1. Thesis Statements Need to include the following key elements:  Who? (your culture of origin)  When? (time period you are focusing on)  Why? (reasons they immigrated to U.S.)  And then What? (what influence did they have here in the U.S.?)

2. Example (working) Thesis After 1975, Cambodians began immigrating to the United States in large numbers due to the overthrow of their government by the Communist Party, the Khmer Rouge; while living in the United States, the Cambodian people have influenced the culture of America through their traditional cuisine, their traditional beliefs and customs, and the arts communities.

3. Focus of Research—after working thesis is completed: (from example) Cambodians  Immigration during and after Khmer Rouge rule (1975-1985)  influence in America on traditional cuisine  Influence in America on restoring their traditional beliefs and customs  Influence in America on the Arts communities (film, dance, literature)

4. What happens if I can’t find enough information for one part of my thesis?  From your research, is there another important aspect of the culture (why they came to America? Influence here in America?) that you can find enough support for?  Rework your thesis statement to reflect this new information and take out the part you can’t find enough information on

5. Taking Notes How do I take notes for my research paper? – Index cards – Hard copies of information

6. Index card method Using index cards, record information from your sources. Be sure to include the following info on your cards: Source name (author(if no author, use title)/pg #) in upper right corner of card Key words (words that have to do with the information on the card..ex. Khmer Rouge, timeperiod) lower left hand corner of the card Quotation from source in the middle of the card(EXACTLY AS SEEN IN SOURCE—you can always paraphrase the information later, but if you paraphrase now, you won’t be able to figure out the EXACT words used from the source) Where the information might go according to your Working Outline (Upper left corner)

7. Index cards….continued Benefits of index cards: Once finished with your cards, you can begin to “lay them out” on the floor or table in the order you think they need to go, to get an idea of how to organize your paper

8. Using Word for Notes If you are using Microsoft word to keep track of your notes, do the following:  Have one page per main idea from your thesis  Record support or evidence for that idea on that page  Use a template (slide following) for keeping track of your notes on the pages

9. Word template (author’s last name, pg # key words Your claim (from thesis) Data: summarize data/info from source here—one or two sentences “quoted material………..” here Support: how does this support your thesis—these are your words, linking the quote or info to your ideas from your thesis Any complications to your thesis? Does this source indicate the opposite of what you believed/thought? If so, write it down here. Also, write down any questions that this source might create for you. This could lead you to further research areas for your topic.

10. Example Word Template Sharman, Swearing, pg. 133HISTORY/ECONOMICS (GENDER?) CLAIM: Swearing became economic issue in 18 th century DATA: Cities Gentleman’s Magazine July 1751 (no pg reference) woman sentenced to ten days’ hard labor because couldn’t pay one-shilling fine for profanity. “…one rigid economist entertained the notion of adding to the national resources by preaching a crusade against the opulent class of swearers.” SUPPORT: As much about class and money as about morality. Legal treatment the same as for social rather than religious transgressions. COMPLICATION--- Q’s: Were men fined as often as women? Not economic earlier?

11. Photocopy method If you photocopy your material (from sources, just pgs you need), then you should do the following: Highlight the areas that support your thesis or clarify your ideas Next to the highlighted area, place a “slug”—the author’s name, title (of book/article), and where it will go in your outline Make sure you have citation information—all required from a bibliography page—on the back of photocopied material Staple your copies together by source Write a brief sentence or two on the back of your photocopied materials that indicate how the material highlighted fits in with your thesis and how you think you might use it.