1. In your journal…
Make a list of 10 people, places, things, or issues you are interested in and/or would like to learn more about.

2. Writing a Research Paper
English II
Writing a Research Paper
Eng II
Mrs. McLeod

3. Contents Research Paper: Background The Thesis Statement
Organizing your Paper
Incorporating and Citing Research

4. What is a research paper?
Research (noun) – careful or diligent search. (verb) To search or investigate exhaustively.
A research paper combines two activities:
Doing research
Writing an academic paper
What a research paper is NOT:
A book report—reporting facts from one book
An essay—generally all about your ideas
Journalism—without bias

5. Research Paper: WHY?????? How to do and use research
Prepare for college and the world of work
Researching and writing
Problem-solving and organization
Self-discipline and time management
Explore and share a chosen area of interest

6. 10th Grade Research Paper: Requirements
4-5 pages
MLA style
4 sources (2 print, 2 internet)
Rough draft (best effort possible, including all necessary components)
Revised final paper (following teacher and peer suggestions, accompanied by rough draft)

7. MLA Style MLA stands for Modern Language Association
Refers to the style of mechanics of writing such as punctuation, quotation and documentation of sources.
Required format in Language Arts classes

8. Basic MLA Requirements
Typed, Double-spaced
Times New Roman font - 12 pt
1-inch margins
Your “Works Cited” page will be an additional page.

9. Possible 200 Points Thesis statement - 15 pts Outline- 20 pts
Note cards - 25 pts
Rough draft (brought to class) - 40 pts
Final draft pts

10. In your journal…
Choose one of the 10 topics of interest you listed and free-write about it.

11. The Power of the Right Topic
Don’t underestimate this part of the project!
A great topic can help lead you an A
A bad topic can doom your paper before you start writing it!
Your topic guides your research and your thesis
Guides your attitude towards your paper
Pick a topic with care, and you’ll be well on your way to a great research paper

12. Topic Selection: Hints and Help
Be interested!
A career?
A cause?
A hobby?
A person or place of interest?
Broad enough to access information, specific enough to make research possible
STRETCH! Challenge yourself academically and creatively

13. Need Some Topic Ideas?
Favorite Historical Figure—Abe Lincoln, Helen Keller, Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King Jr.
Favorite Author, Artist or Musician—Jane Austen, Pablo Picasso, Bob Marley, The Beatles
Important Issues—Obesity, Gun Ownership, Homelessness, Teen Pregnancy, Drug Abuse, Stem Cell Research, Recycling, Oil Drilling, Global Warming, Cell Phone Use/Texting
Career Choices—Nursing, Teaching, Engineering, Journalism, Military
Hobbies—Photography, Piano Playing, Football, Soccer, Volunteering Activities, Vacation Choices
Medical Issues and Treatments—Breast Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Depression, ADHD, Gene Therapy

14. Narrowing Your Topic The Beatles The Beatles’ Impact on American Music
Ask yourself: What angle am I taking on my topic? What is my unique stance?
TOPIC
NARROWED TOPIC
The Beatles
Drug Abuse
Cell Phone Use/Texting
Global Warming
Volunteering
Football
Teaching
The Beatles’ Impact on American Music
Effects of Long-term Drug Abuse
The Dangers of Texting While Driving
The Myth of Global Warming
The Benefits of Volunteer Vacations
Football: Then and Now
Measuring the Effectiveness of a Teacher

15. DUE MONDAY Choose your basic topic
Narrowed topic proposal due beginning of class Monday
Media/computer time Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

16. What is Plagiarism?
The use of another’s thoughts, words or concepts without proper attribution
Considered intellectual property theft, a serious, punishable event with serious consequences
Unethical
Various forms:
Copying from source research—articles, web sites, etc.
Using a sibling’s or friend’s paper
Purchasing a paper
Work must be original, with all sources properly cited

17. 5 Easy Ways to Earn a Zero
Plagiarize—all papers must be submitted to turnitin.com
No “Works Cited” page
No in-paper citations
One paragraph paper
No paper

18. The Thesis Statement
Writing a Research Paper:

19. What is a Thesis Statement?
The glue that holds the paper together; the premise that will be defended or refuted
Should be:
Focused
Arguable
Interesting
Typically the last sentence of the introduction

20. Thesis Statement: The Three-Prong Approach
Supporting Point 1
Supporting Point 2
Supporting Point 3
Main Argument/Position
Lists 3 main points within your thesis statement that support your main position
Sets up a logical outline of your entire paper
Each supporting point becomes a topic sentence within the body of the paper
Example: Practicing ballet can benefit any athlete because it improves flexibility, increases agility, and instills self-discipline.

