THE Birth Order Project
How Your Place in Your Family Affects Who You Are
What factors come together to create our identity? What influences who we are and who we will become in the future? What role does a person’s childhood play in changing a person’s path in life? In our exploration of issues of character, identity, and the loss of innocence, we will be investigating many questions of how a person can best be represented and deeply understood.
As we study a character, be the person real or fictional, we can’t help but wonder what makes the character the way he or she is? The answer to this question may depend, at least in part, upon the person’s birth order. Over the past few decades, much of the research conducted has confirmed that where you are in your family with regard to your brothers and sisters has a tremendous impact on your personality. Firstborns are usually different from lastborns, and there is a reason people throw around the term “middle child syndrome”. While no one may ever completely fit a generalization, it is surprising how accurate some of this research can be.
The real question is: how well does this research know you?
My Birth Order:
Part I: THE “Outside” Research
This research project is designed to clarify how birth order has affected you. You have a variety of resources at your disposal to help you with your research. To begin, you will have access to photocopied chapters from The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman; these chapters not only explain birth order in general, but it specifically describes how each particular birth order pertains to individuals.
You will also be required to explore (minimum three) up to five additional sources, including websites, magazine articles, and books. Remember that not all websites are created equally: you will have to search for the sites which have the clearest and most reliable information. The goal of examining so many sources is not to collect a wide variety of information, but rather to determine the information that is most consistent, and therefore most likely reliable.
Choosing Sources
First, take care to find sources that meet the criteria for reliability: recognized author, credible sponsoring organization, citations of studies or other reliable sources, and professionalism.
Secondly, check that the information provided is corroborated (backed up) by another source. If one source contains information not found in most other sources, then that information may not be reliable. We will review ways to compare sources and determine the most reliable information; a chart will be provided and should be used to organize your research.
*Remember as you research to record the information needed to create MLA in-text, works cited, and works consulted citations. In addition to handouts provided, tips for finding credible sources, writing MLA citations, and for avoiding plagiarism can be found on my website.
Outside Research Notes or Chart Due: Monday April 5, 2010 (25 pts)
Step 2: THE “Inside” Research
Once you have the necessary information about your birth order, evaluate YOURSELF. How much of this information applies to you? Which qualities truly reflect who you are? Be honest—even if it means that you have to admit to some particularly unattractive qualities. If one or more of the characteristics truly does not apply, consider why this is: what factors have inhibited or prevented this characteristic from taking hold in your personality?
The goal here is to determine:
1) How much of this birth order theory applies to you
2) How you can demonstrate (show) the parts that do
3) How you can explain the parts that do not
For each trait, explain how the characteristic applies to you and then write about an incident that illustrates that you possess this characteristic. Or, if the characteristic is truly absent, speculate on why it is. Systematically address each item from your research (a minimum of four traits); the final number is up to you and will reflect the effort you choose to make.
Step 3: THE Paper
First, carefully organize the information you have found from both the outside sources and your inside one into an outline modeled after the format on the following page. This outline should be completed before you go to the writing lab. Once you have completed an outline, you will begin drafting your essay. A draft of your introduction and first body paragraphs (on one of your birth order traits) will be checked to ensure you are on the right track.
Tuesday April 6, 2009: Outline Due at beginning of Writing Lab; First Draft Due at end of Writing Lab (25 pts)
You will then have several days to draft and conference in class. Your final writing lab day is on Tuesday April 13, 2010 , at which time you will have the opportunity to ask any and all final questions.
Birth Order Paper Outline Format
Introduction:
1. Begin by providing some general background on birth order theory: what it is, how it works, etc. Make sure the reader understands the subject of the paper.
2. Then share your place in your family and share some the traits of that birth order which you have selected to discuss in your research paper.
3. This discussion will funnel down to your thesis, which would be along the lines of the following: “Most of the characteristics of a ____ born child (apply/do not apply) to me.”
Body: Explain each characteristic or trait of your birth order in explicit detail. For each trait, you should:
1. Include and cite information from each of your sources that explains (T):
a. what it means to have the trait (E)
b. why the trait applies to your particular birth order (E)
2. Explain—in detail—how this trait does (or doesn’t) apply to you. (T)
To provide illustrative detail (show, don’t tell), you will want to supply a revealing anecdote or two to prove (or disprove) the existence of the trait.
a. Example one (E)
b. Explanation of how it does/doesn’t show the trait (E)
c. Transition (T)
d. Example two (E)
e. Explanation of how it does/doesn’t show the trait (E)
f. Sum it up/Transition to next reason (S)
*If the trait is not applicable to you, then try to explain why the trait would not apply to you using:
Ø Information from the research that might explain why not
Ø Personal explanations for why you might differ
Ø Examples that prove how your differ
You may explain the characteristic and how it applies to you in one large paragraph, or, for the more scholarly, you may want to address these ideas in two steps: the first paragraph explaining the trait, the second paragraph demonstrating its relevance to you. No matter what format you choose, each trait should be addressed with insightful explanation and strong supporting details.
Remember that this pattern should be repeated for each of the four+ traits of your birth order; your writing should be balanced for each trait.
Conclusion: This should be several paragraphs of reflective writing. This is the section in which you synthesize the information presented in your paper, revealing how it is meaningful and useful to you.
1. Briefly touch on all the traits again, reviewing your findings.
a. Thesis
b. Reason/Trait 1
c. Reason/Trait 2
d. Reason/Trait 3
2. How is this meaningful/useful to you?
a. Explain what you have learned about yourself
b. Explain what insights you have gained
c. Explain how you might apply this knowledge in the future.
