The Junior Research Project

Overview:

The junior research project is required for ALL juniors at CHS. It involves writing an opinion based research paper AND presenting your perspectives on the topic to the class in a formal presentation. Luckily, the junior research paper also helps AP students with the synthesis essay. Consider it a lengthy and well-prepared synthesis essay.

Learning Targets:

The research paper you are writing calls for you to take a position on a key question you’ve developed regarding your topic. Again, keep in mind that this is not a report. Rather, you are researching connections, influences, expert and published opinions, relevance or significance and taking a unique angle in the form of a research paper. You’ve investigated a topic while collecting and evaluating appropriate evidence to sift through varying points of view. It is now time to establish an informed position and synthesize your sources with your own discussion to create an eloquent, interesting, and structured response to your research question.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Choose a relevant and appropriate topic.

2. Create 20-30 properly formatted notecards in EasyBib.

3. Create a Works Cited page with SIX SOURCES. These sources are to be cited in your essay.

4. THREE-NO MORE THAN FOUR (750-1000 words)- page editorial piece with SIX SOURCES CITED.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS:

1. An Annotated Works Consulted with TEN sources from a variety of locations. SIX of these TEN will be used in your essay and will become a part of your Works Cited page.

2. Must find at least THREE other editorials relating your topic chosen

3. Must find at least ONE chart or graph to use as a source

TOPICS:

Choose any controversial topic relevant to teens today EXCEPT: abortion and marijuana

*All aspects of the research process are important and NOT to be skipped. I have also provided plenty of class time to get assignments done, therefore LATE assignments will receive NO MORE than ½ credit.

Fill in the information below BEFORE Feb. 20.

Topic Choice (this may be broad):

______

My initial opinion on the topic:

______

Research Questions-what I don’t’ know about the topic:

1.______

2.______

3.______

4. ______

5. ______

Related Subtopics (you will choose one of these to focus on as you research and write your essay):

______

EasyBib Notecard Requirements

*20 complete note cards= B grade 85 pts, 30 complete note cards = A grade 100 pts

1. All note cards must have a note card title (NOT THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE)

2. Link to corresponding source

3. Direct quote from source (no more than one per note card)

4. paraphrasing of direct quote

5. Comment- where this may fit into your argument (concession, support for ______, introduction)

6. Evidence of organization- color coding, identifier

UNIT SCHEDULE

Monday Feb. 18 / Tuesday Feb. 19 / Wednesday Feb. 20 / Thursday Feb. 21 / Friday Feb. 22
NO SCHOOL- President’s Day / Library- Intro to EasyBib, topic overview / Print Sources and Databases / Print Sources and Databases- EasyBib review / Note taking day
Monday Feb. 25 / Tuesday Feb 26 / Wednesday Feb. 27
LATE START 1,3,5 / Thursday Feb. 28
LATE START 2,4,6 / Friday March 1
Note taking day / Annotated Works Consulted due / No class / 10 complete note cards in EasyBib DUE AT THE START OF CLASS
Research day- other useful databases / Meet in lab 503
AP prompt due at the end of class- see assignment handout
10 complete notecards due in EasyBib DUE AT THE START OF CLASS
*last 10 note cards will be due on Monday, March 4
Monday March 4 / Tuesday March 5 / Wednesday March 6 / Thursday March 7 / Friday March 8
*Final note cards due AT THE START OF CLASS
Meet in computer lab 503
Work on rough drafts- THESIS STATEMENTS DUE BY THE END OF CLASS / Lab 503 rough drafts
FIRST TWO TO THREE BODY PARAGRAPHS DUE BY THE END OF CLASS / Lab 503- rough drafts must be COMPLETE- peer editing / Lab 503 last editing day
OR JAS portfolio work / JRP’s DUE:
1 hard copy to Ms. Widdop with rubric attached.
1 copy submitted to turnitin.com
Monday March 11
LATE START? 1,3,5 / Tuesday March 12
LATE START 2,4,6 / Wednesday March 13
LATE START 1,3,5 / Thursday March 14
LATE START 2,4,6 / Friday March 15
PLC SCHEDULE
JAS Portfolio due
Early morning essay practice- time and location TBA / Early morning essay practice- time and location TBA / AM JAS Interviews
Speech prep and Multiple Choice practice / AM JAS Interviews
Speech prep and Multiple Choice practice / Speech prep and multiple choice practice

General Research Tips

  • Begin with good research questions.

