Research Project English IV

Name ______Lewis

Research Project—English IV

You will be researching a topic that you will choose from the list provided. Follow the steps below.

Choose your topic—Make sure it is something that you are interested in. You are allowed ONE topic change, but once you change your topic, you cannot go back to your original one, and you cannot change again, nor can you have a topic that someone else has. If you change your topic, you will not be given more time to complete this assignment. Your project will still be due on the due date originally given. (By the way, I do not recommend that you change your topic at all. Doing so simply wastes your time.) Also, GET A FLASH DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!! Not required, but you’ll regret it if you don’t get one.

Your topic: ______

______

Complete the “Reporter’s Formula” below—You will be answering the questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? in conducting your research. You are NOT “reporting” this information. You are researching the answers to these questions and writing a paper using the information you have gained while trying to prove your point (your thesis statement).

Example: Let’s say I want to research Adolf Hitler. In my Research Chart below, I’ve listed things that I think I know about him already based on documentaries I’ve seen or in previous readings. Then, I filled out the rest of the chart with information I gathered in doing my research.

Topic: Adolf Hitler

Stuff I Think I Already Know / Source #1:
Smith, John. Hitler Was a Jerk. New York: Super-duper Publisher, 2001. / Source #2:
WRITE YOUR SOURCE IN MLA STYLE NOW SO YOU WON’T HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT LATER!!! / Source #3:
ETC.
Who? / Adolf Hitler / Adolf Hitler / ETC.
What? / Dictator—believed in a superior race / Joined Nazi Party in 1930, p. 256
Where? / Lived in Germany / Born in Austria; lived in Germany later, p. 4
When? / ? / Lived from 1889-1945, p. 4
Why? / There is evidence that he abused drugs and was mentally ill; perhaps those were the reasons he was intent on destroying others. / He found out that he was of Aryan descent; had several “health issues that caused him severe pain and, consequently, his anger toward others increased,” p. 101
How? / Had Auschwitz and other concentration camps built so that Jewish people and those different from him could be killed / ETC.
Extra Stuff: / ETC. / ETC.

Lewis 2

Your Research Chart

Topic: ______

Stuff I
Think I
Already
Know
(THESE
ARE
YOUR
WORDS
BELOW) / Source #1: / Source #2: / Source #3:
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
Extra Stuff:

Lewis 3

Develop your thesis—BEFORE you begin your research and fill out the rest of the chart, look at the information in the “Stuff I Think I Already Know” column. Your thesis might be right there, at least in some form. For example, I might want to prove my comment that “There is evidence that he abused drugs and was mentally ill; perhaps those were the reasons he was intent on destroying others.” (Those are my words, by the way, and I can always change it later or start over. Nevertheless, I need to come up with something for your thesis at this point.) Therefore, all of my research findings must revolve around that assumption, and I must prove that those are the reasons that he did what he did.

However, if your thesis is not found in your chart, go ahead and begin your research and see if one of your sources has an interesting point that you want to prove throughout your paper.

Now, decide what you want to prove about your topic; it can always change later:

My thesis: ______

______

Conduct your research—Type words having to do with your topic in the search bar or Google them. Use words/phrases from your research chart. When you’ve found something that looks like it could support your thesis, print it out. Then, take notes in the Research Chart making sure to document the author/name/etc. of the source (in MLA style) and the page number the info was found on. You should fill out the chart first and then underline or highlight stuff you want to put in your paper. You can make note cards if you like, but I prefer underlining/highlighting stuff directly on the sources I’ve printed out. Whatever works for you is fine. Also, you must have at least one quote in your paper.

Sources (If you use any “Unacceptable” sources, you will lose points on your project.)

Acceptable:

Books
Journals
Magazines
(Select “South Campus,” “Resources,” “Library”—>Gale PowerSearch, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, Online Databases and Encyclopedias, Online Newspapers/Current Events)

Unacceptable:

Any Wiki sites
“Homemade” sites (from individuals not professionally associated with an academic institution)
Sites from student projects (not even if it came from a college student!)

NOTE: WHEN YOU USE QUOTES, USE NO MORE THAN THREE OF THE AUTHOR’S WORDS AT A TIME!!!!!!!!

Example: Surprisingly, smokers’ lungs are still used as donor organs because of a

“severe shortage” of donor lungs.

Run out of room on your chart? Then, circle or highlight information you want to use in your paper on the pages you printed out.

