RESEARCH PAPER PACKET

Read the information before asking questions.  Most of your questions will be answered here

Requirements	Topic Outline	Final Copy
Hints for Writing	Note Cards	Works Cited Page
What's the Process?	Speech	MLA                Documentation
Sources	Sentence Outline	Grading Rubric
Thesis Statement	Rough Draft	Proposal Letter

REQUIREMENTS:

1.      An approved topic

2.       The BODY of the paper should be 3-5 double-spaced, typed pages using font size 12 and Times New Roman script.  Your paper should have one-inch margins on each side.   Two full pages and a partial third page will not meet the requirements for this paper.

3.      Follow the format in the MLA HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS OF RESEARCH PAPERS.  The library has several copies.  Your grammar textbook gives these same guidelines.  You can also visit the MLA web site for help: www.mla.org.

4.      Minimum of 7 sources, including at least two books, two periodicals, and a book of quotations.  The remaining sources can be any type including the above mentioned and the Internet.  Check with your teacher to make sure your Internet sources are reliable and credible.  You will need to locate the author’s name of any web site information and be able to explain how you know they are an expert in the particular field.

5.      Items to be turned in for teacher grading”

a.      business letter explaining the selected topic with academic honesty paragraph

b.      list of sources, properly formatted in MLA style.  TYPED

c.      photocopies of all sources cited in the paper—no exceptions to this requirement

d.      formal sentence outline

e.      rough draft

f.       final copy

          I will sign each of these items.  Keep all items with my handwriting on them.

6.      The final paper is worth 150 points: format—50 points; structure and grammar—50 points;  content—50 points.

7.      As with any English assignment, you will lose points if the final paper is late.  You will be given 3 days to turn in your paper and will receive 3 extra percentage points if the paper is turned in on the first day of the “turn-in period.”  If you do not turn in the paper by the third day and are absent that third day, you must get a parent or friend to deliver your assignment to me (Room 108) by the end of the school day.

HINTS FOR WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER

1.      Understand the process (overall and individual steps)

2.      do not hesitate to ask questions !

3.      Listen and read carefully

4.      Do not miss a step.  Keep up and on time.  All parts will be late until the previous part is turned in

5.      Be organized.

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER

1.      Decide on the topic

2.      Find and photocopy reliable sources

3.      Decide exactly what the arguable/provable point of your paper will be (thesis statement)

4.      Collect information about your topic from the sources you have.  Use a different color of highlighter for each source. 

5.      Organize this information into a logical, detailed form (topic and sentence outlines)

6.      Prepare a speech to present your research to the class in a 2-3 minute speech.

7.      Write your rough draft and type it.  Save it on the computer.

8.      Revise, make corrections, proofread, and check your paper against the grading rubric at the end of the packet.

9.      Turn in your final paper with highlighted sources and be ready to tell the teacher what your paper should earn according to the grading rubric standards. All cited material in the paper should be highlighted in the same color that you highlighted the source information in your photocopied sources.

The most important aspect of your paper is to give credit where credit is due.  Since the information you write comes from other places (sources), you must tell the teacher exactly which information comes from which source.  You do this by using parenthetical notation.  We will use parenthetical notes instead of footnotes or endnotes.  With parenthetical notes, you simply give the bibliographic information by using parentheses after the given information.  Plagiarism will result in an “F” and reported to the Administration for further action.

 SOPHOMORE RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST/ GRADING RUBRIC

Elements                                    Maximum Points

Student Score:   __________ / 150