Research Suggestions:

Writing a term paper can be a frustrating experience for many students. There is research to be done, information to be compiled and analyzed, and finally the task of writing a clear and concise paper. Here are some helpful guidelines that will assist you in doing research.

1. Choose your topic with care. Make sure that you pick a subject that interests you. Check with your instructor to avoid a topic that cannot be adequately handled within the limits of the assignment.

2. Do background and survey reading on your topic in a reference source. An article in an encyclopedia or other reference book source will help you define and narrow your topic. Make a list of any definitions or terms that can aid you in your search for relevant material. Articles & Databases http://www.santarosa.edu/ftdb

3. Find the appropriate subject headings for your topic. These can be located in the Library Catalog by selecting a subject search. Type in the main words of your search and see what subject headings come up. These same headings can be used when you want to find magazine articles. If you are not having luck finding subject headings ask a librarian to help you.

4. Use your list of subject headings to locate magazine articles in the electronic periodical databases in the library. Articles & Databases:http://www.santarosa.edu/library/ftdb/

5. Consult resources on the World Wide Web. Start with the library's Internet Reference Collection page. http://santarosa.edu/library/Refs/ This page has a list of subject links especially selected for college research needs. It also links to a list of useful search engines.

These suggestions will assist you in doing your research, but there are still the difficult tasks of writing the paper, using footnotes properly, and compiling a bibliography.

This subject heading will include listings for a number of books on the topic of term paper writing style and format. It is always useful to look under more than one heading in order to examine all the books on a given subject.

An example of the type of materials you can expect to find under REPORT WRITING is:
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations
LB/2369/.T8/1996

These works, and the others listed in the Library Catalog, will help to resolve any questions you may have regarding the proper style and format of your term paper.

Another aspect of term paper writing that can be troublesome is the proper use of language. Questions regarding proper sentence structure, the use of punctuation, and general writing style can be resolved by consulting the right book. Once again, you need to identify the proper subject headings to locate the books you need. A list of useful subject headings would include the following:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE -- COMPOSITION & EXERCISES

ENGLISH LANGUAGE -- RHETORIC

ENGLISH LANGUAGE -- STYLE

The books found under these headings will help you with components of clear writing.