Research Paper s1

English11 CP

Ms. Larkin

Research Paper

Research Paper: Introduction

The Project:

Throughout the course of this project, you will be researching and writing a 4-6 page paper on American short stories. You will be asked to read the stories of your choosing, select an aspect of the stories that you would like to research, and develop an original central idea and thesis, which you will support with a combination of your own ideas, support from your primary source, and secondary research from critics. Although the final paper may appear to be somewhat daunting, by following the assigned steps of the project, you will avoid being overwhelmed by the process.

Possible aspects of the short stories to explore: symbolism, tone, characterization, point of view, setting, conflict, and theme.

The Process:

You will NOT receive a separate grade for each step of the project, so it is important that you take the responsibility to stay on task and make sure that you do not procrastinate.

Again, although this project may seem daunting now, each step will be covered in class, and sufficient class time will be provided so that you can get some work done and ask me questions. I am also available to work after school with anyone experiencing difficulty. Please see me if you have questions AS SOON AS they arise. Happy researching!

Research Paper: Assignment

I. Objectives

A. Research a topic of interest based on short stories from the reading list

B. Focus on literary analysis

C. Express your ideas and the research through writing

D. Demonstrate proficiency of MLA style and format

II. Requirements

A. Length

1. Paper must be between 4-6 pages

B. MLA

1. Paper must be developed with 7-10 working secondary sources

2. Paper must be developed with 3-5 secondary sources used for citation

3. Paper must be developed using the primary source

4. Quotations must develop and support your CI

5. Paper may include no more than 2 Internet sources (unless online literary journals)

6. Hard copy of Internet sources must be submitted with paper

C. Outline page

1. Single spaced

2. Properly formatted

D. Contents of actual paper

1. Introductory paragraph

a. Lead-in that gains the attention of reader

b. Central Idea that states what you will prove

c. Thesis that outlines how you will prove CI

2. Body paragraphs

a. Topic sentences that relate thesis back to CI

b. Supporting material

c. Quotations / In-text citations

d. Transitions

3. Concluding paragraph

a. Restates main points

b. Demonstrates paper has reached an end

C. Works Cited page

1. Title

2. Format

3. Four sources minimum (including primary text)

D. Format

1. Double space entire paper

2. Font size: 12 point

3. Font type: Times New Roman

4. Margins: 1 inch

5. Heading

6. Page numbers

E. Submit

1. Research paper

2. Works Cited

3. Outline

4. Note cards

5. Hard copy of Internet source if used

F. Special Note

1. If absent on due date send paper to

2. Paper must be received before 2:15 P.M.

3. Upon return to school, submit all hard copies

4. If you do not have email, have someone drop it off for you before 2:15

5. Each day late, paper loses 10%

6. Papers will not be accepted after four days

7. Papers with any form of plagiarism receive 0% and disciplinary referral

a. Regardless of intent

b. Regardless of amount

Research Paper: Rubric

______/40 Focus

/10 Lead In – gains the attention and interest of reader

/5 Central Idea – unites the work

/5Thesis – anticipates / looks forward to the body paragraphs

/20 Writer stays on topic throughout the paper; no irrelevant information

______/50 Content

/25 Writer completely addresses topic selected – writer analyzes literature

/25 Writer skillfully uses specific examples, quotations to support ideas – writer incorporates a variety of sources

______/20 Organization

/5 Introduction contains a lead-in, central idea, and thesis

/5 Body paragraphs contain topic sentence relating thesis to central idea

/5 Writer includes smooth transitions between topics

/5 Conclusion reinforces / expands upon the central idea

______/20 Style

/5 Writer invokes interest of reader

/5Writer uses mature and varied sentence structures

/5 Diction and tone are appropriate to topic and audience

/5Quotations are integrated smoothly into existing sentences / paragraphs

______/20 Mechanics

/20 Writer shows evidence of mastery through proper grammatical conventions and spelling

______/50 Requirements

/10 Works Cited / MLA format

/40 All Prewriting Deadlines Met

______/ 200 total point value

Research Paper: Topic Ideas

THEME

1. Does the author seem to be saying something about ambition . . . courage . . . greed . . .

jealousy . . .happiness, etc.?

