction. After reading the title, a reader should understand what the paper is about. The title is a concise summary of the main topic. How long should a title be for an essay? Well, less is always better, but the title should indeed express the main point of your work.

Before starting to sort ideas out in your head, let’s learn more about the features every title should have. A good headline must be:

  • Attractive – this goes without saying. We all prefer reading something that is not boring.
  • Believable – most students try to make their titles catchy in such a way that they stray away from the truth, therefore making the headline inaccurate. Nothing will anger your professor more than a title that doesn’t deliver.
  • Easy to read – nobody likes complicated and difficult-to-understand titles, not even your professor. Stay away from strange phrases, jargon, and complicated structures.
  • Active voice – if your title contains verbs, always make sure they’re in the active voice, rather than passive.
  • Short – make your essay title brief because long headlines can be confusing.
  • Accurate – regardless of the topic or niche, under no circumstances should you ever write an inaccurate essay title.

Here are other rules for how to create a good title:

  • Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear.
  • The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay.
  • Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
  • Avoid underlining the title: Since topics come in boldface, underlining it will amount to overemphasis. Some authorities say that if you must underline it, do not bolden it.
  • Review the final version of the title: Do not forget to do a quick review of the final version of the title—check for grammar, structure, spelling and so on. Re-read it to determine if the title has given justice to the essay. Confirm if the topic is catchy enough to attract your reader’s attention.
  • When using a colon in your title, follow the rules: Since we are dealing with punctuation rules here, let us talk about the colon – when you have two eye-catching topics, separate them with a colon.

How to Come up with a Title for an Essay: Student’s Guide

Titling an essay can be easy, but there are a few core principles to be taken into account. The following tips will help you stay on track and avoid any common pitfalls.

Essay Goes First

Never start with a title! If you write it before the rest of the text, it will be based on it, and it should be vice versa. Writing an essay before choosing a heading will give you a clear understanding of what should make sense to the reader. Re-read the finished paper several times to decide on the title.
The last thing to create is a title – such strategy will give more time to spend on crafting an essay outline, conducting research, or writing the paper itself.

Take the Style of Your Paper Into Account

What are you writing about? What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?” your title should not be humorous; it should be strict and to the point.

If your topic is “Why do people like watching funny cat videos?”, feel free to craft a funny title. Determine the tone of your essay and base your title on it—in consideration with the essay’s topic.

The tone can be:

  • Serious – “The implications of global warming”
  • Funny – “How cats and dogs love their masters”
  • Amiable – “Ways to fight depression”
  • Persuasive – “Why positive thinking is a must have skill for every person”
  • Informative – “Ten rules for creating a chemical at home”

Keep It Short and Simple

The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words. Imagine that you are creating a title for your favourite newspaper or a slogan for Coca-Cola.

Use Relevant Words

Don’t use fancy words! Take 2-3 main words (keywords), put them together, and stop wasting your time. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.

Involve a Little Bit of SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is something that can help any student and young writer reap benefits. While working on a title, detect the words related to the central idea of the paper. Type the words into the search field of Google and add the word “quote.” A search engine will show numerous web pages with in-text quotations that could be useful. Select the fragment you like. It is possible to learn how to make a creative title for an essay in this way.

Final Tips

Discover several more tips from experts:

  • Never forget the “What,” “Who,” “When,” “How,” “Why,” and “Where” questions (if you start with one of these questions, your title has a chance of getting noticed);
  • Come up with an unexpected image not related to the selected topic;
  • Sometimes, starting with a lie increases the chances of a title being able to catch an eye;
  • Review our catchy essay title examples.

Bad vs. Good Essay Titles

The best essay titles take papers and sum them up in a few words. To create a good one, a writer must consider their stylistic decisions and essay structure. Here are some examples from a veteran essay writer to show you what differentiates good and bad essay titles.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid negative themes, sensitive issues, and unethical or immoral subjects.
  • Avoid making your negative past public: Your negative past belongs to you as a student, they do not belong in your writings.
  • Do not ask the wrong questions: If you fail to ask the right questions that are relevant to your field of study, you risk choosing the wrong topic.
  • Avoid being too personal: As revealed earlier, your bad past belongs to you – avoid exposing it in your essay. Keep your essay professional by not including your own life in it.
  • Do not neglect your teacher’s requirement: Ensure you understand your professor’s requirement; if you don’t, you might end up choosing the wrong topic. It might warrant you a bad grade and result in your frustration and a waste of your time.

