SETTING UP YOUR RESEARCH PAPER

RESEARCH PAPER PROGRESS CHECKLIST/TIMELINE

WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS - TIPS

This outline is to give you very general tips on the writing of a research paper. It will direct you to other sources which will provide you with more in-depth help.

Why do research?/How to do research

Analyzing the assignment/Identifying the purpose/Identifying an audience/Considering your own attitude/Gauging the scope of the paper/Noting the length of the essay/Scheduling the project

Why Do Research?

There are many reasons to do research, but perhaps the most important is this: to broaden and deepen what you know. All of us have our own interests, and what we cover in class is only part of the picture; research allows you to become a mini-expert in your own area.

Other reasons include:

Testing what you think you know. Just because someone told you something, how do you know it is true? Research helps you to find out.
Understanding the other side of an issue. If you are a passionate supporter of a particular viewpoint, you may never know what people who disagree with you really think, as often you don’t listen to their position. Research can force you to look at an issue from more than one perspective and give you a stronger appreciation for the complexity of it.
Opening your mind. Research into something that you view negatively can provide insights into that topic that you might otherwise never get.

You will notice that none of these reasons include passing the course. Of course that reason goes without saying – for now. But learning to do careful research will help you long after you finish this course!

The research paper students are creating is in direct connection to Standard Indicator 8.5.3... They will write a research report that: has a well defined thesis, uses a variety of sources, utilizes paraphrasing and summarizing all perspectives on the topic. This project is also meeting Standard 8.7.12; Students will deliver their research in a presentation. They will once again state their thesis, paraphrase and summarize ideas, concepts, and direct quotations, then use charts and maps as graphic aids in their presentation.

How to do Research

Research begins with the asking of a question. You may wish that I will do that for you, but the best research always grows out of your own questioning. The journals, readings, and essays you complete in class are meant to spark curiosity, and out of these you may find material that you wish to investigate.

A Step-by-Step guide (borrowed from The New St Martin’s Handbook)

Analyzing a research assignment

Before you begin research in response to a writing assignment, be sure you understand the requirements and limits of the assignment. Pay close attention to the exact wording of the assignment. If it asks you to choose your own topic, consider any requirements for purpose, scope of research, and length as you do so. Then try to map out a rough schedule for your research.

Identifying the purpose

Read through the assignment for cue words, such as describe, survey, analyze, explain, classify, compare, or contrast, that specify the pattern the essay is to follow. What do such words mean in this field? Keeping these meanings in mind as you begin researching will help you identify sources that are appropriate for your purpose.

Identifying the audience

Find our whether your assignment specifies an audience other than the instructor. Then answer the following questions:

•Who will be interested in the information you gather, and why?

•What do you know about their backgrounds?

•What will they want to know? What will they already know?

•What response do you want to elicit from them?

•What assumptions might they hold about the topic?

•What kinds of evidence will you need to present to convince them?

•What will your instructor expect in a strong essay on this topic?

Considering your rhetorical stance (your own attitude)

Think about your own attitude toward your topic, your stance. Are you just curious about it? Do you like it? dislike it? find it bewildering? What influences have shaped your stance?

Gauging the scope of your research

Next consider the kind of research you will need to do. Does the assignment specify how many or what kind(s) of meant sources you should use? Does it suggest any field research – interviewing, surveying, or observing? Will the Web be a good (or bad) place to look?

Noting the length of the essay

The amount of research and writing time you need for a five-page essay differs markedly from that for a fifteen-page essay. And you may need more rime if materials are not available or if you discover that you must do more research. The best plan is to begin work as soon as possible.

Scheduling a research project

Assignment date: __________________

TO DO	DONE
Analyze assignment; decide on primary purpose and audience; choose topic if necessary.
Arrange library time; decide on keywords, and develop research strategy.
Do background reading and online searches; narrow topic if necessary.
Decide on research question, tentative hypothesis.
Start working bibliography; track down sources in the library and online.
Develop working thesis and rough outline.
If necessary, conduct interviews, make observations, or distribute and collect questionnaires.
Read and evaluate sources; take notes.
Draft explicit thesis and outline.
Prepare first draft.
Obtain and evaluate critical responses.
Do more research if necessary.
Revise draft; prepare list of works cited.
Edit revised draft; use spell checker if available.
Prepare final draft.
Do final proofreading.

