Posts Tagged ‘writing an’

Example of a Research Paper Outline

December 22nd, 2009 No Comments

If you’re looking for an example of a research paper outline, the odds are you find yourself faced with the task of going through the steps to writing a research paper. While it’s an excellent idea to use an example of a research paper outline (and you’ve come to the right place for that), it’s just as important to make sure you understand the steps involved in writing a research paper. The outline for your paper is only one step - but it’s not the first step.

example of a research paper outline

The first step is getting a good grasp on exactly what topic (thesis) that you plan to pursue. Ultimately, the rest of the process of writing your research paper will flow from the topic you choose, the research materials you find, and how the analysis and findings play out.

Understanding the Steps to Writing a Research Paper

If you just came here for the example of a research paper outline, feel free to scroll down and use the sample printed at the bottom of this article. However, before you start using the outline, following the steps from the beginning will make the process of completing your research paper much easier, and will ensure a much better grade - most likely an A+. So what are the steps to writing a research paper? Read on.

First: Select Your Topic. This assumes the topic isn’t assigned. If you have the freedom to choose your own topic, try to choose a topic where you already have a few resources to conduct research. For example, if you know you have an uncle who was in WWII and that he would offer you an interview, doing a research paper on some aspect of WWII would be an excellent idea.


interview1

Second: State the thesis of your paper. This is the central point that you want to examine with your paper. It should be a question or a statement that you’d like to prove or disprove.

Third: Conduct Your Research. This is the most difficult step of writing your research paper. It actually comes before you create the outline. This is because based on what you uncover during your research, you may decide to change around the outline. Obviously, dive into Google and don’t forget to sift through the invisible web for even more information you couldn’t normally find. Once you’ve exhausted the Internet, don’t forget the many other resources at your disposal at your local library including books, references, and journals. Finally, also consider the option of interviewing experts if you really want to score some huge points.


research2

Create Your Outline. See below!

Organize Your Research. This should be done during your research, but you can also do it after the fact. Take all of the notes that you’ve collected and organize all of your research into major groups or “points.” These are the major points that will make up the major sections of your research paper. Since you already know at this point that you have all of the information you need, the paper will practically write itself.

Write, Revise, and Rewrite. The part of writing a research paper that so many students fail at is properly editing. As you work through your research notes and write each section of the paper as you’ve outlined it, you’ll need to make sure that you only write the paper in terms of what the research taught you - be very careful not to plagiarize! When you’ve written the first draft of your research paper - remember, you’re not done! Carefully edit for grammar and spelling, and then retype the entire paper into final version format. Your polished work will be a surefire A+

An Example of a Research Paper Outline

Moving on to the reason that you came here - the example of a research paper outline. Please use the outline as a general starting point, but remember that the information you uncover during your research will really define how you fine tune the final outline.

  • The Title of Your Paper
  • A statement that describes the thesis of the paper
  • Introduction - this includes a description of the question or issue that you’re going to examine and explore in the rest of the paper. It explains why the issue is relevant and important to investigate, how much of the issue the paper covers (the scope), and list the questions that you plan to pursue to answer the final thesis.
  • Describe your Methodology - Explain how you went about doing your research, including not only online methods but whether you performed any sort of tests of your own, or whether you interviewed subjects and what procedures you used to analyze the information you uncovered.
  • Analysis - This is the body of your paper and will likely make up the majority of the pages. Make sure to seperate this section into the logical subsections and you make your way through the process of answering questions and making your way toward answering or validating the original thesis you set out to pursue with the research paper. Carefully cite your sources whenever you use any of your research, and make sure to keep a numeric notation of the source noted in the paper so that you can list the source in the bibliography at the end of the paper.
  • Conclusion - The conclusion of the research paper wraps up all of the issues examined and analyzed throughout the paper and draws a conclusion related to the original thesis based on all of those points and analysis. Don’t forget to include recommendations for future research to better answer the thesis, or to ask further questions related to the original thesis.
  • References - This is probably the driest part of writing a research paper, but it’s also the most important because it’s the evidence that holds up your analysis. Check out this Cornell reference page for a good example of how to make references using APA format.

Once you’ve finished writing your research paper, please come back and list the grade you received in the comments section below!

Posted in Free Writing Resources Tags: , , , ,

Writing a Character Reference for a Friend

December 4th, 2009 1 Comment

One of the most important goals here at FreeWritingCenter is to truly serve as a Free Writing Center for all of your writing needs. If you’re in the middle of writing a character reference for a friend, then you’re probably here because you really don’t know where to start and you’re looking for a free writing resource for help. You’ve come to the right place.

writing a character reference for a friend

Writing a character reference as a friend is a bit different than doing so as an employer, and you may be nervous about ruining your friend’s chances for a job or some other opportunity because you messed up the reference letter. The following guide will walk you through the simple process of writing a character reference for a friend that will put them in a very good light for anyone who might be interested.

