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Eighth Grade Research Paper

Assignment Summary:

In order to display an understanding of a specific historical event and hone your writing skills, you will be writing a 3-5 page research paper. You will select an event from American history ranging1770 to the present. Once you select a topic, you will design a thesis statement and analyze collected research to support your thesis statement. You will then take your collected research, and as an expert on the topic, write a paper on your topic that supports your thesis statement.

This assignment will count as a grade in both Social Studies and Language Arts.

Procedure:

1. Select a topic

2. Select 3 Sources

3. Creation of a Thesis Statement

4. Research and compile notes using 3 sources

5. Complete a typed outline of your paper based on your notes

6. Create a typed draft for Social Studies

7. Revise and edit your paper

8. Created a typed draft of your paper for L.A.

9. Revise and edit your paper

10. Submit your final paper

Research Paper Due Dates

Thursday February 5Research Paper topics due to Mr. Huntington
  • Friday February 6Trip to Saxton B. Little Library (weather permitting)
  • Friday February 13 All 3 sources due to Mr. Huntington
  • Monday February 23Notecards for 1st source due to Mr. Huntington

(with rubric)

  • Wednesday March 4Notecards for 2nd source due to Mr. Huntington

(with rubric)

  • Friday March 13Notecards for 3rd source due to Mr. Huntington

(with rubric)

  • Tuesday March 17Research Paper outline due to Mr. Huntington
  • Week of March 23Work on first draft of the Research Paper
  • Tuesday March 31Research Paper draft #1 due to Mr. Huntington

(with rubric)

  • As each draft is completed, students will immediately begin revising and editing.

Research Paper draft #2 due to Ms. Muñoz

(with rubric)

  • Due dates for draft #2 will be based on the return date of draft #1 and two days for

revising and editing. Dates will be given individually to students.

  • Final Copy of Papers due to Mr. Huntington

Students will need to submit the following:

  1. 2 complete final copies
  2. the final rubric for Social Studies
  3. the final rubric for L.A.
  4. the corrected rough draft for Social Studies
  5. the corrected rough draft for L.A.

STEPS FOR A RESEARCH PAPER

1. Topic

  • Choose an appropriate, interesting topic and read about it.
  1. Search in Libraries for Sources
  • Sources should be appropriate for your reading and comprehension level
  • First check for sources at Porter’s library and Saxon B. Little
  • You may need to check out a library in nearby towns
  • Hebron
  • Willimantic
  • Mansfield
  • Lebanon
  • Glastonbury
  1. Write a Thesis Statement
  • The thesis statement should be thought provoking
  • It should lend itself to further inquiry or investigation
  1. Gather the Information
  • Use the note card method to gather relevant information on you topic/thesis
  • Be sure to label the card as instructed
  • Paraphrase, paraphrase, paraphrase!!!!
  1. Revisit Your Thesis Statement
  • Analyze if the thesis statement needs to be rewordedbased on the information you have gathered.
  • Be sure you have gathered enough information on your cards to address the thesis statement
  1. Outline Gathered Material
  • Draw up a final outline or “skeleton” of the paper
  • Put the information in order by topic
  1. Organize Your Note Cards
  • Based upon your “skeleton” outline of the paper, organize your

note cards from all sources into 1 pile

  1. Rough Draft
  • Introduction
  • Write the body of your paper from the note cards
  • Conclusion
  • Be sure to use many paragraphs!
  • Be sure to write transitions between topics/paragraphs
  1. Proofread Your Rough Draft!
  • Check for complete sentences
  • Use commas
  • Unforgivable homophones
  • Check for tense agreement
  • Check for “illegal” use of personal pronouns
  • Check spelling (run spell-check but also read the paper to check that you have used the words correctly)
  • Check paragraph structure
  • Be sure you have identified people, places & things!
  • Be sure you have given enough detail
  • No slang usage
  • In other words: follow the Ten Guidelines of Writing!!!!
  1. Format of Paper
  • Presentation:
  • 1 inch margins
  • 12 Calibri font
  • properly numbered pages
  • Double spaced
  1. Finished Paper
  • Cover page including
  • Title – centered
  • Picture related to topic
  • Name, date, and section in lower right corner
  • The research paper (properly numbered)
  • Works cited page
  • Check all punctuation
  • Alphabetical order

ONE staple on the top left hand corner

Thesis Statement

A Thesis Statement is a statement of purpose, intent, or main idea of the paper. Do not be surprised if your thesis statement changes as you do your research. You will probably consider a number of focuses before you settle upon the one you will finally use for your paper.

Ask yourself, “What do I really want to know about this subject? What makes is worth investigating? What interest me the most about it?”