Search Engine - TIPS

http://www.library.vcu.edu/help/adv3.html

Researching Your Topic

You are part of a family who has been challenged to do a television show entitled Extreme Family. Your family must relive the past as members of an Indian tribe. Because everyone in the family will be affected by being a part of this program, you have decided to present your family with research on the tribe of which you will be a part.

Now you will gather information using a variety of sources, Websites, books, interviews and other TV programming. The following are the topics you are researching:

Food. Types eaten. preparation

Religion. What is practiced

Music... What type

Dress… Typical dress for daily activities … celebrations, etc

Art... Examples of their art

Literature…What is their oral tradition?

Housing… What are their homes like?

Education... How are they educated?

Sports and Leisure… What do they do for entertainment

Geography

Describe the land where they live

Climate... describe

What natural resources do they have?

Economy

Do they have a system of currency?

Present Day

Describe what has happened to the potters today

Are they still in existence today?

What is their lifestyle like today?

Research Paper Note Cards (PowerPoint Presentation by Ms. Reese)

For more information -http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/notecard.html

Setting Up Your Research Paper

Your research paper must be at least 4 pages in length. It must include citations with in the paper and it must be typed and doubled spaced, 12 font, Times New Roman, black ink. Your paper should be set up according to the directions below. Refer to the researching your topic sheet for details on what information to include in teach section

Introduction: Write a thesis statement about your tribe

Tell what type of information will support your thesis within the paper

Body

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Conclusion

Section 4

First drafts due March 11th

Final draft due March 24th

Ms. Shapiro’s classes will be writing this as a research narrative.

RESEARCH PAPER PROGRESS CHECKLIST

To write your research paper and track your progress, you will need to follow these steps in order.

Staple this progress checklist to the inside front cover of your research folder.

Steps	Date Assigned	Date Due	Completed
1. Lesson: How to do a Research Paper
2. Choose Your Topic
3. Select Resources and Write Bibliography Cards
4. Bibliography Cards
5. Take Notes
6. Write Preliminary Outline
7. Write First Draft with Citations
8. Prepare Final Bibliography
9. Type Final Paper and Publish
10. Turn in Final Paper!!

Citing Sources - TIPS

http://www.gananda.org/library/mshslibrary/mlatemplate.htm

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

BOOKS

Author: _________________________________________________________________________

Title: ____________________________________________________________________________

City of publication: ______________________________________________________________

Publishing Co.:_________________________________________________________________

Copyright date: ________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. Title Of The Book Italicized. City: Publisher, Date.

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

GENERAL ENCYCLOPEDIAS - PRINT OR ONLINE

Author of article (if there is one): __________________________________________________

Title of article: __________________________________________________________________

Title of encyclopedia: __________________________________________________________

(Encyclopedia Americana, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, or New Book Of Knowledge, etc.)

Copyright date ed: _________________ (example: 2002 ed.)

Title of the Database or Online Service ( ex: Grolier Online) ___________________________________________

Date of access (date you printed the article): ____________________

Web address of online service: _______________________________________

Putting it together on your final works cited list - Print format and Online formats:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article in Quotes." Title of Encyclopedia Italicized.

Year ed.

Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Article In Quotes." Title of Encyclopedia. Date. Title Of Database

or Online Service Italicized. Date of access <http://EncyclopediaWebAddress.com>.

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

REFERENCE BOOKS

Author of article (if there is one): __________________________________________________

Title of article: __________________________________________________________________

Title of reference book or series : _________________________________________________

Editor OR Author of the reference book/series (if there is one):________________________________________

Number of volumes in the set: ___________________ (example: 5 vols.)

City of publication: ______________________________________________________________

Publishing Co.:_________________________________________________________________

Copyright date: _________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article in Quotes." Title of Reference Book Italicized. Editor’s

Firstname Lastname, ed. # vols. City of Publication: Publishing Company, year.

