Name:______Research Guide for Q4 2011

Honors Research Project

Purpose: To create note cards, source cards, basic outline, and write an introduction and two supporting paragraphs responding to your topic

Objectives:

·  Create a minimum of 5 source cards and at least 2 note cards for each source

·  Create a minimum of 25 note cards

·  Find a minimum of 3 sources to use

·  Create an organized outline showing the sections of your research

·  Plan a research essay and write an introduction and 2 supporting paragraphs using in-text citations

·  Document sources using a Works Cited Page

Step 1: Note cards and Note taking – You will need to find answers to the focus questions and take notes on your findings. Be sure to create a source card for each source and then set up and take notes on the notecards. Remember, you are to write only ONE note per card.

·  Source Cards record the bibliographic material needed to document where you find your information. It should also include a source letter in the upper right hand corner.

Sample Source Card:

A
"Becoming a Meteorologist." Weather.com. The Weather Channel, 12 Nov 2010. Web. 23 Apr 2011. <http://weather.com/learn_more/resources/metro.html>.


Note Cards record the information you have gathered from your source. Regardless of the type of notes that you take, you need to be sure to record the location of the information by writing a source letter, a card number, and/or a page number on each source.

o  Direct quotations – take notes by writing word for word from the source, being sure to use quotation marks

o  Paraphrase – take notes by writing your own version of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.

Sample Note Card:

A 1
Quote
“In high school, develop your critical and analytical thinking. Take all required math and science courses, especially the advanced ones, such as calculus and the physical sciences. The study of weather includes chemistry, physics, and dynamics.”

Step 2: Outlining and Organizing

Separate your source cards from your note cards.

·  Organize your note cards into specific categories (what question/questions are you answering)

·  Set up an outline following the attached example

Step 3: Write an Essay

·  Write a research essay using the information you have.

·  Introduction – Includes background information about your chosen topic

·  Paragraphs– Explain one aspect of the answer to your specific research topic – you may need more than one paragraph to fully develop your response to each aspect of your research.

Step 4: MLA Formatting

·  Use parenthetical citation in your writing.

·  When you refer to the works of others in your text is you need to use parenthetical citation. Immediately following a quotation from a source or a paraphrase of a source's ideas, you place the authors name followed by a space and the relevant page number(s). When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name. Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work, or italicize or underline it if it's a longer work.

·  Your in-text citation will correspond with an entry in your Works Cited page


Sample in-text citation for direct quotations and paraphrased material:

o  Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3). quoted

o  Humans, like animals, often use symbols (Burke 3). Paraphrased

Step 5: Creating the Works Cited Page

·  Use a works cited page which records information about the sources that you used for this paper.

·  Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper.

·  Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.

·  Double space all citations, but do not skip extra spaces between entries.

·  Indent the second and third line of an each entry.

·  Place entries in alphabetical order.

Sample Works Cited Page:

Burgess 3
Works Cited
"Becoming a Meteorologist." weather.com. The Weather Channel, 12 Nov 2010. Web. 23 Apr 2011. <http://weather.com/learn more/resources/metro.html>.
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York: Penguin Books, 1987.
Henley, Patricia. The Hummingbird House. Denver: MacMurray, 1999.
Selluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. 28 Nov. 2003. Purdue
University. 25 Apr 2011 <http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/>.


Formal Three-Part Outline:
Introduction, Body & Conclusion

NOTE: Formal outlines require a special numbering system. If you have a I, you must have a II. If you have an A, you must have a B. If you have a 1, you must have a 2, and so on:

The traditional outline has three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.
The basic model looks like this:
Title
I.  Introduction
A.  The background
B.  The thesis statement
II.  Body
A.  First major category of support
1.  Supporting detail
2.  Supporting detail
3.  Supporting detail
B.  Second major category of support
1.  Supporting detail
2.  Supporting detail
C.  Third major category of support
1.  Supporting detail
2.  Supporting detail
III.  Conclusion
A.  Review of the major categories of support
B.  The answer, solution, or final option
/ Example:
Alcohol Testing for Mass Transportation Employees
I.  Congress mandates testing for transportation employees
A.  Background on why
B.  Explanation of new policy
II.  How and why alcohol testing is used
A.  Circumstances for Alcohol Testing
1.  Pre-employment
2.  Post-accident
3.  Reasonable suspicion
4.  Random
5.  Return to duty/follow-up testing
B.  Method of Alcohol Testing
1.  Blood
2.  Urine
3.  Breath
4.  Performance
C.  Options for Alcohol Abusers
1.  Retesting
2.  Treatment
3.  Termination of employment
III.  Conclusion
A. 
B. 

