I handed out a packet with some information about deadlines, writing guidelines, citation guidelines and a sample research paper. I am including part of that information here, but be sure to see me if you didn't get a packet.
Important deadlines/things to remember:
Find 3-5 reliable, usable sources. You are required to use at least one book. You may use only one internet source (it must be a .edu, .gov or .org site). Be careful to choose only the best sources including primary sources when available. Preliminary Works Cited page (sources you plan to use in your paper) is due Tuesday, December 11. Follow MLA format when listing your sources (see handout “MLA Guide for Listing Sources”).
Take notes on your research. You may take notes on note cards or in a notebook. I will be checking notes at the end of each research day. You will need a minimum of 5 notes for each day we spend in the computer lab or library. (Wednesday, December 5, Thursday, December 6, and Friday, December 7). I will also require you to turn your notes in with the finished research paper.
We will learn to write an outline in class on Monday, December 10. Your outline and your first draft of your paper will be due at the beginning of class Thursday, December 13.
We will work on revising and editing in class on Thursday, December 13 and Friday, December 14. A second draft will be due on Tuesday, December 18 (end of class).
We will do peer evaluations in class. You will do a parent evaluation at home which will be due Wednesday, December 19.
We will spend Wednesday, December 19 in class finalizing your paper. We will have the computer/writing lab available that day.
The final research paper with all notes, outlines, drafts and Works Cited will be due on Thursday, December 20.
There will also be several worksheets given throughout this process which are not included in this summary of due dates. Be sure to complete those as they are assigned in class.
Guidelines for Writing Your Research Paper
The purpose of this assignment is to:
- Learn researching skills.
- Learn to put your research findings into a research paper format.
- Learn how to give credit to your sources of information within your text.
- Learn how to write a “Works Cited” page.
To write a successful research paper, follow these guidelines:
- Be sure to follow the steps of the writing process in order (i.e. research, then take notes, then write outline, 1st draft, revise, 2nd draft, final).
- All drafts and final paper must be typed, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
- Your paper should be made up of an introduction (one paragraph)*, a body (at least six paragraphs) and a conclusion (one paragraph)**.
- You must have a thesis statement in which you introduce three sub-topics.
- Watch out for run-on sentences and transitions between paragraphs.
- Do not use I, me, we, us, you etc. in your paper.
- You should have at least 1000 words in your first draft (click Tools, then word count to find your number of words).
- Include information from at least three sources (one MUST be a book, only ONE may be an internet site--.org, .edu or .gov).
- You must have a works cited page.
- You must have in-text citations from all three sources (see attached sheets).
- Please highlight your citations in your 1st draft.
- Quotations can be no longer than 4 typed lines.
- Do not plagiarize (in other words, you cannot copy straight from books or articles unless you are quoting, you must use your own words).
- You will turn in all notes, outlines, drafts, revisions, works cited pages and anything else we work on in class along with your final draft. Do not throw any of these things away.
*Introduction: The first thing you want to do in an introduction is capture the readers’ attention. After you do that, you will introduce your topic and sub-topics in your thesis statement. Here are some ways you can hook the reader:
- Start with an interesting quote from your notes.
- Start with a startling fact that very few people know.
- Start with a mini-story, anecdote or scenario.
- Start with a rhetorical question (the reader doesn’t answer the question, rather the question gets the reader thinking.
**Conclusion: The purpose of the last paragraph is to let the readers know that this is the end of the paper. Don’t leave your readers hanging, give them closure. Here are some ways to end your paper:
- Summarize and list all sub-topics you covered in your paper.
- End with an interesting quotation or repeat the one you started with along with your own thoughts on the quote.
- End with a story that sums up your paper.
- Tie the introduction and conclusion together be referring to something you said in the introduction.