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

ONLINE DATABASES

For example: EBSCOhost OR Gale Research Database (Magazines & Newspapers only)

Author of article: ______________________________________________________________________

Title of article: _________________________________________________________________________

Original Source (Name of periodical, book or series): _______________________________________________________

Date of original source: _______________________

Page range OR total number of pages of the article (if available): __________________

Title of Online Database: _____________________

Name Of Local Library Providing The Online Database: _____________________________________

Date of access (date you printed the article): ____________________

Database Home Page Address: __________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Article In Quotes." Title of Periodical Italicized Date: page range. Title of

Online Database. Ruben A. Cirillo High School Library. Date of Access

<http://DatabaseHomePageAddress.com>.

Note: Dates should be typed in the following format: 12 November 2002

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

ONLINE REFERENCE ARTICLE

(For example: Gale Research Databases (Viewpoints articles only) OR Twayne)

Author of article: ______________________________________________________________________

Title of article: _________________________________________________________________________

Title of original source: _______________________________________________________________

Date of original source (if available): ___________ Pages of the original source (if available): __________________

Title of Specific Database on an Online Service: (such as Opposing Viewpoints or Twayne United States Authors):

_______________________________________________________

Title of Online Service: _____________________

Name Of Local Library Providing The Online Database: _____________________________________

Date of access (date you printed the article): ____________________

Database Home Page Address: __________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Article Title." Title of Original Source Italicized. Title of Specific Database. Title of Online

Service. Ruben A. Cirillo High School Library. Date of access <http://DatabaseHomePageAddress.com>.

Note: Dates should be typed in the following format: 12 November 2002

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

ONLINE REFERENCE ARTICLE

(For example: Gale Research Databases (Viewpoints articles only) OR Twayne)

Author of article: ______________________________________________________________________

Title of article: _________________________________________________________________________

Title of original source: _______________________________________________________________

Date of original source (if available): ___________ Pages of the original source (if available): __________________

Title of Specific Database on an Online Service: (such as Opposing Viewpoints or Twayne United States Authors):

_______________________________________________________

Title of Online Service: _____________________

Name Of Local Library Providing The Online Database: _____________________________________

Date of access (date you printed the article): ____________________

Database Home Page Address: __________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Article Title." Title of Original Source Italicized. Title of Specific Database. Title of Online

Service. Ruben A. Cirillo High School Library. Date of access <http://DatabaseHomePageAddress.com>.

Note: Dates should be typed in the following format: 12 November 2002

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

INTERNET WEB PAGES

Author (if known): ________________________________________________________________________

Title of Page or Document: ________________________________________________________________

Title of Site or Larger Work: ________________________________________________________________

Date Document Was Written/Updated/Posted: ____________________

Name of any associated institution: ________________________

Date of Access (date you printed the article: ________________

URL (address) of Document: ________________________________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Web Page In Quotes." Title of Site or Larger Work Italicized. Date

Written. Name of any Associated Institution. Date of Access

<http://www.website.org/page.htm>.

Note: Dates should be typed in the following format: 12 November 2002

WORKS CITED INFORMATION

INTERNET WEB PAGES

Author (if known): ________________________________________________________________________

Title of Page or Document: ________________________________________________________________

Title of Site or Larger Work: ________________________________________________________________

Date Document Was Written/Updated/Posted: ____________________

Name of any associated institution: ________________________

Date of Access (date you printed the article: ________________

URL (address) of Document: ________________________________________________________________

How to put it all together on your final works cited list:

Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Web Page In Quotes." Title of Site or Larger Work Italicized. Date

Written. Name of any Associated Institution. Date of Access

<http://www.website.org/page.htm>.

Note: Dates should be typed in the following format: 12 November 2002

File:works cited blanks/forms

Additional Information:

http://www.apa.org/journals/webref.html
http://www.mla.org/
And, last but not least, let's not forget to give credit where credit is due. APA and MLA have guidelines for citing resources that you find on the Internet.