Social Issue Research Paper
Spring, 2012
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Social Issue Research Paper
Introduction:
Over the past several weeks we have been talking about social issues as they relate to To Kill a Mockingbird and our lives. This week you are being asked to pick a social issue that is important to you, that you are interested in, or that you want to learn more about through research. You must get your research topic and question approved before you begin.
Assignment:
Your assignment is to research a social issue utilizing the “Opposing Viewpoints” database within the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL). You must then write a formal essay (no first person!) with at least five paragraphs. You must use quotes and paraphrases from your research and cite them using MLA (Modern Language Association) format. A Works Cited page is also required.
Final Paper:
Your final paper must be turned in by Friday, May 11. A hard copy of your paper (with printed sources, notes, drafts, tower, and Works Cited page) must be turned in by this date.
Due Dates (Due at Start of Hour):
Topic Selected: Tuesday, May 1
Three Sources Identified and Printed: Wednesday, May 2
Evidence of Note Taking & at least 1 Source Chart: Thursday, May 3
Three Source Charts Complete: Friday, May 4
Tower and First Body Paragraph: Monday, May 7
Complete Body Paragraphs (4 Total): Tuesday, May 8
Introduction and Conclusion: Wednesday, May 9
Complete Draft including Works Cited Page: Thursday, May 10
Final Paper (with Works Cited & Drafting): Friday, May 11
Social Issue Research Paper Layout
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
A. Begin with an attention-getter.
B. Convince the reader that you understand the complexity of the issue (or big picture). In other words, show us this by putting the issue and its background into your own words. Why should we care about this topic?
C. Write your thesis at the end of your introduction. What are you going to be proving in your paper? Tell us this in your one sentence thesis!
Paragraph 2
This is the first argument for your side of the issue. Use numerous, specific examples as support for your point. You must include at least one quote and at least one paraphrase.
Paragraph 3
This is the second argument for your side of the issue. Use numerous, specific examples as support for your point. You must include at least one quote and at least one paraphrase.
Paragraph 4
This is yet another argument for your side of the issue. Use numerous, specific examples as support for your point. You must include at least one quote and at least one paraphrase.
Paragraph 5 (Optional)
Do you have another argument? Go for it! Is there something else you want to say about this topic? Where do you think this issue is going? Are you able to discuss this topic in a broader context? Do it, but remain focused.
Paragraph 6
A. Restate your thesis using different words.
B. Summarize main points clearly.
C. End in a memorable fashion – memory maker!
What are paraphrasing and quoting? These are note taking strategies that help you make effective use of your resources. See description of each below:
· Paraphrasing: Recording detailed notes on specific sentences and passages using different words than the author, but keeping the author’s intended meaning.
· Quoting: Recording the exact words of the author, including punctuation. You must use quotation marks around all information taken directly from your source.
What are the rules for paraphrasing?
· Never paraphrase by using the same or almost the same words as your source. Changing a few words does not constitute paraphrasing!
· Never change the meaning or information of your sources.
· Always use parenthetical notation to show where your information came from.
· It is usually better to paraphrase than to quote, unless you have a specific purpose for putting the information in the words of the author.
What is parenthetical documentation (notation)?
· Parenthetical notation is a very short reference that follows words or ideas that are borrowed from another source
· It is very easy and very necessary – without it, you are plagiarizing and will lose credit for the research paper
· It allows a reader an easy way to figure out what source you are citing simply by looking at it and referring to your Works Cited page
· If the reader chose, he or she could then look at the exact source and page that you used
Contents and Placement:
· Write the author’s name and page where you got the information, in parentheses, after the information you use from the source. This is necessary whether you are paraphrasing or quoting.
· The first thing in your parenthetical notation should be the first item listed on your Works Cited page. For example, if you didn’t have an author of a magazine article, you would write the article’s title in you notation (which would be what that source would be listed under on your Works Cited page).
Punctuation and Examples:
· One author: (Moulder 23)
· Two authors: (Oxley and Barthel 31)
· Three or more authors: (Fahrni et al. 183)
· More than one source by the same author:
o (Patrick, “Some Beach” 3) and (Patrick, “The Real Florida” 32)
· Corporate/Organizational author: (Planned Parenthood 17)
· No Author: Name of Article: (“Baby Blue and You” 8)
· Indirect quoting: Quoting a quote: (qtd. in Conboy 94)
Example #1: This student only quoted a short phrase – the rest of the sentence is in her own words:
~In recent years the International Adoption Agency has received some bad press, even being called “crooked and corrupt” (Favis et al. 183).
Example #2: This student paraphrased the following information using his own words:
~Although it took the LeAnne and Vern Parish over two years to finally have their adopted son in their possession in this country, they look back on the experience with a positive attitude (Moulder 23).
Example #3: This student wants to use something the author did not come up with, something that the author of the article is already quoting. Credit needs to be given to both the person who said it (Fahrni) AND the article author (Oxley):
~Lowell High School teacher Mrs. Amanita Fahrni believes that the attendance policy needs to be “seriously reevaluated” (qtd. in Oxley 18).
Final Tips:
· If the author’s name is used to introduce the quotation or paraphrase, only the page number is cited. For example:
~Pat says that visitors to Cayo Costa find “a beach to beat all beaches” (3).
· Sentence punctuation follows parenthetical documentation; end quote marks, however, are placed before the parenthetical notation. The only exceptions are if the quotation end with a question mark or an exclamation point – these go within the quotation marks.
· For long quotations (more than three typed lines), place the reference after the final punctuation mark. Be sure to set the quote off from the rest of the text by indenting ten spaces from the left margin and not using quotation marks. A colon (:) introduces a lengthily quotation. For example:
Because of the number of jobs that currently require higher education in the United States, students should take a closer look not only at finishing high school, but also attending college. Morse maintains that a good education is essential for career success:
Gone are the days when an eighth grade education was sufficient. Most employers now require a high school diploma and some even demand a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for entry level jobs. (12)
Students should become aware of the opportunities for career advancement by attending a college or university.
Final Reminder: Proper parenthetical documentation is essential for a good research paper; if you need help, ASK!
Works Cited
"Contains adult themes." Age [Melbourne, Australia] 17 Mar. 2012: 26. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
Manning, Erin. "Parents Must Protect Children from Offensive Material in Books." Book Banning. Ed. Thomas Riggs. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "It's Not Censorship, It's Parenting!" MercatorNet. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
Miller, Laura. "Expensive Libel Lawsuits Can Indirectly Lead to Censorship." Book Banning. Ed. Thomas Riggs. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Lawsuits That Kill Books: Litigious Billionaires and Foreign Courts Are as Much a Threat as Book-Banning Fundamentalists." Salon.com. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
Citation Information:
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Article Summary:
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Introduction
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Statement and Explanation of Issue: _________________________
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Body Paragraph 1
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Body Paragraph 2
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Body Paragraph 3
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***OPTIONAL*** Body Paragraph 4
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Conclusion
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Memory Maker: _________________________________________