THE Additional Requirements:
1. As you write your final paper, keep in mind that while this is a personal research paper, you should limit and vary your use of first-person terms like “I” and “me”—you can write about your thoughts and ideas without beginning every sentence with “I”. Also, because this is personal, there should be no “you.”
2. The final paper should include a works cited page, and if necessary, additional works consulted. Remember that anytime you quote a source or paraphrase an idea that is not your own, you must give credit with an in-text citation (we will review MLA format in class).
Remember: Plagiarism is not tolerated—if you try to pass off other’s words or ideas as your own,
you will receive a ZERO.
3. With your 4-6 page paper, please include a title page complete with an original title, your name, my name, the date, and the course/period for which the paper was completed. An example will be provided.
Final Paper Due: Thursday April 15, 2010
Essays must be submitted electronically in .rtf form or printed out before class.
Grading and Time in Class
While you will be given a generous amount of class time to work and receive help from your teacher and your peers, you will need to spend time on this outside of class. As with any assignment, your final grade for this paper will depend largely on the time and effort you put into your research and writing; those who procrastinate or have a “good enough” attitude will reap what they sow.
Plenty of time will be provided in class to work on this research paper—12 days to be exact. If you do not accomplish the assigned portions of the research paper in class, it may become homework. Below is the schedule of days to work on the assignment and skills reviewed on those days. DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR EXTRA HELP if you find yourself confused. Each student will have at least one conference with the teacher and will have multiple opportunities to receive peer and teacher feedback.
Week / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday3/22-3/26 / G-Introduction to Project/Research / (No G) Introduction to Project/Research
3/29-4/1 / Organizing your Research (Organizer); Research Groups / Writing Lab: Credible Sources & MLA citations; Finishing Research / Drafting Your Thesis; Finish Birth Order Research / VOCAB QUIZ/SPEAK DISCUSSION / NO SCHOOL
4/5-4/9 / Review paragraph expectations (TEES); draft outline / Writing Lab: Drafting your introduction and first body paragraphs / Drafting/
Conferencing / VOCAB QUIZ/SPEAK DISCUSSION / Drafting/
Conferencing
4/12-4/16 / Drafting/
Conferencing / Writing Lab: Work on Final Draft; Use Checklist/Rubric / BOOK CLUB PLANS
Peer Edit/Final Day for Conferences / Final Essay Due!
SPEAK DISCUSSION
The final paper is worth a substantial 300 points. Because this is a research paper, you will be graded largely on the integration of your research into an organized piece of writing and the technical requirements outlined above. However, to earn the highest possible grade, the paper must feature all the characteristics of a quality paper: an interesting introduction, a clear thesis that directs the paper, a logical and subtle sequencing of ideas through well-developed paragraphs ripe with illustrative examples, as well as thorough reflection that reveals the significance of the conclusions reached.
Signature
By April 1, please obtain the signature of a parent/guardian on the attached rubric (which will then be turned in with the final paper) to acknowledge their awareness of this assignment, its value, and the due date. This will be checked and assigned 10 points when completed.
Signature
(Student Name) ______and I, (Parent Name) ______acknowledge that I have seen the research paper assignment and understand both its value and due date. I also acknowledge that if the paper lacks citations or is substantially copied from sources without providing credit for the information, the paper will receive a zero for plagiarism.
Student Signature: ______
Parent Signature: ______
(This page MUST be turned in with your Final Paper)
“Birth Order Project” Personal Research Paper Scoring Guide
Use this to self-assess and revise your final product; there should be no surprises when you receive your grade!
Criteria Indicators / BeginningThe research paper is at a beginning stage. / Developing
The research paper could be improved in several ways. / Proficient
The research paper is acceptable. / Exemplary
The research paper is exemplary
Requirements
30 / Papers that fail to meet the basic requirements will be deemed unacceptable and returned for correction; these will be considered late and incur a penalty of 20 points per day. Furthermore, those papers that are submitted without a works cited page, without in-text citations, or with a preponderance of improper in-text citations will receive a ZERO. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
The 4-6 pages of QUALITY work must be neatly typed and double-spaced in 12pt Times New Roman font, and includes all required elements in proper format: One inch margins (no spaces between paragraphs), Pages Numbered (except the title page), Attached MLA Works Cited/Works Consulted, & a Title Page including: Original Title (centered), ID Info (centered below) contains 1)Your Name, 2) Assignment 3) Title Class/Period, 4) Date
*Signature of parent/rubric sheet is turned in on the day of the final essay.
Information Literacy
50 / ● Works cited/consulted sections contain an inadequate number of reliable sources or may have serious errors in format.
● Regular problems with citation occur and/or text is copied directly from sources without quotations in places. / ● Works cited/consulted sections contain an adequate number of reliable sources but may have minor errors in format.
● Isolated problems with in-text citation format occur; paraphrasing may not vary sufficiently from the source text. / ● Works cited/consulted accurately identify an adequate number (3) of reliable sources, one in print.
● The work is written in the author's own words and quotes denote outside information; documentation shows consistent citation. / ● Works cited/consulted correctly identify a variety (3+) of very reliable sources, at least one of which is a print source.
● The work is written in the author's own words and makes effective use of quotations; documentation shows conscientious application of citing ethics.
Use of Source Material
50 / ● Piece is lacking information and/or information is inaccurate and irrelevant.
● Sources cited in the text are inappropriate. / ● Provides basic information, some of which may be incorrect and/or irrelevant; based on minimal research.
● Selected some appropriate materials. / ● Provides partially complete, accurate, and relevant information; based on adequate research.