A Simple Guide to Writing a Character Reference for a Friend

If you’ve been staring at that blank piece of paper (or computer screen) for a while now, and you simply don’t know where to start - keep in mind the objectives that you want to accomplish with your letter. Ultimately, you want to:

  • State how you know the person and why you’re a credible reference.
  • Describe how your friend has the sort of characteristics that the organization is most likely looking for.
  • Provide interesting anecdotes as evidence of your friends strong character.
  • Offer a general summary statement and stand behind your statements about your friend with an offer to the organization to call or contact you for more information.

Each goal above actually represents the four important elements of a reference letter. Since you’re not an employer, finances and work ethic do not come into play at all. As a friend, you’re offering a character reference, so that’s exactly what you should aim to do by highlighting every good quality your friend has, and not mentioning any negative characteristics that you may know about. Your friend asked you for a reference because they trusted you to provide a very positive one, so don’t let them down.

An Example of an Effective Character Reference for a Friend

The following sample is an example of a character reference that incorporates all of the elements described above. By projecting confidence for your friend and your appreciation for your friends stellar character, the reader will understand that they are dealing with a person who truly makes a positive impact on the people that he or she knows.

To Whom it May Concern:

I have known Amy Thomas for over five years. Her daughter is close friends with mine, and we’ve gone on many outings and trips together both individually and as a family. She also cared for my children on weekends when my husband and I had to travel for business.

Amy is one of the most patient and generous individuals that I’ve ever met. One weekend when my husband and I had a last minute conference come up in another state, we called Amy and asked if she could watch our children. Amy actually canceled her own personal weekend plans so that she could help us with our child care crisis.

Amy also demonstrated a meticulous attention to detail and an ability to effectively accomplish complicated tasks in a very short time when she organized my daughter’s large graduation party for us. The event included my daughter’s entire class, family, decorations, live entertainment and food. Amy managed to produce one of the most entertaining and exciting events, and even came in under budget.

I feel that Amy would be a tremendous addition to any organization that she joins, and that she would prove to be an invaluable part of any job, project or task that she’s assigned. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any further questions about Amy.

Sincerely,
Christy Smith

As you can see, the letter is both professional and passionate, and it portrays how important Amy is within the life of the writer. By using the tips listed above and the sample letter provided here, you’ll be able to effectively convey that message and help your friend in whatever it is he or she needs your reference letter for.

Posted in Free Writing Resources Tags: , , , ,

A Stephen King Interview and Commentary on Stephenie Meyer

November 19th, 2009 No Comments

This week, I’d like to share a great video interview with one of my favorite writers of all time - Stephen King. Mr. King was born and raised in my home state, and he has always served as an inspiration for young Maine writers. In this interview, Borders interviews Stephen King on writing short stories, writing scary stories and much more. It’s a very enjoyable interview - check it out!

Stephen King points talks a bit about the importance of the short story in the story writing process, and how in his case many of his early short stories ended up evolving into novels, such as Carrie. He points out that about 22,000 word pieces are too long to be a short story and too short to be a novel. This is only a partial interview - to see the entire interview you have to visit Borders Media.

With that said, while I respect the man for his rise from the ashes into fame for his horror novels, I also have to say that being a long-time fan for many years, I also noticed that he’s quite arrogant. A friend of our family worked as a security guard at UMO and had an interaction with Mr. King while trying to enforce University safety rules, that ended in King making a statement to the effect of, “Do you realize who I am?” Apparently King thinks very highly of himself, and apparently forgets that it’s the fans that make a successful writer, not simply a name.

Another example of this was his comment about rising writer Stephenie Meyer, where during an interview he was asked about J.K. Rowling and Meyer, and his response was, “The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”

While I’m not particularly a fan of the Twilight series, I found Stephen King’s comments very hypocritical in light of his words in his book On Writing, where he even mentions this sort of elitist attitude among published writers, especially when you’re getting started in the business. The fact that she sold 29 million books in 2008, making her the best-selling author of the year, is a testament to the fact that she’s a brilliant writer who can command the attention and interest of a significant audience. Yes, that means in 2008 she sold more novels than Stephen King. Money talks, Mr. King.

Then again, if Stephen King is simply alluding to the fact that a writer can sell millions of novels while not having the foggiest notion of decent grammar, punctuation or how to avoid a plot line that isn’t some boring cliche used millions of times in other novels…maybe he has a point and should consider examining his own humble beginnings.

Posted in Free Writing Resources, Getting Published, Life As a Writer Tags: , , , ,

Resume Writing Examples

November 16th, 2009 No Comments

If you’ve been sifting through the web for resume writing examples, then you know that it’s one of those terms that typically turns up hundreds of useless websites filled with Google ads and no legitimate help or resources.
resume writing examples

In this update, in the spirit of this blog truly being a “Free Writing Center” I’d like to offer two important writing resources for job hunters. A general guide for writing your own resume, and a list of the top five resources where you can see free resume writing examples.

