Name : ________________________

Research Paper – Quarter 2

Our research paper should inform our reader about a topic of our choice. Research papers do not include opinion. Our paper should be composed of three major sections:

· An introduction that includes an interesting opening and a thesis statement that summarizes the main focus of our paper

· A body that includes details, supported by facts and examples, for each main idea

· A conclusion that summarizes our main idea, but is more than just repetition of the introductory statements.

Our research topic will be chosen from the topics discussed in class.

1. Our topic is ___ DRAGONS ________________.

2. Find a minimum of three sources to read about your topic. More is better.

3. Write a thesis statement for our paper (done in class).

4. Find a minimum of three sources and fill out at least three Source Fact Forms (6-10 facts) for

your sources of information. Remember to summarize what you read. Put it in your own

words.

5. Complete an outline of our paper (done in class). Due:__ done ____________

6. Write first rough draft of your section of the paper. Due:__ 1/2/14 ___________

7. Write a second rough draft of your section of the paper and make a Works Cited page (done

in class) (use www.citationmachine.net). Cite your sources of information correctly. Be sure

to get all of the necessary information. Due:__ 1/8/14 ________ _

8. Revise and edit your section of the paper.

9. Write a final typed copy of your section of the paper.

10. Turn your section of the paper in to Ms. Hall. Due: _____ 1/14/14 _________________

The following information will, hopefully, make your assignment easier. Don’t leave out any of these steps, and keep them in order.

1. My research topic is _____DRAGONS______________________________.

2. I have read at least three sources of information on my topic. I have recorded the necessary

information for citing my source.

Examples of citing sources of information:

Online Resources:

Internet:

Author of message, (Date). Subject of message. Electronic conference or bulletin board (Online). Available email: LISTSERV@ email address

EXAMPLE :

Ellen Block, (September 05, 2005). New Winners. Teen Booklist (Online). Helen

World Wide Web:

URL (Uniform Resource Locator or WWW address). Author ( or item’s name, if mentioned), date.

EXAMPLE: (Boston Globe’s www address)

ton.com. Today’s News, August, 2001.

For a book:

Author (last name first). Title of the book. City: Publisher, Date of publication.

EXAMPLE:

Dahl, Roald. The BFG. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1982

For an encyclopedia:

Encyclopedia title, Edition Date. Volume Number, Article Title,” page numbers.

EXAMPLE:

The Encyclopedia Britanica, 1997. Volume 7, Gorillas, pp.50-51

For an interview:

Author (last name, first name). Type of interview. Date of interview.

EXAMPLE:

Doe, Jane. Web. Nov. 23, 2011.

3. Write your thesis statement (main idea statement). After you have chosen a topic and done a little research, you will probably have a good idea what your report will be about. This is a good time to create a thesis statement. It will save you time because you will be able to focus on your topic and avoid taking unnecessary notes. Your thesis statement will be introduced in the first paragraph of your report. All your notes and every sentence that follows in your report will need to be connected with your thesis statement. (DONE IN CLASS)

4. Source fact forms with facts (6-10) must be completed from your sources of information. Source fact forms should be written in your own words. Every fact and every interesting detail you use in your section of the paper must be written in your own words. This will keep you from plagiarizing someone’s work. Be sure to label each source fact form with the place you found the information. Include the source (usually the author’s full name), the title, the date, and the page number. When you take notes from another book, give it the next source number

and record the author’s name, the book title, and the publishing information. Be sure to keep all

your source fact forms because you will use them for writing every part of your report, even the

works cited at the end.

5. Complete an outline or the graphic organizer and then w rite a rough draft of your paper. Remember, the length of your final draft will be 1-2 pages double-spaced. Your last name should be in the right hand side of the header starting on the first page of your paper. For example: Hall 1 -- Do not include clip art on the pages of your report.

6. Create your Works C ited page. DONE IN CLASS It is the last page of your report. It will be easy if you wrote the sources you used on your source note cards. Make a list of your sources in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. If no author is given, alphabetize by the title (skipping a, an, and the).

Works cited are single spaced, with a space between entries. The first line of each entry begins at the left margin, but the second line is indented five spaces. This is called a “hanging indent” on the computer. Refer to the above examples, if needed, especially for correct order and punctuation. Put a period after the author, the title, and the publishing date. Use www.citationmachine.net to help you cite your sources. You need at least three sources. Any sources on your Works Cited page MUST be cited within your paper.

7. Read and revise your paper. It should say exactly what you want to say. Keep working with it until it does. Edit your paper for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors.

8. Write a final typed copy of your paper. Your final copy should be free of all errors.

9. You shou ld proudly present your section of the research paper to Ms. Hall . Congratulations!!