Student samples of research paragraphs

Underline the quotes.

  • How are they introduced?
  • Are both quotes long?

Look at the APA for the quotes.

  • What kinds of sources are they?

Circle the comments after the quotes

  • What words introduce the comments?
  • What is the purpose of the comments?

1.

James Monroe, in his annual message, expressed his own ideas about the conflict between the U.S. and the Europeans powers. However, these ideas were translated in a wide variety of ways, including by President Roosevelt as, “a license for the USA to practice its own form of colonization” (Monroe Doctrine, 1823, para. 8). This clarifies that President Roosevelt turned out to be against the proclamation of the USA and he began to develop what was later know as the “Roosevelt corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. He said the

occasions arose when European States would be justified in taking military action against a nation in the western hemisphere because it defaulted on debts or mistreated foreign subjects (May, 1975, p. 385).

This reveals how American leaders felt that it was possible that the European colonial powers could take arms against them.

2.

First of all, the United States got angry with Britain because of the latter’s support of the Indians. The northern part of the USA was attacked severely by Indian groups. As Cincotta states, “Northern settlers had suffered from attacks by Indians who they believed had been incited by British agents in Canada. This led many Americans to favor conquest of Canada” (1994, p. 105). This reveals the British interference in American affairs through arming the American Indians to launch attacks on North American settlers. As a result, many Americans wanted to invade Canada in order to protect their northern territories. In addition, Britain was wished to stop America from enlarging her territories. So, Britain provided the Indians with military supplies. Therefore, many American westerners thought strongly that Britain had helped the American Indians to establish their own ConfederateState (Causes of the War, 2007, para. 19). In other words, Americans were outraged and they felt they must take military actions against both Indians and their British allies. More importantly, Americans were trying to invade Canada because, as Cincotta asserts, they dreamed of making a new colony of Canada. In doing so, they would also prevent their enemy Britain from gaining an alliance with the Canadians (1994, p. 105). It is clear that American wanted to accomplish two goals at once. They wanted to both occupy Canada and stop British influence there as well. Thus, the British inciting of the American Indians coupled with the American desire for expansion were enough reasons for the USA to declare war on Britain in 1812.