1. Research The Basics

2. What Is a Research Paper/Project? A formal, written presentation of your findings on a topic It is based on information you have gathered from several sources. Books Internet Articles/ Databases

3. What Should My Research Paper Have? A clearly stated thesis Factual support from a variety of sources Clear organization A bibliography or a works-cited list that shows your research sources

4. Consider Your Audience Who will be my audience for this presentation? Do they know anything about this topic? For a general audience (like ours), you will give the background and define any special vocabulary. Example: Mt. Olympus should be defined for the reader.

5. Define Purpose To Persuade- Include support from authorities. Provide details that will convince the audience. To Inform- Give organized background and details. Explain any special vocabulary. To Entertain- Give the information in an interesting, fun way. Include pictures and details in presentations.

6. Take Notes! Now you can start looking for good information As you research, take notes to help you when you make your presentation and write your paper.

7. Source Cards For each source, create a single card to note the information you’ll need Internet Sources –Title –Website –When it was accessed –URL www.quia.com Book –Author –Title –Publisher –City and Date of publication *Number each source card!!*

8. Note Cards Use note cards to record specific items of information. –Example: George Washington was the first president of the United States. Place only one item on a card and include the source number on the card.

9. Thesis, Thesis, THESIS! The thesis statement is the main idea of the paper. You will work to support this idea with you body paragraphs Example: –Spain offers a variety of activities for vacationers. Body could include the variety of activities: -theatres -restaurants -hiking trails

10. Organize! Decide how your paper/project will be organized Examples: –Chronological Order –Order of Importance –Comparison and Contrast

11. Write an Outline Thesis Statement: Bubble gum is big business in the United States I. Introduction II History of Gum Chewing A. Evidence B. Invention 1. Fleer Corporation 2. Walter Deimer III. Manufacture and Promotion of Gum A. Ingredients and Process B. Promotion IV. Funny Facts A. Other Uses V. Snappy Summary and Conclusion

12. Use a Variety of Sources Paraphrase- Restate a writer’s specific ideas in YOUR own word. You can paraphrase a sentence or a paragraph. Summary- You can include the material you found through summarizing or reporting key facts.

13. WATCH OUT FOR PLAGIARISM!!!! Plagiarism is using someone else’s work as your own. It is wrong and ILLEGAL! If you use someone else’s ideas you must either quote the author directly or use your own words and cite the source.

14. Citing Sources If you use someone else’s ideas, you MUST cite that person’s work! Include a bibliography at the end of a project or paper to give credit to a source

15. MLA Citations Book Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York: Bantam Books, 1979. Internet - “Half Past Autumn: Newspaper Transcript.” Online Newshour. 19 Oct. 1999.