State your thesis in a sentence that you feel effectively expresses what you want to explore in your essay. A thesis statement usually expresses a specific feeling about a subject or highlights a specific feature of it. Use the following formula if you have trouble forming a thesis:

Formula:A specific subject (bungee jumping) +

A specific feeling/feature (stretches safety to the limit) =

An effective thesis statement (Bungee jumping is a sport that stretches safety to the limit)

Use the space below to create a few thesis statements for your topic:

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

Note Taking

Why Should You Take Notes?

You will need to use information for your paper that has been researched using three resources, this includes at least two print sources and no more than one internet resource (although information from books and periodicals may be taken from the internet). YOU MAY NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!!!

 is a great place to search for periodicals/newspapers.

A Note on gathering research from websites:

  • The majority of credible resources end with “.gov” or “.edu”; however, there are a few basic ways to verify the credibility of “.com” or “.org” which include the following questions to ask:
  • Can you verify the expertise or credibility of the author or the source? Does the information match the information located in a book such as an encyclopedia or a literature books?
  • When evaluating a website for use it should have the following: Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support

Source:

What Should You Look For?

The information you look for (research) will support your thesis.

How Do You Take Notes?

  1. Have a plan of action. Make sure that you have written down topics related to your thesis that you are trying to support.
  1. Select resources that will offer information on your thesis.
  1. Paraphrase (put in your own words), summarize, or quote information that relates to your topic. You do not have to use complete sentences unless you use a quotation.
  1. If you believe that some sentences/ideas might be more effective in your paper as they appear in your source, write down the words exactly as they appear. Be sure to place them in quotation marks on your index card in addition to noting the author and page number.
  1. Be aware of the difference between summarizing and plagiarism. Derived from the Latin word plagiarius (kidnapper), plagiarism refers to a form of cheating that has been defined as “the false assumption of authorship: the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind and presenting it as one’s own”. To use another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source is plagiarism. Plagiarism, then, constitutes intellectual theft and often carries severe penalties, ranging from failure in a course to expulsion from school. An example of plagiarism is when a student who is assigned to do a report, goes to the encyclopedia and writes down, word for word, everything on the subject. Using the words and thoughts of others in your paper is acceptable, if the material is quoted. You should not, however, have more quoted than original material in your paper.

How do you set up index cards?

1. First you will need white lined index cards for each source. The index card size may be either 3” x 5” or 4” x 6”. Whichever size you choose to use must be used throughout this project.

2. On the first card for each source you will write the author’s last name in the top left corner as well as the card number (start with card #1 and number as many for each source as needed).

3. On the first card of each source, write down, in correct order, all of the information you will need for your Works Cited page. This information will differ depending on the source. Later on we will go over how to properly create a Works Cited page.

4. On the bottom of the first card write your name (in case you lose or drop your cards).

Sample 1st Index Card for a Source (book)

5. For the remaining cards in each set, you will write the author’s last name in the top left corner as well as the card number.

6. Use the card to paraphrase all the information related to one of the focus questions you feel is a main idea, significant detail and/or quote.

7. At the bottom middle, write the page number where you found the fact or information.

8. In the bottom right corner write your last name. This way if a card is misplaced and found it will be returned to you.

Sample 2nd Index Cardfor a Source (book)

Research Paper Outline

The Research Paper Outline helps you organize your ideas and research into a logical, fluent, and effective order. You may use as many body paragraphs as necessary; keep in mind that you should begin a new paragraph whenever you introduce a new idea.

I. Introduction

A. Lead
  1. Thesis Statement
  2. Supporting topic 1
  3. Supporting topic 2
  4. Supporting topic 3

II. Supporting Topic 1 (multiple paragraphs)

A. Supporting detail paragraph(s)

  1. Supporting detail paragraph(s)
  2. Supporting detail paragraph(s)

III. Supporting Topic 2 (multiple paragraphs)

A. Supporting detail paragraph(s)

  1. Supporting detail paragraph(s)
  2. Supporting detail paragraph(s)

IV. Supporting Topic 3 (multiple paragraphs)

A. Supporting detail paragraph(s)

  1. Supporting detail paragraph(s)
  2. Supporting detail paragraph(s)
V. Conclusion (3-5 sentences)Do not repeat introduction word for word!

A. Creative restatement of thesis

B. Supporting topic 1

C. Supporting topic 2

D. Supporting topic

Outline Example

I. Introduction

  1. Brief, necessary background information on World War II
B. In 1945, three significant factors played influenced the outcome of World War II(Thesis)