Updated May 29, 2001
Copyright© 1997-present by English Works! at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Name:______

Research Project Rubric – must turn in with all materials

Research and Organzation (50 pts)

150 points / magnificoes
5 / bawcock
4.5 / hob nob
4 / bawbling
3.5 / loggerhead 0
Source cards
X 2 = 10 points / Source cards include ALL of the following:
* five source cards
* one source card for every source used
* at least two print source
* no errors in format / Source cards include MOST of the following:
* five source cards
* one source card for every source used
* at least one print source
* no errors in format / Source cards include SOME of the following:
* five source cards
* one source card for every source used
* at least one print source
* no errors in format / Source cards include FEW of the following:
* five source cards
* one source card for every source used
* no print source
* no errors in format / No source cards
Note cards
X 6 = 30 points / Notecards include ALL of the following:
*25 cards or more
* no errors with format including source letter, page number, etc.
* only one note per card
* appropriate punctuation for note
* no evidence of plagiarism / Notecards include MOST of the following:
*20 cards or more
* no errors with format including source letter, page number, etc.
* only one note per card
* appropriate punctuation for note
* no evidence of plagiarism / Notecards include SOME of the following:
*20 cards or more
* no errors with format including source letter, page number, etc.
* only one note per card
* appropriate punctuation for note
* no evidence of plagiarism / Notecards include FEW of the following:
*20 cards or more
* no errors with format including source letter, page number, etc.
* only one note per card
* appropriate punctuation for note
* no evidence of plagiarism / No notecards
Outline
X 2 = 10 points / Completed outline using provided organizer / No outline completed

Essay (50 pts)

Format
X 1 = 5 points / * No errors with MLA format
* Attached rubric / * Few errors with MLA format
* Attached rubric / * Some errors with MLA format
* Attached rubric / * Many errors with MLA format
* Attached rubric / No MLA format
Mechanics and Usage
x 2 = 10 points / No errors with usage and mechanics including:
* grammar
* punctuation
* capitalization
* spelling / Few errors with usage and mechanics including:
* grammar
* punctuation
* capitalization
* spelling / Some errors with usage and mechanics including:
* grammar
* punctuation
* capitalization
* spelling / Many errors with usage and mechanics including
*grammar
* punctuation
* capitalization
* spelling / Countless errors with usage and mechanics
Body Paragraph and in-text MLA Citations
X 3 = 15 points / No errors in the following:
*citation of ALL quoted and paraphrased material
* formatting and punctuation of in-text citations
* formatting, spacing, and punctuation of Works Cited page
* matching of in-text citations to works cited page entry / Few errors in the following:
*citation of ALL quoted and paraphrased material
* formatting and punctuation of in-text citations
* formatting, spacing, and punctuation of Works Cited page
* matching of in-text citations to works cited page entry / Some errors in the following:
*citation of ALL quoted and paraphrased material
* formatting and punctuation of in-text citations
* formatting, spacing, and punctuation of Works Cited page
* matching of in-text citations to works cited page entry / Many errors in the following:
*citation of ALL quoted and paraphrased material
* formatting and punctuation of in-text citations
* formatting, spacing, and punctuation of Works Cited page
* matching of in-text citations to works cited page entry / No MLA Citations
Intro-duction
X 4 = 20 points / Strong, well-developed introduction of topic which includes all of the following :
* brief introduction to topic
* general to specific format
* smoothly integrated sentences which serve as a thorough introduction of the topic
*Clearly stated and well-developed thesis with a what and a why; analysis based and not plot based / Good introduction (less developed than 4) of topic which includes all of the following:
* brief introduction to topic
* general to specific format
* integrated sentences which serve as a good introduction of topic
*Clearly stated thesis with a what and a why; analysis based and not plot based / Sufficient introduction of topic which includes most of the following:
* brief introduction to topic
* general to specific format
* adequately integrated sentences which serve as an introduction to the topic
*stated thesis with a what and a why / Weak or vague introduction of topic which includes some of the following:
*brief introduction to topic
* few sentences which serve as introduction to the topic
*stated thesis lacking either a what or a why; plot based / No introduction

Total Score: Research ______

Paper ______

Final Score ______