Lewis 4

Writing your paper—You might want to type your rough draft instead of handwrite it. You might find that you are able to edit/revise as you go. That’s fine. Do whatever makes you the most comfortable. If you do type it, save it every ten minutes onto a flash drive AND onto the server. You should print out whatever you have typed at the end of class every day.

Organizing your paper—Follow the guidelines below in writing your paper. It is the classic five-paragraph paper format. It is used in college essays as well as college research papers. Some professors love it. Some hate it. Nevertheless, I want you to write your research paper in this format.

Classic Five-Paragraph Essay

Step 1 – Choose a Good Topic (Word Bank—all will be used once: details, narrow, specific, broad, three)

When writing an essay, it is important to choose a topic that is not too ______. For example, do not write about football in general. Choose something more ______, like football drills, the greatest football team, football equipment, football practice, etc.

It is important that you can think of ______main ideas that you want to discuss in the essay. If you cannot think of three specific ideas to discuss, then the topic is too ______. If your chosen topic is too narrow, choose a slightly broader topic so specific ideas or details can be listed. For example, if you planned to write about football field goals and couldn't list many ______about it, choose something like scoring points in football.

Step 2 – Organizing Your Essay (Word Bank—all will be used once: requires, organize, prewriting, specific, matches, won’t, graphic)

Below is just one way to organize your essay. ______organizers (webbing, etc.) can be used as well to get you started. Just use what you are comfortable with unless your professor requires you to organize in a ______way. Most professors expect you to know how to get your thoughts together already, and usually will not care how you organize. They probably ______even ask to see your ______, however, if you use an outline like the one below to ______your thoughts, you will then have an outline ready if your professor ______that you turn in one with your essay. BUT, you will need to make sure that your outline ______your essay in content. Also, type it!

Let’s practice:

Topic: Life of a High School Senior (Sometimes professors will give you a topic; some won’t—it just depends on the professor and the assignment.)

Thesis Statement (One sentence that tells the reader what the essay will attempt to prove.)

Ex.: The life of a high school senior is filled with many stressors: deciding where to go to college, completing college applications, and maintaining grades. (You cannot use mine!)

______

Body Paragraph #1 Main Idea ______

Detail #1______

Detail #2 ______

Detail #3 ______

Body Paragraph #2 Main Idea ______

Detail #1______

Detail #2 ______

Detail #3 ______

Lewis 5

Body Paragraph #3 Main Idea ______

Detail #1______

Detail #2 ______

Detail #3 ______

Conclusion (Wrap up essay and leave reader with an interesting thought to ponder.)

______

Once the outline is filled out, the essay is quite easy to write. The five-paragraph essay includes an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Just write the rest of your introductory paragraph using your thesis statement as the LAST sentence. Elaborate on the sentences in your body paragraphs. Then, write your last paragraph using the sentence you wrote above as your last sentence.

Typing Your Paper/Documenting—As you are writing, make sure you document your sources. Also, make sure the sources documented in your paper (parenthetical documentation) match up with the sources in your Works Cited page.

MLA Guidelines—Here are some basic requirements that you should follow when typing your essay. These are just a few of MANY. (Word Bank—all will be used once: subject, parenthetical, expectations, years)

Make sure you buy the MLA Style Manual even if your professor doesn’t require you to get it. You WILL need it (and you’ll use it for several ______) because even the information online is not always sufficient for the ______of your professors.
FYI: There are other style manuals for different ______areas, so get the correct one for whatever course you are taking. For example, the Social Sciences use APA Style (American Psychological Association). It is quite different from MLA Style.
______documentation examples for MLA style: Blah, blah, blah (Anderson 19). Anderson maintains that blah, blah, blah (19). Anderson states that “blah, blah, blah”(19).

Typing your paper—Follow these guidelines:

Typed, 12 font, Times New Roman, double-spaced (Make sure that your computer is set to double-space BEFORE you start typing!); ½-inch margin at top; 1-inch margin bottom and sides
Minimum 400 words
THREE sources minimum—You don’t have to use only the three columns in the Research Chart. You can either make your own chart for more sources, or you can ask me for another copy of it.
You must have MLA-style parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page—these are worth SEVERAL points from the TWO Major Grades this paper is worth.
If I cannot find your project on the server, you will lose 25 points on these two Major Grades.

