Name: ______Period:______

“Controversial Topics” Research Project

School Databases:Go to Then click on the

“Student Links” tab. Use the following log-in and password information:

LOG-IN = georgetown (EXCEPTION: Encyclopedia Brittanica; log-in = georgetownhs)

Password = eagle

Step 1: Choose a topic

Step 2:Use MLA Format to cite each source BEFORE you begin taking notes with it.

  • You must use 4 sources (minimum).
  • One of your sources must be a news source. (Examples: cnn.com, foxnews.com, msnbc.com, cbsnews.com, abcnews.com, nytimes.com, usatoday.com, news.google.com, news.yahoo.com, OR any other official news source)
  • Other sources can be from anywhere EXCEPT for Wikipedia.com or any other wiki sources.
  • Information that needs to be cited: direct quotations from the articles; use quotes, and cite at the end of the sentence with (author’s last name, page # of article).
  • Information that doesn’t need to be cited: names, dates, information that can be found in any article written about the event

Resource Type:Book / Source #: ______/ Source #: ______/ Source #: ______
Author/Editor:
Title:
Place of publication (City,State):
Publisher (Company Name):
Date of Publication:

Format for Bibliography:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of publication.

Resource Type:Online Database / Source #: ______/ Source #: ______/ Source #: ______
Author:
“Title of Article”:
Book or periodical title:
Publication information of article:
Name of Database:
Publication information of database:
Library & Date of access:
<Full address/path>:

Format for Bibliography:

Author’s Last Name, First name. “Article Title.” Book or magazine title. Publication information. Name of Database. Pub. Info of database. Library & date of access <full address/path>.

Resource Type:Internet Site / Source #: ______/ Source #: ______/ Source #: ______
Author:
“Title of article”:
Document date:
Any publication information:
Date of access:
<Full address/path>:

Format for Bibliography:

Author’s Last name, First name. “Article Title.” Site Title. Document Date. Any publication information. Date of access <full address/path>.

Step 3: Take notes on your topic using your sources.

As you gather information about your focused topic, you may find new information which prompts you to refine, clarify, extend or narrow your focus. Stay flexible and adjust your information search to account for the changes, widening or narrowing your search, or heading down a slightly different path to follow a new lead.
(Source:

Use these questions as a jumping off point to take notes on your topic.
Remember to use your own words and put quotation marks around any direct quotes. / Source Number (for EACH note)
  1. WHO is involved in this controversial topic? WHO are the people most concerned about this topic?

  1. WHAT is the controversial topic? (Be very specific here!)

  1. WHEN did this topic first appear in society and begin to be controversial?

  1. WHERE did the first case of this controversial topic first occur? WHERE do we see or hear about this topic now?

  1. WHY is this topic so controversial? Give several reasons and examples.

  1. HOW does the general population of the United States/world view this controversial topic?

  1. What laws or government interventions have been passed or proposed to stop or
curtail this controversial topic?
  1. Additional Notes:

You MUST use a QUOTE from THREE different sources:

  1. ______

2. ______

3. ______

Step 4: Construct your MLA Work Cited.

Works Cited

"Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.

Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.

Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.

Ebert, Roger. "An Inconvenient Truth." Rev. of An Inconvenient Truth, dir. Davis Guggenheim. rogerebert.com. Sun-Times News Group, 2 June 2006. Web. 24 May 2009.

GlobalWarming.org. Cooler Heads Coalition, 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.

Gowdy, John. "Avoiding Self-organized Extinction: Toward a Co-evolutionary Economics of Sustainability." International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 14.1 (2007): 27-36.

Step 5: Construct a THESIS Statement.
What is a THESIS STATEMENT?(Source:

In summary, a thesis statement is a single sentence, usually in the first paragraph of the paper, which:

  • Declares the position you are taking in your paper,
  • Sets up the way you will organize your discussion,
  • Points to the conclusion you will draw, and
  • Boils down the main point of your paper to a single statement.

My thesis statement is: ______

______

Step 5: Write your “paper”

You will be given one class day to write your paper. Your work cited and this packet must be completed by that time. Date of in class writing: ______

“Controversial Topics”Final Draft: Grading Rubric

*Zero points will be given for sections not completed!*

20 / 15 / 10 / 5
Intro/Thesis / Clearly stated thesis and at least 3 areas of info to be addressed. Original and creative; a clear picture is given and grabs reader’s attention. / Thesis of paper is present, but 3 areas of info to be addressed are not stated. Clear picture is not given, but grabs reader’s attention. / Thesis present, but 3 areas of info not stated. Does not grab reader’s attention. Non-related information included. Reader can still determine topic of paper. / Thesis not present, and 3 areas of info not stated. Does not grab reader’s attention. Reader can still determine topic of the paper through the info included.
Body Paragraphs / Topic sentences are complete sentences that connect logically to thesis; Transitions make paper flow well. There is at least one paragraph for each area of info addressed. / Topic sentences are complete sentences, but may not connect to thesis; transitions are present and paper flows well. / Topic Sentences are not complete sentences and do not connect to thesis; transitions are present, but do not help with the flow of the paper. / Not all paragraphs have a topic sentence; random information is included within the paragraphs and transitions are not present; paper does not flow well.
Supporting Evidence/Documentation / All 4 sources are used; all info from sources is documented properly using MLA citation. / Only 3 sources are used; no more than 2 pieces of info used without proper documentation. Format done correctly using MLA citation. / Only 2 sources are used. No more than 4 pieces of info used without proper documentation. Format done incorrectly (MLA), but still present. / Only 1 source is used. More than 4 pieces of info used without proper documentation. Format done incorrectly (MLA), but still present.
Commentary / At least 2 complete, commentary sentences are written for each paragraph and support the topic sentence and evidence. / At least 2 complete, commentary sentences are written for each paragraph, but both may not support the topic sentence and/or evidence. / At least 1 complete, commentary sentence is written for each paragraph and supports the topic sentence and evidence. / Commentary sentences are present in some, but not all paragraphs OR commentary sentences in all paragraphs do not support the topic sentence and/or evidence.
Conclusion / Summarizes and restates thesis in complete sentence; transition informing reader that paper is ending; call to action or final thought given. / Summarizes and restates thesis in complete sentence; no transition is made; call to action or final thought is not clearly given. / Restates the thesis exactly; may give more info not included in the introduction or body paragraphs; reader is not clear that the paper is ending; no call to action or final thought given. / Introduction paragraph is just repeated; reader is not aware that paper is ending; call to action or final thought is confusing or disconnected from topic.
Grammar & Usage / Punctuation, capitalization, and spelling are done correctly (Less than 5 errors). / Errors do not detract from the overall flow of paper (Between 6-10 errors). / Errors detract from overall flow of paper (Between 11-15 errors). / Enough errors to confuse the reader (More than 15 errors).

English II Writing

Expository Prompt

Read the information in the box below.

Think about the following quote by Marcus Aurelius“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

Write an essay explaining why your controversial topic is considered controversial and what credible evidence exists over the topic.

Be sure to –

  • Clearly state your thesis
  • Organize
  • Choose your words carefully
  • Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics and spelling

English II Writing

Persuasive Prompt

Read the information in the box below.

Think about the following quote by Bertrand Russell “The most savage controversies are about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way”

Write an essay stating your position on your controversial topic .

Be sure to –

  • Clearly state your thesis
  • Organize
  • Choose your words carefully
  • Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics and spelling