I strongly recommend doing a basic Google search before starting your academic research, this will give you some basic knowledge on your topic.

  • Read sources thoroughly before moving on.

Often reading a source all the way through will drive you to begin researching the next source differently and more efficiently.

  • Take careful notes.

This takes time but saves time when writing the essay.

  • There is always more than one word for it.

Consider variations of keywords… synonyms, related words, short phrases. As you research, notice what language your sources use to discuss your topic, then use that language as you search further.

  • Not “everything” is on the web.

And not everything on the web is free. Ask for help if you’re stuck! I am a good source, Mrs. Nicholson is a great source as is Ms. Neibruegge.

  • Google is not evil.

But it isn’t where I want you to start gathering resources, necessarily. For “listening to the conversation” pre-search, it is fine, but start with the databases through the CHS Library for your electronic searches. Also, consider using scholar.google.com to point you toward more “professional” conversation on your topic.

  • Keep detailed notes, and not what you just cut-and-paste…..did I already mention this? Must be important!

Know why you’ve cut and paste the details you are taking from the sources. Keep DETAILED note cards! Track your thought process about why…in that moment…you felt it was worth adding that information to a note card. Once you make 40 or 50 or 60 note cards, you will need those little notes-to-self.

  • If you find what you are looking for on your first search, that may not always be a good thing.

Research is like fishing…for every keeper you pull in to the boat, there were a handful of fish that were too small, perhaps some nasty plant matter, and likely many dozen casts where you didn’t reel anything in at all. If you find everything you need too quickly and easily, that might mean you are not setting yourself up for original or insightful analysis…you’re fishing for the wrong thing.

  • If you find one source with everything you need, that is actually a very bad sign.

This means you are not pushing into innovative territory. If one source has everything, that means your topic is overdone, unoriginal, or lacks complexity. If all your details come from one source, it is unlikely that you will end up with synthesis or analysis, but rather the summary of what one source says.

  • Cross-check your information…especially on the web.

Like rumors, erroneous information spreads like a virus. Just because you find good information once on the web, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is reliable. Especially for evocative, shocking, divisive, or controversial information, seek out corroborating sources that do not cross-reference one another. If possible, scholarly journals or websites of professional organizations are a good bet… so find something with impeccable credibility to back up anything remotely questionable.

  • Scroll down.

Seriously, people.

Know that good research is neither quick nor easy.

There is no drive-thru option if you want quality.

Good Writing Tips

  • Many professional writers write their thesis and then write their “hooks” after finishing the entire piece.
  • Good essays contain voice, the voice drives the essay, not the evidence provided.
  • Consider paraphrasing rather than plopping quotes into every paragraph. Only use a quote when you feel the quote will blow the reader away.
  • Synthesize means to incorporate your opinions with a source’s opinions. Simply stating your opinion and then saying, “Roger Egbert supports my opinion because he says that…….” is not necessarily synthesis. Synthesis incorporates bits and pieces of a source’s information into your own opinion. Think back to the 8 essay you read on television. Or consider the essays you read in the SPR. Or John McPhee’s article on structure.
  • Don’t be afraid to use examples from your own experience in addition to examples gathered from outside sources.
  • Consider returning to your thesis somewhere towards the end of each body paragraph. Remind your reader where you stand.
  • GREAT conclusions “draw conclusions” they don’t restate thesis statements, they don’t highlight key points in the article…..9th grade conclusions do this.
  • Avoid fallacies…or the fallacy Nazi’s of the class will rip you apart.
  • Avoid generalizations, a lot of people use generalizations and they’re bad.
  • Find your voice. Don’t forget who you are just because this is a formal assignment with parameters.
  • Consider the theme of your essay…use this to guide your narrative. Look back at McPhee’s article on structure and the examples he gave on how theme often allowed him to narrate in a different manner.