| A good academic paper starts out with a | | | | outline of the project, you can begin to |
| clearly defined topic which is neither too | | | | gather information from authoritative |
| broad or too narrow. For example, "Cactus" | | | | reference sources: pertinent books, |
| would be too broad a topic. On the other | | | | encyclopedias, and articles in magazines and |
| hand, A topic is too narrow if you can't find | | | | journals. Be cautious when using material |
| any information about it. For example, | | | | from the Internet. Before citing Internet |
| suppose your foreign language subject to, | | | | sources, check the credentials of the writer. |
| "foreign language policy in South Dakota." | | | | Are they associated with a university or |
| Although you might have a strong interest in | | | | well-known corporation? What experience and |
| this topic, South Dakota may not have a | | | | training do they have in the field? |
| specific policy about foreign languages. If | | | | |
| you have chosen the topic, "teaching Chinese | | | | Before you turn in your paper, double check |
| in elementary schools," and your research | | | | it for errors. If you can, after you have |
| attempts have been fruitless, it may be that | | | | checked for errors, let another person (for |
| you are considering a topic that no one else | | | | example, your parent or an older sibling) |
| has previously presented. In other words, no | | | | check it too. Are there any references |
| one has determined that Chinese should be a | | | | missing from the bibliography. Is referenced |
| major language taught as commonly as Spanish | | | | material from sources properly cited? Do the |
| or French. | | | | sentences and reasoning make sense. Did you |
| | | | include an abstract or summary of the paper |
| Using an outline can help you organize your | | | | in the case of APA format papers? As soon as |
| material and can also help you discover | | | | you are satisfied with your paper, run a |
| connections between pieces of information | | | | spell and grammar check. (Check your spell |
| that you weren't aware of when you first | | | | checker setting and make sure that they set |
| conceived the topic of your paper, After you | | | | to Grammar and style). At that point, you can |
| have identified a topic and prepare an | | | | hand in your paper. |