The General Guide to Writing a Research Paper
A Statement of Purpose
Two of the
most important skills learned at
Towson
High School
are the
skills of completing research efficiently and writing an effective research
paper. Research plays an important role
in our lives as consumers, citizens, students, and individuals with unique
interests. Writing a research paper is
essential for all students not only in high school, but also in most formal
educational settings beyond high school.
Here at
Towson
, we are committed
to teaching our students the essentials of research, keeping in mind that
technology is constantly changing and affecting the processes we employ. We believe that efficient, focused research
is a very powerful tool in acquiring knowledge. We believe that the process of writing a research paper requires
careful, systematic instruction, and practice to insure that our students will
graduate with the tools they need for success. We recognize that the technical
aspects of writing a research paper are varied and constantly changing, so that
students should be prepared to review and update various procedures and adapt
them in their writing.
We hope
that this booklet, along with access to its electronic version on our school
website (towsonhs.bcps.org), will aid our students and teachers, serving as an
instructional guide for the processes of research and composing the research
paper. We hope that beyond high school, students will personalize the research
process, making it most efficient and powerful for themselves.
Academic Honesty and the
Research Process
There is no
more essential aspect of the research process than the honest, thorough
citation of sources. In any research
presentation or paper, all sources for information should be cited and all
information from those sources clearly indicated. As part of research process
instruction, your teachers will review the process of locating appropriate
sources and the techniques and requirements for citing sources. If in doubt,
indicate material that is not your own and cite your source.
Plagiarism,
the act of presenting other people’s ideas and information as your own, is a
very serious matter in the academic, creative, and professional worlds. As has
been evidenced by numerous recent public events in the
United States
,
plagiarism can result in legal action and in dismissal from schools and jobs.
At Towson High, we are committed to teaching our students appropriate, honest
techniques of research and the preparation of research papers and presentations,
and we expect our students to follow our guidelines as well as the guidelines
of the BCPS Telecommunications Policy. Academic
dishonesty of any type during the research process will be considered a
disciplinary matter to be handled by the student, parents or guardians,
teacher, and appropriate administrators in the school.