Prof.

Karima SLAMTI Cadi Ayyad University

Introduction to research Writing School of Arts and Humanities

Semester 4 Department of English

Research Writing (1)

Introduction
Undergraduate students are asked to write a monograph by the end of their sixth semester
of studies. Students develop some required writing skills passing from a paragraph writing to
a five paragraph essay to reach the level of writing a research paper. However, writing a
good academic English paper is often a productive process that involves a great deal of
satisfaction and learning for students. This course comes to enlighten the students in the
way of writing a well-structured thesis and overcome difficulties of academic writing.

It presents steps to follow to choose a good research topic and accomplishing a good
monograph. This chapter of research writing will guide you in your writing and help you
better understand the mechanics of researching, referencing, formatting and quoting in both
MLA and APA style. The techniques of paraphrasing and summarizing are helpful and
necessary while recalling the scholars’ works in the literature review. It also sheds light on
the ethics of research such as the necessity to avoid all aspects of plagiarism while writing a
research paper.
This introduction to research writing provides pertinent strategies to meet students’
expectations as to develop their academic writing projects and not to feel confused while
expressing their ideas.

PARTS OF A MONOGRAPH
A research paper is an academic work that ranges from 25 to 35 pages. The research
contains strong and well-structured thesis statement mostly stated in the abstract (summary
of the research) supported with solid arguments and a well developed analysis. If you are
majoring in literature, you should select one primary literary text (a novel, a play, a
travelogue, or a carefully selected group poems or short stories) to work on. Do not work on
a random topic simply because you like it, you should work wisely in this step of choosing a
research topic that you will interest you and want to explore. You should find a topic which
has got available data to collect.

I. The Introduction:
Introduction is the first important component of your research paper in which you present
your topic and its significance. It includes the background knowledge of your topic and the
evolution of the research in the investigated field of inquiry.
Introduction consists of the following elements:
a. Statement of the Problem: You need to state the problem clearly and briefly within a
specific theoretical context and conceptual framework.
b. Purpose of the Study: You should define and limit the specific area of your research by
giving the rationale and the significance of your research.
c. Literature Review: You should indicate that you are knowledgeable about the subject
under study by placing your suggested topic within the larger context of the scholarly
literature, and showing the added value of your research in the existing literature.
d. Thesis Statement: It is the main idea you are going to argue for or against and it is usually
a declarative sentence that asserts the position a research will be taking and it should be
both specific and arguable.
e. Methodology: It usually describes how a researcher systematically designs a study to
ensure valid and reliable results. An effective methodology paragraph does not just explain
what methodological choices will be made, but also explains why they were made.
The final paragraph of your introduction should provide a brief description of the rest of the
paper.

We consider this chapter as a summary of the main parts and chapters of your monograph
and it serves as a sort of 'roadmap" that helps the reader know where you are going and
what to expect.

II. The Body of a Monograph:

This part is considered as the longest part of the paper. It is where you should
support the thesis and build the argument. It contains most of the citations and analysis. This
section should focus on a rational development of the thesis with clear reasoning and solid
argumentation at all points. A strong academic paper is characterized by simplicity and unity.
The monograph should ideally contain two parts with a clear focus and relevance to the
main topic. Each chapter addresses a specific general theme, which respond to a research
objective. Therefore, the body of a monograph must develop analytic and critical thinking on
primary results and analysis with reference to theoretical arguments grounded in the
literature review. You should highlight where a model or framework of analysis has been
used or is being developed as well as explaining the reason and significance behind features
or decisions being discussed.

III. The Conclusion

Unlike the introduction, which should be attractive and compelling to the reader, the
conclusion is the step by which you end and finish your writing by giving an impression of
appreciation to the reader. It is a concise summary of your statements and ideas cited in the
topic; you remind the reader of what is important to grasp through your writing.
You don't have to restate too much what you have in your body, because it will be kind of
repetition that the reader will not need; which may create a sort of confusion about the
topic. Conclusion is to finish the main point you have covered in your body, and not
introducing more or new information.
While you conclude, you should use the same language you have been using in the topic.
If you introduce your topic with a question/questions, try to answer them in the conclusion.
The introduction can begin with an idea, a phrase or a word; in this case, try to return to
them when you conclude. A conclusion should be an apparent hint of coming to an end.
As to conclude, the conclusion should cover only 5 to 10 percent of the total writing.

IV. Bibliography:
A bibliography is a list of books, scholarly articles, speeches, private records, diaries,
interviews, laws, letters, websites, and other sources you use when researching a topic and
writing a paper. The bibliography appears at the end of your monograph.

The main purpose of a bibliography entry is to give credit to authors whose work you've
consulted in your research paper. It also makes it easy for a reader to find out more about
your topic by investigating the research that you used to write your paper.
Bibliography entries must be written in a very specific format, but that format will depend
on the particular style of writing you follow. Your professor or supervisor will tell you which
style to use, and for most academic papers it will be either MLA, or American Psychological
Association (APA).

The bibliography is sometimes also called the references, works cited, or works consulted
page. Bibliography entries consist of:
Authors and/or editors (and translator, if applicable)
Title of your source (as well as edition, volume, and the book title if your source is a chapter
or article in a multi-author book with an editor)
Publication information (the city, state, name of the publisher, date published, page
numbers consulted, and URL or DOI, if applicable)

V. Title Page:
When writing a research paper, too many students neglect the title page. The title page is
what your professor will mostly see and read first. Hence, you have to respect the following
rules when formatting your title page: Write a simple and concise title and choose words
that are essential, Choose critical key words to enhance your title, and Avoid slang, jargon,
abbreviations and symbols. The following page includes a template of a title page that you
can use for your research paper.
 Department of English Language and Literature
Faculty of Letters and Humanities
Cadi Ayyad University
Marrakech

TITLE
This Dissertation is submitted in partial of the requirements for the

Bachelor’s Degree in English Studies

Supervisor:

Professor KARIMA SLAMTI

Submitted by

………………………………………………………………..

Academic Year: …………………………/……………………………