21. Thesis Statement What it is NOT:
It is NOT the topic itself
Example: “Eminem’s life story” is not a thesis.
Your opinion on how Eminem’s early life—the abandonment by his father, economic struggles, and failures in school-- impacted his music could be.
It is NOT a statement about or a summary of the research you’ve done.
“The history of professional football dates back many years” is not a thesis.
Your opinion on the three most significant changes in the sport—ie., in equipment, player salaries and international expansion—could be.
It is NOT a general statement of opinion unsupportable by research
Example: “My favorite kind of dance is ballet” is not thesis.
Your opinion on the benefits of ballet to the athlete—i.e., that it improves flexibility and agility and instills self-discipline—could be.

22. Developing a Thesis
1. First, write down your topic. 2. Now, write your statement of purpose. “I intend to show…” “I intend to prove…” “I intend to demonstrate…” 3. Finally, just eliminate the beginning of your statement of purpose.

23. Developing a Thesis: EXAMPLE
First, write down your topic: PRIMITIVE ART
2. Now, write your statement of purpose:
“I intend to show that collecting primitive art can be an inexpensive, enjoyable, and profitable venture.”
Finally, just eliminate the beginning of your statement of purpose:
“Collecting primitive art can be an inexpensive, enjoyable, and profitable venture.”

24. Exercise
Develop a three-prong thesis statement on why FCAT practice assessments should/should not be given to 9th and 10th graders every Friday.

25. DUE DATES Outline w/ thesis and 10 note cards: 3/24
First draft due: 3/29
“Works Cited” Page 3/30
Final Paper /4

26. Submit with Final Draft
Final Paper—typed in MLA format
First draft—written on one side of paper in blue or black ink
Outline---with finalized thesis statement
Note Cards—minimum of 10

27. Organizing your Paper
Writing a Research Paper

28. Taking Notes on Research
Summary: To record the general idea of a long paragraph, several paragraphs, or a chapter—summarize in your own words
Paraphrase: Restate particular ideas or pieces of information from a small section in your own words
Quotation: For a passage that is particularly significant or well-stated, you may quote it word-for-word. Be sure to use quotation marks.

29. Creating Note cards
TITLE: What is the subtopic or category from outline?
FACTS: Write info from your sources—summarize, paraphrase or quote
One single fact per card
SOURCE: Include the source of the information and the page number
FORMAT: See handout
REQUIRED: Minimum 10 note cards; at least two cards for each source

30. The Outline: Your Road Map
Organizes your thoughts and research into a cohesive, structured whole
Don’t just toss everything under your thesis statement and hope it makes sense!
Arrange information to follow your argument
Eliminate anything that isn’t logical, relevant or effective
A strong organization plan makes your job much easier!

31. Research Paper Outline
Introduction
Introduce topic
Deliver your thesis statement—last sentence of intro
Body
First major supporting argument
Statement of argument
Reasoning and research/evidence
Second major supporting argument
Third major supporting argument
Conclusion
Thesis restatement
Argument summary, broader implications

32. The Body: Setting up your Arguments
Ask yourself:
Is it relevant to your thesis?
Do you have sufficient supporting evidence?
Is it critical, or am I attached because I found research?
Does it fit logically within the paper, or is it a departure?
Organize
Strongest to weakest
Chronological
Logical flow

33. Creating the First Draft
Writing a Research Paper:
Creating the First Draft

34. Rough Draft Info 2 class days to work in class
Students will have access to:
Dictionary
Note cards
Sources
MLA format sheets
May use cell phones for Thesaurus and citations

35. Rough Draft Format Write in blue or black Ink
Write your name in top right of every sheet of paper with a page #
Write on only front side of each piece of notebook paper
Indent every paragraph
Use proper MLA citation when you use info from source card

36. Rough Draft Do’s and Don’ts
No first person or second person
No contractions
Use formal tone
Watch punctuation
If you pause while reading, use commas.
There is to be no talking during rough draft writing; this is a testing setting.
Rough drafts will collected by teacher for review and returned for students to type, edit, rewrite for final drafts.

