Step 3: Writing your Research Paper
In the previous two steps, you performed searches, first to
identify industry trends, and then for information about an issue in one of
those trends that you consider to be important to your industry. Now you should
be ready to draft your paper. This would be a good time to review organization
in writing and paragraphs. You might also review the Effective Writing Center’s
Online Guide to Writing, a valuable reference to
students who seek to improve their writing.
Review your task. You are to provide a research paper that
provides a summary of the three top trends in your industry (with associated
NAICS codes). Supply sufficient background for your reader that the trend is
clear and supported by resources you have found. Review resources in References
and Citations to ensure that you are using “in text” citations to give credit
for the ideas of other authors and to build your credibility as a researcher,
neither ignoring sources nor quoting excessively.
You will develop a paper that accomplishes two objectives:
- It
will identify the three top trends in your industry and your rationale,
based on the resources you have found, for your choices; - It
will discuss the issue within one of the trends that you deem important,
based on the current state of the industry, and will be supported by your
analysis of facts and a well-reasoned conclusion of what it means to the
industry.
Start with an outline and flesh out the main themes with
supporting statements. This will become your roadmap to an organized paper.
Draft, sleep on it, and edit. Repeat.
Your paper will be 5-7 pages, not including your cover page and
References page(s), double-spaced and set up in APA standards. It does not
require an abstract.
Your citations, both “in text” and in References will be in
accordance with theAPA Style Manual Sixth Edition .
Your headings will follow this general pattern:
I.
Introduction
II.
Findings
A.
Top Trends of the _____ Industry
B.
An Important Emerging Issue in a trend and what it means in
context to the industry
III.
Conclusions
IV.
References
MILESTONE: Many students are asked to
re-submit their papers based on incomplete or inaccurate citation formats. This
milestone will get you off to a good start with APA citations.By the end of Week 2, please submit a draft of your
References page. Please use the APA style guide or References and Citations to
draft your complete citations. This is an opportunity for you to get feedback
before your project is graded. When you submit your draft References page for
review, your faculty member will provide feedback on your citation format so
that you can correct for your project submission at the end of Week 3.