 

How to Write a Coursework

What is Coursework and Why Does It Matter?

 Coursework definition: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) coursework is a typical academic assignment, given in the course of study to evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, and identify the final grade. Many students face this type of writing in the US colleges. One of the examples is a coursework UTD (The University of Texas at Dallas) – the requirements of this institution are strict, and many students fail to submit their papers and pass the corresponding courses.

Such type of assignment helps to have the ‘detective’ hat on: a student observes, examines, and evaluates the chosen topic using credible, up-to-date, and relevant sources. Working under controlled conditions is important. Participating in every school class will help to prepare good coursework by the end of the term. Take a look at the examples of what students of various profiles may face:

  • English Composition – English coursework is an extended essay in most cases. A student has a right to pick the topic. The tutors provide their students with the list of recommended titles to choose from, sources to observe & analyze, and a format (e.g., a comparison between different relevant articles)
  • Sciences – coursework for science is a complicated assignment. Such type of work appears in the form of a scientific paper to test what a writer investigates and reports independently.
  • Geography – geography coursework is about collecting, reporting, and explaining information to reply to a certain geographical question or offer solutions to the problem. One idea is to explore the usage of a shopping mall or analyze the recent tornado.
    No matter whether you have to prepare a coursework Columbia or such paper for other educational institutions, keep in mind these differences!

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Types of Coursework Explained

English Language coursework is the most common type of this assignment. At advanced GCE level, the student will be expected to write a couple of essays, totaling 3,000 words. Every assignment is 20 marks maximum.

An analytical essay: Evaluate, compare, & contrast 3 different sources of data interconnected by a common theme; written /spoken / multimedia content. Discuss different uses for targeting various audiences. Learn more on our blog.

Original essay with a supportive commentary: A student will have to come up with a single piece of media writing in the observed modes (written, spoken, or multimodal). Add a supporting piece with details about the aspects of English language.
English Language & Literature coursework is a bit different. The basic requirements are the same, and the parts are:

An analytical study: Sharing an analysis of the chosen piece and its relation to the related content. It will show how well the writer understands the original piece. Tutors grade such works based on the:

  • Use of the proper terminology and the coherence of the written words;
  • Understanding & evaluation of the way a structure, form, and language create the written & spoken word;
  • Opportunity to observe relationships between various pieces of writing.

Creative writing & commentary: Produce a creative piece that imitates the style of the assessed text. Share comments to backup your understanding. The goal is to show the knowledge, prove the competence, and use appropriate language skills in communicating with the target audience.
You will also need a relevant coursework resume (review) in both cases. Keep on reading to learn how to write coursework of A level.

How to Write a Coursework: Guide for Students

Several factors may lead to the coursework being disqualified. It is a serious matter! The risk factors include:

  • Plagiarism – it is the worst thing that could happen to any type of academic assignment. Lots of relevant information is available on the world wide web today, and the tutors are strict about the issue of plagiarism. Write everything in your own words! If you decide to insert the quotes from the sources, apply the suggested citation format and develop a list of references. Sign the declaration claiming it is your original project.
  • Word count – do not ignore the specific requirements concerning the length of the coursework. Specify if the footnotes, appendices, & references are included in the word count.
  • Topics – go through the list of available themes. If there is an examination planned on the specific topic, try to pick another idea for the coursework.
  • Tutor’s assistance – do not ignore the help of your instructor, ask them to provide guidance on what to write. Ask the questions to learn more details, but keep in mind they can go through the 1st draft once and just offer some general recommendations.

Choosing a Topic for Your Project

Dedicate enough time to this extra important question. Select the field of your interest if it is possible to relate it to the course. That is the golden rule of choosing a coursework topic – keep in mind the rest of the hints:

  1. Analyze the offered list of topics or develop yours
  2. Pick a topic from the area of your expertise related to the studied subject
  3. Select the topic you are interested in
  4. Choose the topic you’ve started to observe in the past
  5. Check how much relevant, up-to-date information is available on the Internet about each of the topics
  6. Pick what you can measure, change, & control (they call it a ‘fair test’)
  7. Use the ideas of previous researchers and students
  8. Do not choose a topic with a vast scope – you risk struggling to research it correctly