Change your thesis if needed—If you don’t like the thesis you wrote in Step 3, then redo it here. If you didn’t write one then, write one now. You might find that you have to “match up” your thesis statement to what you have written. That’s OK. Changing your thesis to coordinate with your paper is fine.

______

Lewis 6

Library/Computer Lab Rules

No Passes Sheet = no leaving the computer lab
Stay in your seat until the bell rings; push your chair under your table as you leave.
Only your first and last name for your server folder

Due Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010, at the classroom door

Staple it in this order: Typed research paper; typed “Works Cited” page; “Research Paper Rubric” with your name, period, and essay title

REMEMBER: YOUR FINISHED PROJECT MUST BE ON THE SERVER, AND I MUST BE ABLE TO FIND IT EASILY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL LOSE 25 POINTS ON THESE TWO MAJOR GRADES.

If you are absent on the days we go to the computer lab/library and/or work on your paper in class, your paper is still due on the assigned due date. In other words, you will not be given an extension.

Absent on due date? Your paper must still be turned in to me by 4 PM on the due date for full credit, or it will be considered late and receive the following late penalties: 25% off for one day late; 50% for two days late.

Unexcused absence on due date = 0 on 2 MG

Notes

MEET IN THE PAC

(NOT THE TEACHING THEATRE) ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, FOR POL!!!!!!

You are responsible for the computer you are assigned. Plus, if you are caught being on a site you’re not supposed to be on or configuring your computer a certain way, you will not be able to use the computer for the rest of that period (or the next day if it happens at the end of the period). If you do it a second time during any day that we’re in here, you will lose all computer privileges during our class time, and you will be written up.

MEET IN THE CLASSROOM TOMORROW WITH YOUR PAPER FINISHED!!

NOTE: WHEN YOU USE QUOTES, USE NO MORE THAN THREE OF THE AUTHOR’S WORDS AT A TIME!!!!!!!!

ALSO, YOU MUST USE AT LEAST ONE QUOTE IN YOUR PAPER.

Example: Surprisingly, smokers’ lungs are still used as donor organs because of a

“severe shortage” of donor lungs (Smith 43).

Congratulations to my students who placed in POL:

1st place runner-up—Jessie Jones

3rd place runner-up—Matt Pena

4th place runner-up—Madison Logan And thank you to the rest of my classroom winners for getting up there and doing a great job!

Last Minute Reminders!

Meet in classroom tomorrow with paper stapled and ready to turn in!

Last name 1

Title

Last name 4

Works Cited

Parenthetical documentation examples: (Smith). Or if it doesn’t have an author, put the first two-three words of the name of the article: (“The Way to”).

Sources alphabetized, double-spaced, indented five spaces starting on the second line

Times New Roman 12; ideally five paragraphs; minimum 400 words

Double-spaced EVERYTHING

Cite every quotation/paraphrase from each of your sources

Spell/grammar check—have somebody proofread/revise it for you

Saved onto server and your flash drive, and sent to your email

Works Cited in same document as research paper

Staple in this order: Paper, Works Cited, Rubric (with your name, period, and title filled out)

Your (minimum of three) sources much match what sources you’ve documented in your paper

No “I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, us, our, ours” etc.—just change it to the statement

Just because I corrected a few things for you does not mean that you shouldn’t go back and correct everything else. In other words, don’t presume that I checked your grammar, spelling, all aspects of your format, etc.

End your paper with a “call to action”—something that makes your reader convinced that you feel strongly about your topic and that change must be made!

Velasquez 1

Rosa Velasquez

Ms. Lewis

English IV—Period 2

2 December 20xx

Personality and Birth Order: First-Borns and Later-Borns

Does birth order have any effect on personality? Some scholars argue that research on birth

order effects has been remarkably inconsistent and inconclusive with regard to various

personality and behavioral outcomes. Historian Frank Sulloway disagrees. In his book, Born to

Rebel, he offers proof of the relationship between birth order and personality (62). Examining

case studies comparing birth order to personality indicates an even stronger relationship than

once previously thought.

Researching the lives of historical figures, Sulloway observes that later-borns tend to

champion liberal or unconventional ideas while first-borns do not: "Later-borns were more likely

than first-borns to support each of the 61 liberal causes . . . surveyed, from the Protestant

Reformation to the American civil-rights movement" (79). Rule-breaking later-borns include

Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Charles Darwin (Cowley). In

contrast, first-borns defend the status quo (Seff 221). Naturalist Louis Agassiz fits this mold.