C. Weapons (all roman numerals except conclusion)

D. Union of Allies

E. Media

II. Weapons Introduction of first piece of support-multiple paragraphs

A. Tanks (Supporting details)

  1. Planes (Supporting details)
  2. Guns (Supporting details)

III. Union of AlliesIntroduction of second piece of support-multiple paragraphs

A. U.S.A. (Supporting details)

  1. England (Supporting details)
  2. Canada (Supporting details)
  3. Russia (Supporting details)

IV. MediaIntroduction of first third of support-multiple paragraphs

A. News broadcasts (Supporting details)

  1. P.O.W. Interviews (Supporting details)
  2. Holocaust Escapee Interviews (Support details)
V. Conclusion

A. Germany’s loss in World War II was driven by several key factors (Creative restatement of thesis).

B. Weapons (all roman numerals except conclusion)

C. Union of Allies

D. Media

Guidelines of Writing

  1. All writing should be in the past tense.
  2. Never use the personal pronouns I, me, we, us, or you.
  3. Never give the paper a heartbeat or voice. Example: “This paper is about…”
  4. The first time you write the name of a person write the full name. Afterward use the last name only. Do not use the first name of the person unless you know the individual personally.
  5. The first time you mention a person, place or thing you must identify that person, place or thing.
  6. Never ask a rhetorical question in your paper.
  7. Never introduce a new topic or give an opinion in the conclusion.
  8. Do not use contractions in formal writing such as don’t or won’t. Write them out.
  9. No more than three quotes in your paper.
  10. You are the expert, write your paper as if the reader does not know a thing about your topic.

FORMATTING YOUR PAPER

THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION (MLA) FORMAT

Your paper must be formatted using the MLA format. For additional information on how to format quotations or entries on your Works Cited page you may access the MLA website at

FORMATTING QUOTES

The author’s last name and the page number (s) from which the quote is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference needs to appear in your Works Cited list.

The author’s name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quote, but the page number (s) should always appear in the parentheses, never in the text itself.

Examples:Madison states that “a dream is a fulfillment of a wish” (154).

Some argue that “a dream is a fulfillment of a wish” (Madison154).

If more than one author has the same name, it is necessary to provide the author’s initials (or even his/her full name if different authors share initials) in your citation.

To indicate short quotations in your text, enclose the quotation within quotation marks and incorporate it into your text.

Provide the author and specific page citation (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the text, and include a complete reference in your Works Cited.

Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear AFTER the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are part of the quote BUT AFTER the citation if they are part of the text.

Examples:According to some, dreams express “profound aspects of personality” (Foulkes 184), though others disagree.

According to Foulkes’s study, dreams may express “profound aspects of personality” (184).

Is it possible that dreams may express “profound aspects of personality” (Foulkes 184)?

Cullen concludes “Of all the things that happened there/That’s all I remember” (11-12).

Quotations longer than four typed lines are placed in their own free-standing block of typewritten lines and quotation marks are omitted. Start the quotation on a new line, indented one inch from the left margin, and maintain double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come AFTER the closing punctuation mark.

Examples:Ralph and the other boys finally realized the horror of their actions: The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding 186)

Page Numbers

Both drafts of your research paper must have page numbers. Please use the following instructions to properly number the pages of your research paper.

Create a header or footer that contains your last name and page number (Smith 1).

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Header & Footer group, click Page Number.
  1. Click Top of Page for the numbers to appear at the top of your document.
  2. Select Plain Number 3 and add your last name before the inserted page number.

FORMATTING YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE

Your Works Cited, a list of the sources you cite alphabetized by authors’ last names, should appear after your paper.

Author’s names are inverted (last name first); if a work has more than one author, invert only the first author’s name, follow it with a comma, and then continue listing the rest of the authors.

If you have cited more than one work by a particular author, order them alphabetically by title, and use three hyphens in place of the author’s name for every entry after the first.

If no author is given for a particular work, alphabetize by the title of the piece.

The first line of each entry should begin at the left margin. Subsequent lines should be indented one-half inch. (5 spaces) This is known as a “hanging indent.”

All references should be double-spaced.

Capitalize each word in the titles of articles, books, etc. (This rule does not apply to “a,” “an,” “the,” or to conjunctions, unless they are the first word of a title.) Underline titles of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and films.

Examples:

Novel

Author(s). Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Frye, Northrup. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton:

Princeton UP, 1957.

Newspaper/Periodical:

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Source Day Month Year: pages.

Nimmons, David. “The Brain.” Discover Mar. 1994: 26-27.

Online Newspaper/Periodical

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume. Issue (Year):

Pages/Paragraphs. Date of Access <electronic address>.

Landsburg, Steven E. “Who Shall Inherit the Earth?” Business Weekly. 1 (1995): 9

pars. 26 Jun. 1998 <

Webpage

Author(s). Title of Page. Publication Year. Day Month Year of Access <internet

address>.

Daly, Bill. Writing Argumentative Essays. 1997. 26 Jun. 1998

<>.

World War II

(Include an illustration relating to your subject and title)

Sarah Smith

March 19, 2014

Rubrics

  • Research Paper Final Copy- Social Studies………………………19
  • Research Paper Final Copy- LA………………………………………..21
  • Research Paper Rough Draft Rubric…………………………………23
  • Research Paper Outline Rubric………………………………………..25
  • Note Card Rubrics……………………………………………………………27,29,31

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