issues+in+research+papers

-Only use a quote in a history paper if you read it and you think "Wow, how perfect! ZOMG! this is amazing! and you want to call someone to tell them how awesome it is that a historian or historical figure said this awesomely perfect thing for your paper, but really no one but you, me, and other sleeping history teachers care so please, don't call. But use quotations, a maximum of one per paragraph! -Do not just stick in a quote at the end of a paragraph or leave a quote unanalyzed. Quotes are awesome, but only use them if you totally are unable to restate it or it is like a pearl of wisdom that adds tremendously to your paper (with your analysis of course) and cite your source either way obviously.  -The proper way to cite in-text: “Your quote is in quotes.” And Turabian we will be going over in class.  -More than eight quotes in a ten page paper is really pushing it. Every single quote must be analyzed and if you don't know how to do a quote longer than three lines, look it up in the back of your English book. -Don't ever, wouldn't even consider, shouldn't accidentally allow even one li'l contraction. -The words I, my, you, your, we, and us will not appear in your paper unless in a quote from a person who was there in the era you are writing about. You are making an argument, but not saying I or you. You can and will do this. -Read every sentence out loud and make sure that your writing sounds like an actual human would say it out loud to another human. Avoid "research paper-ese" it is a strange and awkward sounding disease, very contagious, I think it comes from touching a thesaurus. -Do not use the thesaurus. It does not make you sound smarter to just use a bigger word, it makes you sound confused. You are not confused, you are an expert in your topic; let your readers know this with a clear written voice. - You are making an argument in this paper, prove it with facts. Vague ramblings earn no points in life or on this paper.
 * Quotes: **
 * Your voice (or how to sound sma'ht while winning your argument) **

-You should be transitioning between paragraphs so make sure that there is a bridge between topics and that you aren't just jumping around randomly. I suggest chronological order or thematic order. Ask yourself what makes the most sense. -Make sure that all of your topic sentences back up your thesis, and that they connect to one another.

-Passive voice- just avoid it. Passive voice is when the writer is feeling vague or bored and can't be bothered to write about the topic so writes around it link It is a very common high school writer problem. Don't be that guy.


 * Tense: **

-History is always written in the past tense – do not use the present when speaking about events that have already taken place. Past tense verbs generally end in "ed."