research project

research:finding information through study rather than through personal experience

Write a research paper with a strong thesis statement.

Identify purpose and audience, and determine appropriate tone for a research paper.

Use evidence gained from research to support the thesis.

Use an appropriate pattern of organization and appropriate transitions between paragraphs.

Include citations within the body of a research paper and full citations on a Works Cited page.

Use complete sentences and correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

Assignment

Choosing a Topic Look around.

~ What interests you? ~ What questions do you have about the

world around you?~ What’s in the news? ~ What subject do you enjoy in school? ~ What are your hobbies?

Brainstorm a list of topic ideas.

Choose and narrow a topic for a research paper.

Questions Write a list of questions about your topic.

You may already know the answers to some questions. Others should be questions to which you would like to learn the answers.

With those questions in mind, you will be ready to begin your research process.

Use the card catalog and the computer catalog.

Use non-circulating materials.

Use the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature and/or other indexes.

Use the Internet.

Make bibliography cards for all print and non-print sources.

Finding Information

You will find it easier to write your research paper if you take plenty of good notes.

You will be able to pick and choose from among your cards to use the information that best develops your topic.

To take good notes, you will need to use a separate note card for each piece of information.

Take Notes

At the top left of the card, write the subtopic.

At the top right, list the author and page number of the source.

In the main text of the note, write down the important points.

You may either paraphrase, or quote directly from the source. If you quote directly, make sure to write the exact words and put them in quotation marks. When you write your research paper, you will need to give credit to any sources you quote or to any paraphrases in which you change only a few words.

Take Notes

Take Notes

Take Notes(back of card)

Organize note cards.

Write a thesis statement.

Determine a pattern of organization.

Make a formal outline.

Organize

Main topics follow Roman numerals and periods.

Subtopics follow capital letters and periods.

Specific details follow Arabic numerals and periods.

More information about the specific details follows lowercase letters and periods.

Outline

5-7 double-spaced pages, or approximately 1,500-2,100 words.

Cite research information. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation. Re-read the entire essay before turning it in. Wait for feedback before writing the final draft!

REMEMBER: Write a research paper with a strong thesis statement. Identify purpose and audience, and determine

appropriate tone for a research paper. Use evidence gained from research to support the

thesis. Use an appropriate pattern of organization and

appropriate transitions between paragraphs.

First Draft

Choosing a Topic – Due 3/9 (15

pts)

Formal Outline – Due 3/16 (100

pts)

First Draft – Due 3/22 **

(300 pts)

Final Draft – Due 3/30 (400

pts)

**NOTE: While you are waiting for your first draft to be corrected, complete the Day 36 – Day 40 lessons.

Due Dates