Construct at least ten questions about your author/and or topic. These questions will be turned into statements and will become the main topics of your formal outline. Try to construct questions that will generate thought – provoking answers.

 Place each question at the top of a note-card (either a large index card or a Noodle Tools note card).  You may have several cards with the same questions on them  Use separate cards for different sources.  As you conduct your research, place your notes on the cards and label the cards to indicate which type of note is on the card.

 If your notes from a specific source are verbatim (word for word direct quote), write the code letter “V” on the card to remind yourself that the notes are verbatim quotes.  If you paraphrase a quote from a specific source, write the code “P” to remind yourself that your notes on that card are paraphrased.  If your notes are a summary, use the code “S” on the card to indicate that. Summaries are usually lengthier than verbatim quotes or paraphrases.

 Your note card should also contain the following:  The topic name you are researching  The source  The author’s full name  The parenthetical citation (author’s last name and page numbers).

 Source cards should contain the following information:  Source Card number  Author  Title  Publisher  Place of Publication  Copyright Date

* When constructing your formal outline, place your Thesis Statement at the top of the page before you begin your outline. * Turn your questions into statements. * All points in the outline should be in the form of complete sentences, beginning with a capital letter and ending with a period.

 Follow this link to see an example of how to construct your formal outline.  e.htm e.htm  Arrange your notes in a logical order before constructing your formal outline  Remember: Your thesis statement appears first.

 You will now begin creating paragraphs based on the main topics in your outline.  Your Formal Outline will serve as the framework of your paper.  Follow the framework to give your paper a logical order.  Make sure that you elaborate with your research under each main topic.  Do not forget to include parenthetical citations; you will have a lot of them.

 Make sure that you use transition words between sentences and paragraphs.  Vary the way you begin each sentence.  Introduce each quotation you use, then comment on it (analyze it) after you integrate it into your paper. Make sure that you use meaningful, pertinent quotations.  Revise to get rid of passive voice verbs.  Most of the paper should be in third person point of view.

 Check for pronoun/antecedent agreement.  Check for subject/verb agreement.  Check for commas after introductory phrases and clauses.  Check for Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments.  Check to make sure that you use a consistent verb tense.  Make sure that you use MLA format and include the heading and a title.

 Your Works Cited Page is the last numbered page in your Research Paper.  Create the Works Cited Page using the information on your Source Cards.  Use the Citation Maker in Noodle Tools to create your Works Cited Page.  Remember to include page numbers in your paper.  Follow the example of a Research Paper that is in your textbook.

 Remember that your Research Paper must be 12-font, double-spaced.  Do not quadruple space between paragraphs.  Read your paper out loud to find and fix any typographical errors, missing words, or misspellings.  Use your Rubric and Checklist to make sure that you have included all required elements of the Research Paper.