1. Research Paper Notes

2. There are 5 parts of the MLA research paper
Title page
Outline (double spaced)
Research paper (double spaced)
Works cited (double spaced)
Notecards
We will look at each of these elements in detail.

3. Title Page An MLA title page includes… Title of paper (all caps)
Your name
Due date of paper
Class name (English 8)

4. How to create a title page
Type your paper title in all caps in the center of the page.
Skip 4-6 more lines and type your name.
Skip 2 lines more lines and type the due date.
Skip 2 more lines and type the class name.

5. What does a title page look like?

6. Outline
An MLA outline isn’t really different than other formal outlines you may have done.
Use Roman Numerals
Double space
Type your thesis at the top

7. How to create an outline
Type the thesis (double spaced) at the top
Skip a couple lines and start your outline with Roman Numeral I.
Below that “I” use an A, B, and C to list your supporting details.
Continue in this format until you have 3 main topics and supporting details for each.
Note: You do not outline introductions and conclusions
Note: Outline must match the order of your thesis

8. What does an outline look like?

9. The research paper Double spaced Length determined by the teacher
Written in paragraph form
At least 5 paragraphs (intro, 3 body, conclusion)
No contractions or slang
Do not use headers/footers
Uses parenthetical documentation (PD)
Page numbers can be added if your teacher asks for it
Do not type your name on the first page….that’s what the title page was for 

10. Things to remember about the research paper
The organization of your paper needs to match the outline EXACTLY.
For example, if the main points in your outline are family, education, and career, then your first body paragraph in the paper should be about family. The second about education. The third about career.

11. Parenthetical Documentation
What does “parenthetical” mean?

12. Parenthetical Documentation
What does “parenthetical” mean?
Inside of parentheses (like this)

13. Parenthetical Documentation
What does “parenthetical” mean?
Inside of parentheses (like this)
What does “documentation” mean?

14. Parenthetical Documentation
What does “parenthetical” mean?
Inside of parentheses (like this)
What does “documentation” mean?
Written down, documented

15. How do you write a PD?
Author’s last name and page number
(Huguley 46)
Notice I did not use “pg” or “page” before I listed the number. Don’t do that.
Very important!! Whatever name you list in the PD must match your works cited. More on this later.

16. What does the paper look like?

17. Let’s take a closer look at the PD in that paper…

18. Works Cited
You might know the term “bibliography” better, but it’s the same as a works cited.
A WC page lists (in a very detailed manner) each of the sources you used in research.

19. How to cite a book Citing a Book
1. author’s last name, first name—period
2. title of book (underlined or italicized)—period
3. city of publication—colon
4. publishing company—comma
5. year of publication (use the year that is closest to 2010)—period
Example of book citation:
Smith, Jane. For the Love of Puppies. Philadelphia: Harper Collins, 1999.
Notice the indention of the second line!

20. How to cite an AVL article
author’s name—period
Name of article in quotations—period
Name of magazine/periodical the article came from (underline this)—no punctuation after
Date the article was published
AVL (or you can name the database specifically, like KidsSearch)—period
Date you accessed the article--period
Example of AVL citation…
Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report 18 Oct. 1999: 3. Alabama Virtual Library.   28 Feb
Again, notice the indention!

21. How to cite a website author’s name—period
Article title in quotes—period
Website’s title (in the blue bar)
Article date--period
Date you accessed the website--period
URL of the website—period (just use the basic website, not the whole crazy URL)  
 Example...
Schuster, Alan. "Spa and Hot Tub Chemical  Questions." Ask Alan. Aqua-Clear Industries.  18 Aug Oct. 
Notice the indented lines!

22. What do I do when all my resources have been cited?
Alphabetize them according to the first word of the citation
Double space everything
Make sure every line under the first one is indented
Type Works Cited at the top of the page in the center.

23. What does the final WC page look like?

24. What is a research note card?
Notecards are 3x5 index cards with only one, just one, no more than one fact per card.
There are 4 components to making an MLA notecard. Example on next slide.

25. 4 Items to include on card.

26. So, what goes on the Note Card??
As you find interesting facts about your topic, you will write them down.
Each idea should be paraphrased/summarized (in your own words) or quoted and written on a card.

27. How do you record information on the notecard?
Paraphrase/Summarize—shorter, in your own words; rewrite what the author said
Quote—stating exactly what the author said; must use quotation marks
DON’T PLAGIARIZE!!!! ALWAYS GIVE THE CREDIT TO THE REAL AUTHOR!

28. PLAGIARISM
It's like lip-synching to someone else's voice and accepting the applause and rewards for yourself.
IF YOU PLAGIARIZE, YOU WILL FAIL!!! …any time you take a writer’s words and use them as your own, you are plagiarizing

29. 1. Card Topic Topic is the kind of information on the card.
Think of it as the title, or main idea of the card. After writing down the information, figure out how you could briefly categorize, or title it.

30. 2. Source Title
The source title is the name of the book, magazine, website, etc., in which you found the information.

31. 4. page numbers
It is important to be accurate with the page numbers on your note cards, as you will need them for citations throughout your research paper.

32. Sample Note Cards
Organized by Card Topic

33. Citing my source!!
Information for this presentation came from the following source
“Researching and Organizing Your Paper: The Note Card System.” English Works! at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. Published: 1997-present. Retrieved 7 March, <

34. THE END!