How to Write a Winning Resume

The first and most important thing I want to say here is that job seekers spend far too much time fretting over the formatting of their resume rather than simply conveying to the potential employer why you are clearly the best qualified person for the job. As long as you have the following sections detailed on your resume, and on a single word document (set the font size small enough so that it’s readable, but everything fits), then you’ll be successful. Typically each of these sections are displayed on a resume in the following order.

  • Contact Information - In this section provide your addresses and phone numbers where you can be reached, as well as your primary email address.
  • Objective - This is completely optional, but if you want to you can share what type of position and skills that you hope to achieve (should pretty much match the job you’re applying for).
  • Qualifications - Let them know exactly how and why you’re qualified for the position. State, in 2 or 3 short sentences, what your experience and background is that’s most closely related to the potential job.
  • Education - From present to past, outline every degree program or course of study you completed including the name of the degree, graduation date, and the name and location of the school.
  • Experience - From present to past, outline your work experiences related to the job you’re applying for. Include the name of the employer or client as well as a very short description of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
  • Skills - This section should simply list all of the skills you have that are even remotely relevant to the position you’re applying for.

As long as all of the sections above are included in a very clean and easy to read format, you’ll do well. If you don’t even know where to start, then check out the free resources below for a some excellent resume examples.

The Top 5 Sites for Free Resume Writing Examples

The following resources offer a very long list of excellent resume examples, most of which is tailored for specific industries or careers. Explore these resources and you’re likely to find a particular format that suits your tastes. Print it out and use that format as you write your own resume.

Resume-Help.org offers a long list of exampes that are customized for particular industries like fashion, marketing or software.

resume writing examples

Resume-Resource is another valuable site filled with examples sorted by career level or industry. There’s even a section now on “before and after” resume examples which you can download in PDF format.

resume writing examples

EZResume offers a very long list of sample resumes. When you visit the site, just scroll down the left menu to find the specific career that you’re looking for.

resume examples

Quint Careers takes a slightly different approach. The sample resumes you’ll find here are sorted in terms of experience level and format. For example there’s a category for “New Graduate Functional Format I” and “Experienced Job-Seeker Chronological Format I.”

resume examples

Unlike the other sites, these resume samples are provided in HTML format. To see how the formatting is done, just click view page source in your browser.

Do you have any success stories in your job hunt? Are there particular resume formats that you prefer? Share your insight in the comments section below.

Posted in Free Writing Resources Tags: , , , ,

Two Books About Writing and Getting Published

April 24th, 2009 No Comments

When you are a writer, whether you’re writing for the online market or the offline “print” market, there are a number of resources that are critical to your success. These span the whole range of skills that every writer needs, including:

1. How to write well
2. How to organize and plan your writing projects
3. How to make money from writing
4. How to get published (either online or offline)

Every month I plan to provide book reviews for the best books out there on particular topics related to writing. This month, I’d like to focus on two books in particular - the annual Writer’s Market, and the instructional and entertaining book On Writing by Stephen King.

The 2009 Writer’s Market

The Writer’s Market is published on an annual basis, and includes the most recent list of publishers, agents, and other contacts that writer’s who are looking to be published need to know. The fact is that this particular book is the Bible of the writing world. Even Stephenie Meyer, the new author who found tremendous fame in her Twilight series, pointed out what was at the very center of her publication efforts when she writes:

“I subscribed to WritersMarket.com and compiled a list of small publishers that accepted unsolicited submissions and a few literary agencies.”

The fact agents and publishers continue to “discover” new writers every year is proof enough that you too have the potential to become the next “big thing” in the literary world. This book contains everything you need to navigate that path.

Stephen King - On Writing

If there’s a single book “on writing” that I have to admit I enjoyed more as a source of entertainment than as a source of literary education, this book was it. I’ve always liked Stephen King’s dark humor and gritty sarcasm, although his arrogance, at times, is a bit difficult to stomach. Then again, when you get to his level of fame, I suppose that’s your right.

While there are some King novels that are at the top of my own “favorite” list, and others that are horrendous, like Rose Madder, this particular book titled On Writing, is at the very top of that list. The rare insight that King provides into his own life and his early struggles with writing is enlightening and encouraging for every new author. But his overwhelming advice is poignant and true - successful writers work hard, but the majority of them work hard for peanuts. Publication is often 50% skill, and 50% luck. This book is useful however, if only because of the wisdom found inside, from the “King of Horror” himself.

