1. R ESEARCH P ROJECT 2015 Introduction (approximately four pages) Literature Review (approximately five pages) In-text citations

2. I NTRODUCTION : P URPOSE To persuade the reader to keep reading To identify your research questions To state your purpose statement To define any terms related to your topic of study

3. I NTRODUCTION ( CENTERED AND UNDERLINED ): S ECTIONS Statement of the Problem (centered only): What is your problem? Define your research project as a problem through an engaging way (i.e. anecdote, alarming statistic, etc.): one- two paragraphs. Rationale and Focus of the Problem (centered only): What is the goal or the aims of this research? How will your study help to understand the problem, or solve some piece of the problem, or lead to a change in policy, practice, intervention, etc.? Briefly describe the study and state the problem: one-two paragraphs. Definition of Terms (centered only): You should provide operational definitions for all your key terms in your research questions: minimum of four terms and definitions. Purpose of the Study (centered only): It should be written as a single sentence. It is the bridge from the problem to research questions: one sentence. Research Questions (centered only) : What specific questions can enable you to achieve your purpose for research? Make sure to pose questions that data can answer: Two-four questions; one per variable minimum.

4. L ITERATURE REVIEW : PURPOSE To place your paper in context by explaining why the question is important and what other people have learned about it. What does the past research say about your topic? What does the past research NOT say about your topic?

5. L ITERATURE REVIEW ( CENTERED AND UNDERLINED ): O RDER OF PARAGRAPHS Definition and History (centered only): How is your topic defined? What is the history of your topic? Or what is the history of the research on your topic? (minimum of two paragraphs; one for definition and one for history) Theories and Approaches (centered only): What are the theories or approaches on your topic that exist or have existed (two to four paragraphs; one for each variable (i.e. one paragraph on the theory/approach on the mental affects of eating disorders) Criticisms (centered only): What research exists that counters your theories or approaches? (one to three paragraphs; the number depends on how much conflicting information you found) See example online for proper formatting: http://www.chagrinschools.org/Downloads/Birth%20Order%202013.pdf

6. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS 3 or fewer authors: List the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation. The page number always goes in parenthesis at the end of the sentence. Ex: Smith, Yang, and Moore argue… United States (76). Ex: The authors state "Tighter gun control… rights" (Smith, Yang, and Moore 76).

7. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS 4 or more authors: Provide the first author’s name followed by et al. in the text or in the parenthetical citations. The page number always goes in parenthesis at the end of the sentence. Ex: Jones et al. counter… laws (4). Ex: Legal experts… laws (Jones et al. 4).

8. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS More than one work by the same author: If you cite more than one work by the same author, include a shortened title of the specific work from which you are quoting. Ex: Visual studies, because it is such a new discipline, may be "too easy" (Elkins, "Visual Studies" 63).

9. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS Secondary Sources: If you cite a quote within your source, mention the name of the original speaker in the sentence. In addition, in your parenthetical citation include “qtd. in” followed by the name of the writer of the source and the page number. Ex: Smith states that “the sky is blue” (qtd. in Jones 24)

10. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS Multiple sources/authors: If you are citing more than one source in a sentence to support your claim, mention all names alphabetically and page numbers in your parenthetical citation with semicolons between each. Ex: As a new discipline, visual studies have been criticized for being too easy (Elkins 2; Jones 5; Smith 20).

11. I N - TEXT C ITATIONS Non-print or sources from the Internet: Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name). Ex: Modern Language Association (MLA) is the suggested citation guide for English classes (The Purdue OWL).