Unit 6 – Writing Component – The Research Paper

Focus Question:

During World War II, what efforts made Holocaust victims “invisible”?

Choose one topic from the list below to focus your response on. You will need to use evidence from at least FOUR informational texts in order to fully respond to the Focus Question.

*You must use at least TWO texts from the library

*You may use as many online sources (databases, approved websites) as you want

1.  Choose ONE TOPIC:

If there is something else you would like to research that’s not on this list, please check with me first.

·  Propaganda

·  The Nuremberg Laws

·  Other Targeted Victims

·  Medical Experiments

2.  Define what it means to be “invisible”:

______

3.  Form a controlling idea for your research essay by constructing a THESIS STATEMENT that connects the Focus Question to your chosen topic:

______

______

______

Thesis Approved: ______Thesis Not Approved:______

Important Dates:

Topic Choice & Thesis Statement ______

Research in the Library (3 days) ______

Research Note Cards ______

Outline ______

Rough Draft - Progress Check 1 ______

Rough Draft – Progress Check 2 ______

Peer Editing ______

Final Copy ______

BREAKING DOWN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

SECTION 1: DEFINING AN AREA OF INVESTIGATION

Explore Topics & Choose a Topic for Investigation

Research Potential Sources (informational texts from Library – Research Book(s) &/or Database from Library Resource webpage)

SECTION 2: GATHERING AND ANALYZING INFORMATION

Choose 4 Sources (Library Research Book &/or Database from Library Resource webpage)

Annotate Sources/Take Notes (On INDEX CARDS, note the most important information that answers and explains the Focus Question.)

Forming EBC (Evidence-Based Claims)

SECTION 3: DRAWING CONCLUSIONS & COMPOSING ESSAY

Synthesizing Evidence-Based Claims into Essay Draft

Editing Checklist

Final Copy, with Works Cited Page

STUDENT RESEARCH PLAN / TOOLS & HANDOUTS
I. INITIATING INQUIRY
I determine what I want to know about a topic and develop inquiry questions that I will investigate. / ·  Form a controlling idea for my essay through a Thesis Statement which connects the topic I’ve chosen to the Focus Question
·  Read through “Research Questions” & prepare index cards
II. GATHERING INFORMATION
I find and take notes on 4 sources that will help me deepen the scope of my investigation. (A cart with all Holocaust-related books will be available in the Library for student at all times. Database available via MVMS Library webpage.) / ·  Choose 2 non-fiction informational texts from the Library that relate to BOTH the Focus Question & my topic
·  Research & note-take for 3 days in the Library, “Research Questions” & “Citation Format”
III. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDING
I analyze key sources to deepen my understanding and answer my inquiry questions. / ·  “Organizing Ideas & Research” – class-work
·  Outline Essay
IV. DEVELOPING AND COMMUNICATING
AN EVIDENCE-BASED PERSPECTIVE
I review and synthesize my research to develop and communicate a Research Essay and Works Cited page on my area of investigation / ·  Essay & Works Cited Draft
·  “Research Evaluation Checklist”
·  “Peer Review” sheet
·  Final copy

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