Posted in Life As a Writer Tags: , , , , ,

Top Free Writing Resources and Tools

April 24th, 2009 No Comments


One of the most valuable uses for the Internet is when you’re in need of free writing, such as free letters or tips about writing. People often don’t realize how often good writing can make an important difference in their life. Whether it’s dealing with a credit card company, writing an invitation or a formal resignation letter, or if you simply want some advice about writing better - good writing gets results.

Finding Free Writing Resources and Tools
In this article, you’ll find valuable links and resources to free letter templates, free tests and free questions, free tutorials to help you practice writing, and resources about writing that offer you with tips and techniques to improve your own writing abilities.

The saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” is very true. I’ve gotten out of some very serious scrapes and nerve-racking situations by writing a poignant and powerful letter. But not all people have the ability to craft the written word into useful prose, so when you need to have that kind of communication with a business or person, it’s important that you know where to turn. Below, I’ll provide you with some of the best online resources for both free and low-cost writing solutions. Bookmark this page and return to it when you find that you need to correspond with someone, or you just want to learn a bit more about improving your own writing skills. This article will cover the following resources:

1. Free Letters And Letter Templates
2. Free Tests and Free Questions
3. Free Practice Writing Tutorials
4. Tips and Techniques About Writing

Free Letters and Letter Templates

Up to 50% off Textbooks at eCampus.com!One of the most searches for free writing products online is for free letters. People are always finding themselves in a life situation where they need a free letter. They may be retiring, need to write a recommendation letter or a thank you letter, and people aren’t confident enough in their own writing abilities to write a powerful enough letter. The following are some of the best free letter websites that offer you with most of the more common letters.

Letter-Samples.com offers one of the most comprehensive lists of letter samples, including resignation letters, accepting job offers, and a long list of other well written letters.

Freebusinessforms.com provides an assortment of business resources, including free business letters, sales letters, collection letters and more.

TheBase has a list of decent letters in a blog format. Click the tags on the right to access the letter samples.

A1letters has one of the best collections that I’ve found of free letters in various categories, including banking letters, business letters, and a whole list of others.

Rocket Lawyer is best if you need free letters in the legal field. There are some very useful templates at this site for credit and collections, employee issues, proposals, and much more

LettersRep is the best site to purchase a custom letter at very low cost. The page above lists the letters that I currently have offered there, or you can contact me directly through this blog - I do offer customized letters tailored for your specific needs, just ask!

Go FreelanceFree Tests and Free Questions

Educators and students are always looking for free tests online that can help them improve their score on various tests that require writing skills, such as the GRE, the ACT, or other educational tests. These tests offer free questions and provide you with the tools and information you need to not only pass these important educational tests, but also to pass them with flying colors. Online, you can find a number of excellent websites that provide such free tests.

WritingTester is a very cool free online test that lets you paste your article into a text field and it returns the “readability” of your writing, as well as the grade level that you write at. This free test isn’t for the faint of heart.

Admissions Consultants is a valuable resource for free information about taking various tests including the ACT, SAT, GRE, and a number of other tests at various educational levels.

Tools For Educators is a very useful website for teachers and professors who have very little time on their hands and need tools that can help them automatically generate free tests for their classes.

Free Practice Writing Tutorials

When it comes to writing an article or ad copy, many people find that they just don’t have the skills to do it. Writing an article takes patience, research, and knowledge of proper grammar and sentence structure, while writing ad copy additionally requires knowledge about how to sell people things through the power of the written word. There are a multitude of other forms of writing that require different skills, and the only way to obtain those skills is through learning how, and to practice writing by writing an array of your own materials.

The following free writing tutorials will offer you a tremendous opportunity to get some free practice with your writing skills.

Vocational Information Center features an impressive and comprehensive list of tutorials on a variety of important topics, but under the “Literacy Tutorials” in particular, you can find free practice with critical thinking, reading skills, resume formats, and much more.

AdCopywriting is a website that’s fairly simple, but it will offer you with a little bit of free practice writing adcopy for sales websites.

DiplomaGuide features this excellent article that outlines an entire list of online writing courses that various schools offer for absolutely free. These classes not only offer free practice with a variety of writing styles, but they will surely improve your writing skills overall.

Tips and Techniques About Writing

When it comes to tips and tricks about writing in general, the best writing advice that you’ll find is write here on Bettercontent. The following articles, which are offered right here on this blog, provide you with examples writing website content, information about writing for clients or websites, and a wide range of other topics growing daily.

Check out these tips and techniques about writing, and visit back often for our latest articles.

Final Words

There is no greater tool to improve your writing skills than practice and dedication. But free writing tutorials and other resources can certainly give you an advantage and a boost to improve your writing abilities. With the online world booming as quickly as it is today, more writing opportunities are constantly becoming available for writers who know how to produce high quality Internet content. This is a niche field that’s growing tremendously, and by improving your writing skills, you’ll be poised to take the online writing industry by storm.

Posted in Life As a Writer, Writing for Income Tags: , , , ,

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