RESEARCH PAPER AND MLA FORMAT REVIEW Or how I learned to quit worrying and love the format

WRITING ESSAYS – THESIS STATEMENTS The thesis is usually the last sentence of your introduction. The purpose of the intro and thesis is to gain the reader’s interest and introduce the premise of your essay. The thesis is usually the last sentence of your introduction. The purpose of the intro and thesis is to gain the reader’s interest and introduce the premise of your essay. A solid thesis statement is pivotal to writing a controlled, organized essay. The thesis is a short statement (1-2 sentences) that defines the topic of your paper. A solid thesis statement is pivotal to writing a controlled, organized essay. The thesis is a short statement (1-2 sentences) that defines the topic of your paper. The number of body paragraphs will correspond to the number of reasons or points in your thesis. The number of body paragraphs will correspond to the number of reasons or points in your thesis. All of your paragraphs must support your thesis statement! All of your paragraphs must support your thesis statement!

THESIS STATEMENTS – YOUR TURN Write a 2-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Write a 2-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Are cell phones in the classroom harmful or beneficial?

THESIS STATEMENTS – YOUR TURN Write a 3-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Write a 3-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Given the opportunity cost, is a college education still worth it?

THESIS STATEMENTS – YOUR TURN Write a 3-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Write a 3-prong thesis statement over the following prompt: Is Superman better than Batman? Is Superman better than Batman?

OUTLINE Cell phones are a harmful intrusion into the classroom because they distract students from learning and they prevent students from thinking independently. 1 st Body Paragraph : Cell phones distract students from learning a. explanation/example/proof b. explanation/example/proof c. explanation/example/proof 2 nd Body Paragraph: Cell phones prevent students from thinking independently a. explanation/example/proof b. explanation/example/proof c. explanation/example/proof

PLAGIARISM If you use quotations, ideas, or words from a source, intentionally or not, and do not acknowledge the source. If you use quotations, ideas, or words from a source, intentionally or not, and do not acknowledge the source. To avoid plagiarism, MLA format requires you to list all the sources you use in your paper on a Works Cited Page. To avoid plagiarism, MLA format requires you to list all the sources you use in your paper on a Works Cited Page. The Works Cited Page is the only tool MLA uses to correctly cite sources. The Works Cited Page is the only tool MLA uses to correctly cite sources.

IN-TEXT, OR PARENTHETICAL CITATION Parenthetical Citation is an extension of the Works Cited page… it lets the reader know which source from your Works Cited page you are using. Parenthetical Citation is an extension of the Works Cited page… it lets the reader know which source from your Works Cited page you are using. It follows the order of a Works Cited Citation, so if you have an author it is: It follows the order of a Works Cited Citation, so if you have an author it is: “quotation/information” ( author’s last name pg.#). ← period is last “quotation/information” ( author’s last name pg.#). ← period is last ↑ space between name and page number space between name and page number If there is no page number, omit it. If there is no page number, omit it.

IF YOU USED A QUOTE FROM THIS SOURCE, HOW SHOULD YOU CITE IT IN YOUR TEXT? Landsburg, Steven E. “Putting All Your Potatoes in One Basket: The Economic Lessons of the Great Famine.” Slate.com. 13 Mar Web. 15 Mar Use this quote from the article: “On a typical day in 1844, the average adult Irishman ate about 13 pounds of potatoes.”

SOLUTION: Few people are aware that “On a typical day in 1844, the average adult Irishman ate about 13 pounds of potatoes.” (Landsburg). Remember, the period goes after the citation.

PARENTHETICAL CITATION – YOUR TURN Using the article I place onscreen, quote the first line of the article, and parenthetically cite the author. Pretend that this is page 23 of his book. Using the article I place onscreen, quote the first line of the article, and parenthetically cite the author. Pretend that this is page 23 of his book.

SOLUTION “A non-stop full-court press gives weak basketball teams a chance against far stronger teams” (Gladwell 23). “quote” (Gladwell 23).

PARENTHETICAL CITATION – YOUR TURN At the beginning of class, you wrote a piece of advice for the warmup. At the beginning of class, you wrote a piece of advice for the warmup. Quote your neighbor’s advice, then cite them correctly parenthetically. Quote your neighbor’s advice, then cite them correctly parenthetically.

Quiz/Exit Ticket

1. HOW MANY BODY PARAGRAPHS WILL THE FOLLOWING ESSAY CONTAIN? The United States wanted independence from Britain because of unfair taxation and a lack of representation.

2. What is the order of information in a correct parenthetical citation? page number page number quote/information quote/information quotation marks quotation marks author’s last name author’s last name parentheses parentheses period period

3. How do you plan to apply the wisdom you received from your partner today?