Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (spiral-bound) (11th Edition) [Spiral-bound]

James D. Lester (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321236475 | ISBN-13: 978-0321236470 | Publication Date: February 2, 2004 | Edition: 11

The definitive research paper guide, Writing Research Papers combines a traditional and practical approach to the research process with the latest information on electronic research and presentation. This market-leading text provides students with step-by-step guidance through the research writing process from selecting and narrowing a topic, to formatting the finished document. Also, Writing Research Papers backs up its instruction with the most complete array of samples of any research writing guide on the market. The text continues its extremely thorough and accurate coverage of citation styles for a wide variety of disciplines. The Eleventh Edition maintains Lester's successful approach while detailing the uses of new computer technologies that are changing the face of research. Available in two formats-perfect-bound (0-321-23646-7) and spiral-bound with tabs (0-321-23647-5, a handier format at a slightly higher price)-Lester's text is one that students will keep throughout their college careers.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 448 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 11 edition (February 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321236475
• ISBN-13: 978-0321236470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #897,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great reference, December 8, 2008

By 

Joseph Miller - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (spiral-bound) (11th Edition) (Spiral-bound)

I bought this because it was required for my first college course, but I've kept it on my bookshelf ever since. It may seem like too much, or hard to navigate at first but that is only because it is so thorough. Especially if you will be writing in APA format alot, you will be thankful to have this book, and you professor will notice your attention to detail.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Get something else (or buy my copy), August 13, 2008

By 

Christopher Mcbee (WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (perfect-bound) (with MyCompLab) (11th Edition) (Paperback)

If you need a book you can reference while writing a paper look elsewhere. Information is vague, if you can even find it. The book seems designed to be read cover to cover. For instance, MLA in-text citations and MLA bibliographies are separated by 20 pages on introductions and conclusions.

While there are sections on specific formats, like CSE and APA, there is little that couldn't be gleaned from looking a properly formatted paper. To get an idea, the section on proper formatting for an MLA paper is spread out over nine pages broken up by a 13 page paper on water use and a nine page essay on Hamlet.

While 45 (forty five) pages are devoted to MLA bibliographies, only nine are provided for APA. CMS gets only four or five pages of examples without explanations. CSE gets only a handful of examples. I had to buy a second book just to fill in the gaps that this one left.

Save your money and pick up a writer's reference. Any other book, just not this one.

Interesting to note: the title of every single sample paper had a colon in it ("Arranged Marriages: The Revival Is Online"). It was so prevalent that some students thought it was a requirement of research papers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Writing Research Papers, September 24, 2008

By 

Tellin Thetruth "Brian" (West of the Tarheels) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (spiral-bound) (11th Edition) (Spiral-bound)

If your English class requires it, this is a great book. If you are looking for some enthralling reading, this is not it. This is a style manual for writing research papers. It is what it is.