ABSTRACT
Chapter 6, “How to Write a Research Paper,” discusses major guidelines of composition techniques for writing student research papers. It provides step-by-step explanations of all major parts of research papers, including the introduction (focusing on the thesis statement with aspects such as leading to the topic, explaining the topic, pointing out the paper's relevance, method, and road map); main part (paragraph organization with topic statement, paragraph body, transitional links); and the conclusion (restating the thesis, summarizing results, and providing a possible outlook). The chapter puts special emphasis on how to cite primary and secondary sources, with a particular focus on the guidelines of the latest edition of the MLA Handbook (MLA Handbook, 9th ed. Modern Language Association, 2021) with its groundbreaking changes concerning in-text documentation of sources and the compilation of lists of works cited. Ample space is reserved for the new general principles of the MLA style sheet, which is significantly different from previous editions. The aim is to provide a concise and manageable overview of key aspects of the MLA Handbook as well as other competencies students require for writing their research papers.
