THE JUNIOR RESEARCH PAPER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Thesis Statement  It MUST be arguable.  It MUST connect 1984 to the outside topic you chose. (Therefore, it must have the phrase “George Orwell’s 1984” and your topic choice in it.)  It MUST have before it or be followed by the rest of the Introduction paragraph, which makes at least 3 claims (these claims will be your subcategories).

Thesis Statement Examples  Example #1:  The misuse of technology in George Orwell’s 1984 is very much like the level of monitoring and surveillance that exists in American society today. Similarities between Oceania and the United States in terms of technology abuse are numerous. They include the overuse of cameras around the country, the use of GPS to track citizens, and the creation of new American laws such as the Patriot Act. Claim #1 Claim #2 Claim #3

Thesis Statement Examples  Example #2:  In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, the totalitarian regime that is led by the Party shares many similarities to the policies and ideals held by North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-il. Just as the Party does, Kim Jong-il puts much of his focus on the military, has complete control over the country’s economy, and has very combative relations with other countries.

What is Plagiarism?  Plagiarism is representing someone else's work as your own. It's plagiarism whether you use:  a whole document  a paragraph  a single sentence  a distinctive phrase  a specialized term  specific data  a graphic element of any kind

Secondary Sources  You need at least 4 secondary sources beside 1984 (total = 5).  Print out all the sources that you find useful in your paper – this is helpful when you annotate.  At a minimum you will use 6 citations from your secondary sources.  After you find a great source, print it, read it, and annotate it, you can start to write your source notes. You will have 5 total pages of source notes.

What is Citing? What is a Citation?  CITING is giving credit to the source of the information you are using. It didn’t come from your brain, so you have to give that person credit!!  A CITATION is the tag you put at the end of a piece of information you borrowed from another source. Even if the information you used is a paraphrase and you put it into your own words, you still MUST, MUST, MUST include a citation at the end of the sentence/paragraph. Without it, it’s plagiarism.  ***NOTE: All citations within the research paper will also be extended and given a full entry on the Works Cited page.

Citation Example (Book)  O’Brien proved that the Party was evil when he said to Winston, “In our world, there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement” (Orwell 267). Notice how the source information is in quotation marks and it’s copied exactly. Notice how the period is AFTER the citation. The citation is in parentheses, is the author’s LAST name, then no comma, then the page #

Citation Example (Internet)  “President Barack Obama has decided that photos of the dead Osama Bin Laden should not be released” (BBC News 5/11/11). If a quote or paraphrase comes from an Internet source, you put the author’s last name, a space, and then the DATE YOU WROTE THE NOTE DOWN (not the date the article was written, etc.) If no author is given (which happens a lot w/ Internet items), then just put the website title as the author.

You Need to Cite When You…  Use or refer to someone else’s words or ideas (even if it’s not a direct quote)  Gain information through interviewing another person  Copy the exact words or a “unique phrase”  Reprint diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, videos, music  Use other people’s ideas (printed, or through conversations or )

Ways to Use Information  Direct Quotation: You use an author’s EXACT words in your research paper, even if it’s just part of their sentence. The quote MUST match the source document word for word, must be in quotation marks, and must include a citation.  Example: Winston constantly wondered, “Was life better before the Revolution that it is now?” (Orwell 93).

Ways to Use Information (cont.)  Paraphrasing: This is putting a passage from a source into your own words. Even with a paraphrase, credit must still be given to the author through a citation (and on your Works Cited page). Example: Original Text: “A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in trouble” (Sipher 1). Paraphrase: The low scores on standardized exams are showing that American schools need some help (Sipher 1).

Ways to Use Information (cont.)  Summarizing: This is putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the point(s). Once again, it is required to give credit to the original source.  TO SUM UP, IF IT DIDN’T COME FROM YOUR BRAIN, CITE IT.  WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE!!!