Junior Research PaperAP English 112012

Points…Can you Afford to Not Care? Note Cards = 100 Points Class work Outline = 100 points Class Work Rough Draft= 100 Test Grade Research Paper = 200 Test Grade

Points Total = 500 Points. All Late Assignments are only worth

50% of their original value. Stay organized, stay motivated, and

stay on task!

Choose a Topic Choose a topic based on the following

elements: Your interest in the topic. If you don’t care

about the topic, it will be hard to maintain motivation for a month of study.

Resources available. If you choose a narrow or very creativity topic, (Brittany Spears should not have custody of her children), know that this will be a very difficult topic to find print sources. You will need to have extra motivation to find the information needed to complete your paper.

Media Center Research Find books relating to your topic using the

library reference search on their computers. Look through the book to see if they have

information you need. Complete the Source Information on your

Source sheet for any book you use. Label the source (#1, #2, #3)

Complete a note card for each fact you find. Paraphrase and summarize the information (you learned how to do this sophomore year!).

You will need a total of 60 cards

Source Information Sheet Source Type:Book Source

# Author/

Editor:___________________________________________ Book

Title:______________________________________________ Publication

city:__________________________________________ Publisher:__________________________________________

_____ Copyright

date:__________________________________________ Title of Article in

Book___________________________________ Author of Article in

Book_________________________________ Pages of article in

Book__________________________________

Source Information Sheet Source Type: Book

Source # 1 Author/Editor: Craig Wallace Book Title:_The Best of You____________ Publication

City:__Chicago________________________________ Publisher:__Oyster Mining Company____________ Copyright

date:___2007____________________________ Pages used in

Book__________________________________

Note Cards and Book Research Once you have completed your source

information, find facts that support your position, relate to your topic, or support the opposition (you will only need 3 main facts concerning your opposition).

Write one fact per note card. Remember to paraphrase. You may ONLY have 5 note cards with direct word for word quotations (indicated by quotation marks around the passage).

Note Card FormatSource # Student Last Name and Note Card #

1-2 Facts Summarized. Only 5 cards may have direct quotations (word for word).

MLA Citation(Author Last name and Page) Subcategory

Note Card Format ExampleSource # 1 Thompson 1

60% of the world’s water contain pollution, and 25% of the world’s rivers contain pollution.

(Whitton 25) Main Argument 3

Internet Sources Remember you must have at least two

print sources (books) that you will use in your paper.

If you cannot find books in our library, try your local public library.

When finished with book research, you will search for internet research.

Use library resources On your favorites bar, go to “SVHS library catalog” From here you can access Bigchalk or the

public library

If you find information that you may use, first copy the citation information from the bottom of the article onto your source page or copy and paste it onto a Word document (SAVE IT)! Source Citation:Schweiger, Larry J. "A call for urgent

action.(NWF VIEW)(global warming)." National Wildlife 46.1 (Dec-Jan 2008): 8(1). General Reference Center Gold. Gale. NC WiseOwl Thomson Gale PowerSearch. 6 Nov. 2008 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS>

Be sure to number this source Look for the author’s last name at the bottom or

top of the article. Use this for your citation. There will be no page number. (Schweiger) (Modern Science)

Internet Resources and Articles If you cannot find articles on Bigchalk,

then you may Google to find other articles.

CAUTION: You need to evaluate the sources for credibility. Make sure it is not a blog, a personal web page, or a web page not accredited by an organization.

Internet Source Information Source Type: Internet Source

# Author:_________________________________________ Title of Web

Article:________________________________________ Title of Web

Page:________________________________________ Publication Date/Last

updated/Revised:_______________________ Date Website

Visited:_____________________________________ Web Address: http://

_____________________________________

Completing an Internet Source Make sure the site is credible Write down all of the information on

your source page. The date revised or updated may be at

the top or bottom of the page. If it is not listed, put N/A

Internet Source Card Source Type: Internet Source # Author:_________________________________________ Title of Web

Article:________________________________________ Title of Web

Page:________________________________________ Publication Date/Last

updated/Revised:_______________________ Date Website

Visited:_____________________________________ Web Address: http://

_____________________________________

Use the following page to complete this card.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_n9_v21/ai_6100947

Internet Note Cards Remember to label the source # in the

upper left hand corner. The MLA citation will only be the

author’s last name. There will be no page #’s (Brown).

If there is no author, use the title of the web page (FEMA).

Note Card Organization Once you have completed all of your note cards, you

need to organize your note cards in the following manner. You MUST have 5 sources (at least 2 print) for your paper.