10 Good Coursework Topics

  • Non-traditional Forms of Poetry with TC Tolbert
  • Documentary Foundations: Usage of Oral Histories with Beth Alvarado
  • Traditional Forms of Poetry
  • Hermit Crabs: Type of Fiction
  • Writing the Autobiographical Poem
  • Creative Non-Fiction on the Examples of New Journalists
  • Authors without Borders
  • Writing the Sticky Stuff
  • Socially Engaged Literary Arts
  • Common Vocabulary

Research & Data Collection

Research is an integral part of coursework. Have you written research papers before? If yes, you will find it easier to select proper primary & secondary sources and gather the necessary information (evidence to support the main point – thesis). Depending on the required paper format, cite & reference the following sources:

  • Books & e-Books
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Internet

Base the project on a specific hypothesis. The research must start with minimum one hypothesis. The research stage for some topics may consist of visiting websites to collect information. Leave another time for collecting the data as it is the heart of the research.
Three methods of data collection are known:

  1. Direct personal investigation: The one an author does individually (using literature and findings from previous studies);
  2. Interview/Questionnaire: The researcher should gather the data from the respondents asking questions regarding required data;
  3. Discussion with community leaders: Community leaders are approached to fetch information for the necessary data.

In case a student works on a scientific experiment, they should pay attention to planning the analysis with the help of rigorous scientific methods (keeping in mind the Health & Safety precautions you take). Review background information and theories. Take notes to express what you expect to occur to compare & contrast it to what happened in real life. In the write-up stage, one has to evaluate and present the findings.

Writing a Coursework Outline

The writing process follows the research. Do not start it without preparing an action plan and scheduling the work – a paper pin for English coursework is based on an extended essay. An outline will look different for the science coursework projects. The goal of creating a plan is to prevent a writer from being disorganized and waffling.

Let us explain coursework outline on the specific example – a project on the global pursuit of lower costs and the role of human rights.

Start with the brief introduction explaining why it might be a topic of interest for many people. Mention those vast corporations like Wal-Mart abuse human rights by choosing and using child labor in the factories.

Provide an overview of the problem. Define human rights and costs. Pick the definitions from the official dictionaries and cite them properly when inserting in the text. Try to explain the terms in your own words.

Develop a body of the coursework, start with the case for & against ethical business practices. Using evidence and examples, list the arguments supporting ethical business practices and another side of the coin. Include a business case for ethical practices after the opening body paragraph.

Move to discussing ethical responsibilities; explain why business organizations should care about the ethical aspects of their activities.
After three sections of the body, one can conclude the paper. It can be a good idea to share a fact or statistics stressing the importance of research problem in the essay’s conclusion.
End up with the reference list that may look this way:

Additional Elements

Supporting materials and pictures are a must! The sciences & geography projects require tables, charts, graphs, and other types of images to illustrate the complicated topic. Not only should you add the pictures – it is essential to interpret and reference each of them.
A separate part of the coursework where the student list and explains every visual element is Appendix, and it is an optional part. The presence of appendix increases the chances to earn an A+.

How to Write an Introduction for Coursework?

Most of the students underestimate the role of introduction & conclusion when it comes to writing an essay. An eye-catchy introduction is a key to success. The primary purposes of a coursework introduction are:

  • To grab the reader’s attention
  • To introduce the topic
  • To explain the research importance
  • To come up with a compelling thesis statement

The opening paragraph shows the depth of the writer’s acquaintance with the topic. Look at the expert tips below. They will help to learn how to write a coursework introduction to make the tutor want to read your entire paper.

What Is an Introduction?

The introduction of GCSE coursework is the opening paragraph that aims to interpret the central questions and purposes of the entire paper. It should have several elements to be effective. Those are:

  1. A hook sentence
  2. Background information
  3. Problem significance
  4. Solid thesis statement

Advice from our Experienced Writer

How to write an introduction to coursework? The quality of this part predetermines paper’s success. Look at some common mistakes writers do while working on the coursework introduction – try to prevent them!

Ignoring the prompt. Many students tend to neglect the tutor’s instructions. It is critical to read the prompt several times, highlight the main points, research question, rules, and grading rubric details.

Missing a plan. The prompt does not always say to develop a coursework outline. Without a plan for every separate section, it is impossible to write a flawless piece step-by-step. No matter whether you have to write a term paperresearch paperdissertation, or C3 coursework, get ready with the detailed plan. Once you understand how to write an introduction, it will be easier to develop the rest of the paper.