The latter is a mark of an educated person (Hacker 51). A research paper requires extra time and energy, so plan accordingly. The process begins with your selection of a topic suitable for your purpose or course. The topic should lead you to new ideas which will enable you to formulate theories or find answers to questions. Your instructor will guide you in the topic selection and the style of documentation appropriate for a given discipline, subject or field of study. There are three basic documentation styles: the oldest, footnote or endnote; the parenthetical citation; and the scientific numbering system. Each requires a list of sources at the end of the researched work. This Guide concentrates on the parenthetical citation as the most modern and commonly used on the undergraduate level. Except where the Guide is showing specific examples, it will use Modern Language Association (MLA) style for in-text citation. In writing your research paper, you will draw heavily on what you learned about writing essays. The paper will have to have a defined audience, clear purpose, and developed, well-supported thesis. As with other essays, you will write your first draft, which you will most likely revise more than once. Then you will proofread, edit, and prepare a final copy. The research paper probably will be longer than your other essays. It will have to be sufficiently and correctly documented, showing the reader the sources of support used in it....