Introduction: Any interesting/startling facts (1-3), anecdotes, or information that would be a great “attention getter”

Counter Argument: Three facts that support the opposing view point of your topic

Your Argument Main Point #1: Any facts that support this point

Main Point #2: Any facts that support this main point Main Point #3: Any facts that support this point Conclusion: Any facts that are profound and would help

“call reader to action” or strongly impact the audience. After you have placed your note cards in the correct

order, label the subcategory on each card (introduction, counterargument, point 1, point 2, point 3, conclusion).

Outline Using your organized note cards, create

an outline for your paper. You may use the Sample Outline on my

web page and add your information. Although the outline will take a great

deal of time, it will make your paper much easier to write.

Outline Example-Introduction

Outline for Junior Research Paper on Controversial Issue

Title:I. Introduction

Attention Getter (Question, Startling/Interesting Statistic, Startling Statement, Anecdote, Quotation, etc.)

Description and definition of the issue (What is global warming?)

Importance of the issue (How does it impact our society?)

Outline Example: Body Paragraph 1

Brief Overview of Opposing Position: Counterargument Describe the basic view point of the opposition

Many would argue that cloning should be legalized because it may cure diseases.

Provide the supporting arguments and facts (supported by references to texts and well-known authorities) For example, some scientists say that cloning may provide clues to

genetic mapping and diseases (Bogo 1). Additionally, research seems to show that cloning allows individuals

to have a “back-up” of their specific blood, plasma, and even organs (Samson 2).

Elaborate/Analysis and summary of perspective A: To summarize, supporters of cloning believe that it is medically

beneficial to humans. Your Thesis: Three “big ideas” explaining why your position is better.

Indeed, many might believe cloning is beneficial. However, cloning should not be legalized because it is dangerous, expensive, and unethical.

Outline Example: Body Paragraph 2

Your Argument: Main Point #1 (Strong Point) Initially and first “big idea” in

Initially, cloning should not be legalized because it is dangerous. Provide the supporting arguments and facts for Main Point #1

(supported by references to texts and well-known authorities) from your notecards. For instance, forty percent of sheep cloned had mutations or medical

problems that resulted in death (Siler). Likewise, only ten percent of sheep cloned lived over five years

(Brown 8). Cloning has only been in existence since the 1950’s (Brown 10). More Note Card Facts

Elaborate/Analysis: So What? What does this information mean? Based on this research, cloning is a medical practice that has only

been used in recent years. The results of cloning are not always positive and are often unreliable.

Closing Sentence for Main Point #1 In summation, if cloning presents this amount of risk and danger for

sheep, why should society allow this practice to occur with humans?

Outline Example: Body Paragraph 3 Your Argument: Main Point #2 (Stronger Point)

A.Describe your second Main Point from thesisA.Furthermore, research shows that human cloning is expensive.

B.Provide the supporting arguments for Main Point #2 A.To illustrate,B.In addition,C.FactsD.Facts

Elaborate/Analysis: So What? What does this information mean?A.Obviously,

A.Closing Sentence for Main Point #2A.As a result,….is this research worth the cost?

Outline Example: Body Paragraph 4

Your Argument: Main Point #3 (Strongest Point) Describe your 3rd Main Point from thesis

Ultimately, Provide Supporting Facts/Evidence for Main Point #3

In particular, Similarly, Fact Fact

Elaborate/Analysis: So What? What does this information mean?

Closing Sentence for Main Point #3 Therefore, ….

Outline Example: Conclusion

Conclusion Restate thesis summarizing your main

points In conclusion,

State the importance, impact, or affect on American society

Provide a final, profound thought that “calls the reader” to action

Outline to Paper Go on the web site under “MLA

Formatting Tips” and follow the guidelines for creating a paper or open the sample research paper and edit the information to make it your paper.

Copy and paste your outline with source information onto the paper.

Delete the outline numbering system and make the facts flow into sentences. Be sure to include citations.

Create your Works Cited page when finished by using www.bibme.org

Sample MLA Paper This is an example illustrating what your final MLA

research paper should look like. http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf Do not risk plagiarizing any part of your paper. If you are

short on length, find more information and document it correctly.

Plagiarism is copying someone else’s work and presenting it as your own. If you are using someone else’s direct words, you must use quotation marks.

For all information that is not common knowledge, you must provide the parenthetical citation (Brown 7).

Your paper must be 2-4 pages (standard) or 4-5 (honors and AP)

You must have 5 sources (at least 2 print) You must have a title page, outline, paper, and works

cited page.