PREVIOUS   CONTENTS  NEXT

 

Page 135
Chapter 18
How Do I Present My Research Paper?
The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr.
MUHAMMAD
If you've gotten this far, you're in the home stretch! Just a few more matters to attend to and you'll be ready to hand in your research paper. Now it's time to consider the material that comes before the body of your paper (the frontmatter) and the material that comes after (the endmatter). It's also time to learn how to present your paper, including typing and binding.
Frontmatter
Depending on the subject of your research paper and the course requirements, you may need to include specific materials before the body of your paper, such as:
• Title page
• Table of contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Abstract

 

Page 136
Always check with whoever requested the paper (instructor, supervisor, etc.) to see if you are required to include frontmatter and, if so, which elements. Requirements vary, even from assignment to assignment.
Title Page
Most high school and college research papers require a title page. Your title page should contain:
• The title.
• Your name.
• The name of the course.
• Your instructor's name.
• The date.
Here's how to arrange the information:
• Title. Center the title one-third down the page. Repeat the title on the first page, centered on the first line. Doublespace between the title and the first line of the text.
• Your name. Place your name half-way down the page, prefaced by the word "by."
• Course name, instructor's name, date. These go directly under your name. Double space between lines.
If a title page is not required, your first page functions as a title page.
Table of Contents
The table of contents lists the main divisions of your paper. If you include a table of contents, label each section of the paper to match the headings on your table of contents. The table of contents appears directly after the title page. Type it last so that you can enter the page numbers.
Foreword and Preface
Including a foreword or preface in a high school or college research paper is unusual. In business or other environ-

 

Page 137
ments, a short foreword or preface might be appropriate. In most cases:
• The foreword is written by an expert in the field and serves as an endorsement of the contents.
• The preface, written by the author of the paper, explains how the paper came to be written and gives thanks to people who helped with research and other related matters.
Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of the paper's contents. Objective in tone, abstracts are often included in technical or scholarly papers. An abstract usually runs 100 to 125 words. It is presented on a separate page in one to two paragraphs. Do not indent the first line. The title is provided to make it easier for you to understand the topic.
Example of Abstract
How the Division within the Liberal Community was Reflected in the Nation, 1930–1950
Granville Hicks charged in the New Mosses in 1937 that the Nation had abandoned its long-held position as unofficial organ of the Liberal Left when it deliberately selected anti-Stalinist reviewers for books dealing with Soviet Russia.The Nation called the charges unjustified. Fourteen years later, Hicks once again attacked the Nation, this time charging that the editorial section gave the Russians the benefit of every doubt.
Hicks was correct in his charges and in this see-saw of beliefs and allegiances lies the main story of our time.The initial pull of Communism, drawing away, and resulting breakup of the Left determined the literary course of American radicalism.
Endmatter
Visuals
Visuals include graphs, charts, maps, graphs, figures, and photographs. You can draw them by hand or prepare them on a computer. Place each graphic at the appropriate place in the text or group them at the end.

 

Page 138
Warning!
Visuals that you did not create yourself must be credited the same way you would credit any outside source.
Glossary
A glossary lists and defines technical terms or presents additional information on the subject.
Example:
If you are writing a research paper on Shakespeare, you might include a brief glossary of Shakespearean English, a glossary of films that tie in with the topic, or a glossary of notable Shakespearean actors or performances.
Presentation Format
Research papers follow a standard presentation format. They are never submitted in handwritten form. In an academic environment, if you cannot keyboard your paper, speak to your instructor well in advance of the paper's due date.
Follow these format guidelines:
1. Paper stock. Use white paper, standard 8 1/2×11-inch size. If you use continuous-form paper, be sure to remove the perforated edges, separate the pages, and place them in the correct order.
2. Fonts. Use standard 10- or 12-point fonts in Times Roman, Courier, or Helvetica. Avoid fancy, elaborate fonts, since they are difficult to read.
3. Formatting. Avoid stylistic elements that might distract readers, such as excessive highlighting, boldfacing, or boxes.
4. Spacing. Double space the text. Leave a 1 1/2-inch margin on the left side and 1 inch on the other sides.
5. Justification. Do not justify (right-align) your paper. The right margins should be ragged. Your word processor automatically justifies your left margin.
6. Pagination. Number each page and write your name in the upper right-hand corner. Do not place a number on

 

Page 139
the title page, but count it in the final number of pages you submit. Most computer software programs can create an automatic page header. This inserts your name and the page number automatically on each page.
7. Indenting. Indent five spaces at the beginning of each paragraph.
8. Punctuation and word breaks. Never begin a line with a comma, colon, semicolon, dash, or any type of end punctuation. Break words at syllables; do not divide words of five letters or fewer.
9. Order of pages. Arrange your pages in this order:
Title page (if required)
Outline (if required)
The body of the paper
Any relevant backmatter
Works Cited
10. Binding. Check with your instructor or supervisor for specific guidelines.
Examples:
In a folder
Stapled
Paperclipped
Additional Guidelines
Every scholarly field has a preferred style of presentation. Here are some of the standard style manuals for different fields.
• Biology. Council of Biology Editors. Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 6th edition. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
• Chemistry. American Chemical Society. The SCS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors. Washington, DC: ACS, 1985.

 

Page 140
• English and the humanities: Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 4th edition. New York: Modern Language Association, 1995.
• Engineering: Michaelson, Herbert B. How to Write and Publish Engineering Papers and Reports, 3rd edition. Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx, 1990.
• Geology: United States Geological Survey. Suggestions to Authors of the Reports of the United States Geological Survey, 7th edition. Washington, DC: GPO, 1991.
• Law. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. Comp. Editors of Columbia Law Review et al. 15th edition. Cambridge: Harvard Law Review, 1991.
• Linguistics. Linguistic Society of America. LSA Bulletin, December issue, annually.
• Mathematics. American Mathematical Society. A Manual for Authors of Mathematical Papers, 8th rev. edition. Providence: AMS, 1990.
• Medicine. Iverson, Cheryl, et al. American Medical Association Manual of Style. 8th edition. Baltimore: Williams, 1989.
• Music. Holoman, D. Kern, ed. Writing about Music: A Style Sheet from the Editors of 19th-Century Music. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988.
• Physics. American Institute of Physics. AIP Style Manual, 4th edition. New York: AIP, 1990.
• Psychology. American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 4th edition. Washington: APA, 1994.
Presentation does matter! That's why you'll next learn about revising, editing, and proofreading your research paper.

PREVIOUS   CONTENTS  NEXT