37. Incorporating and Citing Research
Writing a Research Paper:
Incorporating and Citing Research

38. Incorporating your Sources
Know when to use what.
Quotations: Use sparingly. Only if succinct, beautifully worded and original.
Paraphrasing: A great way to capture an expert opinion and make it concise. Cite it!
Balance research and opinion. Not only the research, but your take on it.
Guide your reader. Tell her how to interpret the material.

39. Introducing your Sources
Only you know who your sources are.
Include credentials the first time you name a source.
INNEFFECTIVE: “Ed Said argues…”
EFFECTIVE: “Ed Said, a well-known professor of Middle East Studies at Columbia University, writes…”

40. Citing Sources Don’t cite common knowledge (CK)
Appropriate for a reference book
CK: Columbus sailed for America in 1492.
Not CK: A theory about Columbus’ motivation to explore
Widely known, often referenced
CK: We know little about Shakespeare’s life
Not CK: Shakespeare’s marital situation

41. Understanding MLA Style
Modern Language Association
Detailed guidelines for citing sources
Used in most academic papers
Adds credibility to your work
Two main components:
In-text citations—generally author’s last name and page number in parentheses, i.e., (Hemingway 23)
Works cited list—a detailed list of all your sources
Any source that is included in your paper should be included in your Works Cited list, and vice versa

42. Don’t worry about memorizing the many citation rules! You can refer to

43. MLA Basic Format Book: In-text Citation
(Author, page number) Examples: As one author notes, “If I am lukewarm about the dahlia, I am red hot about the bearded iris” (White 97). If the author’s name appears in the text, you don’t need the name in parentheses: As author Katharine S. White notes, “If I am lukewarm about the dahlia, I am red hot about the bearded iris” (97).

44. MLA Basic Format Book: Works Cited
Author’s last name, first name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publishing company, publication date. Example: White, Katherine S. Onward and Upward in the Garden. Boston: Beacon Press 2002.

45. MLA Basic Format Magazine: In-text Citation
Same rules for book: (Author, page number) Examples: “Where,” asks writer Brittany Thoreau, “have all the career-focused mothers gone?” (23)

46. MLA Basic Format Magazine: Works Cited
Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Magazine Month. Year: Page numbers. Example: Thoreau, Brittany. “The Opt-Out Epidemic.” Manhattan Mother Jan. 2004:

47. MLA Basic Format Web Site: Works Cited
Some web sites include authors or editors, some do not. Use all the relevant information you can in this order:
Author’s Name
Material’s Title
Web Site Title
Name of editor(s)
Publication date or last update
Name of sponsoring organization
Date accessed
URL in <brackets>
MLA Basic Format Web Site: Works Cited
Examples:
Nolan, Hamilton. “Individuality Is a New Luxury
Automobile.” Gawker. Ed. Nick Denton. 25 Feb.
March 2008 <

48. Other MLA Citation Requirements
First Page
Name, instructor, course title and date in upper left corner.
Title centered above body
Last name and page number on upper right of every subsequent page
Works Cited Page
Center words Works Cited above list
Capitalize all main words in a title
Alphabetize by author’s or editor’s last name
If no author exists, alphabetize by title
Indent the second and all subsequent lines in list
Remove hyperlinks

49. The Body: Using Topic Sentences
One key point per paragraph
Reveals the point of the paragraph it introduces
Transition from preceding paragraph
“Another type of dance to consider…”
“After focusing on the religious significance, it is also important to consider…”
“In a related incidence…”