2. Does the selection show the reader what it is like to experience racism, loneliness, and so on?

3. Does the author have a point to make about a specific historical event?

CHARACTERS

1. How does the main character change from the beginning to the end?

2. What forces or circumstances make one of the characters act in a certain way? (Consider the setting, the conflict, other characters, etc.)

3. What are the most revealing aspects of one of the characters? (Consider his or her

thoughts, actions, and words.)

4. Do the characters’ actions seem believable within the story?

5. Does the main character have a confidant, someone he or she relies on? (How important or reliable is this person?

PLOT

1. What external or internal conflict affects the main character?

2. How is suspense built into the story?

3. How does the climax change the story?

4. Are there any twists in the plot? (What do they add to the story?)

5. Does the plot follow a basic pattern of fiction?

SETTING

1. What effect does the setting have on the characters?

2. Does the setting expand your understanding of a specific time and place?

3. Is the setting new and thought provoking?

STYLE

1. How does the writing--descriptive phrases, images, and so on--create an overall feeling or tone in the selection?

2. Is the dialogue or description used effectively? (Give examples.)

3. Is there an important symbol that adds meaning to the selection? (How is this symbol

represented in different parts of the story?)

4. Are there key figures of speech writing such as metaphors and similes? (What do these add to the writing?)

Research Paper: Taking Notes

As you read through your primary and secondary sources, you’ll need to take different kinds of notes:

· Direct quotations record the exact words from your sources.

· Summaries condense the ideas of others.

· Paraphrases record in your own words the ideas of others.

· Personal notes record your own thoughts / ideas.

I. Direct Quotations

A. You cannot copy the words of others into your paper in such a way to mislead your readers into thinking that you wrote the material.

B. You must use exactly the same words you found in the source.

C. You must provide an in-text citation to the author and page number, like: (Leeson 21).

D. You may give the author’s name at the beginning of the quotation and use the in-text citation for page number only, like:

Fred V. Hein says, “The human body, with its unique blend of cells, tissues, organs, and systems, is the most complex and intricate living-machine yet observed on earth” (16).

E. You must begin every quotation with a quotation mark and end it with a quotation mark, as shown above.

F. The in-text citation goes outside the quotation mark but inside the final period.

G. The quoted material should be important and well-phrased, not something trivial or something that is common knowledge—NOT “Nathaniel Hawthorne was the author of The Scarlet Letter” (Anders 211), but “Hawthorne was a master of symbolism who left a legacy of ambiguity” (Anders 211).

II. Summaries

A. Summary notecards do not require a citation (author / page number) because a summary reviews an entire work, not a specific passage.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens describes young Pip, who inherits money and can live the life of a gentleman. He soon discovers, however, that his “great expectations” have come from a criminal. With this knowledge, Pip’s attitude changes from one of vanity to one of compassion.

III. Paraphrase

A. Retain the meaning of the original material in your statement.

B. Include an in-text citation to the author and page number, like

(Grabfelder 3), just as you do for a direct quotation.

C. Rewrite the material in approximately the same number of words.

D. Put quotation marks around any phrase that you retain from the original source.

E. You may credit the source at the beginning of the paraphrase and put the page number at the end. In this manner, your reader will know when the paraphrase

begins and when it ends.

ORIGINAL: “Except for identical twins, each person’s heredity is

unique” (Hein 294).

PARAPHRASE: Hein explains that heredity is special and distinct

for each of us, unless you are one of identical twins (294).

IV. Personal Notes

*Material drawn from The Research Paper Handbook and MLA Handbook.

Research Paper: Format

Print:

· Times Roman

· 12 point

Paper:

· 8 ½ by 11 inch paper

Margins:

· 1 inch margins all around

o This does not include the page number

· The page number is ½ inch from top

· Indent the first word of a paragraph ½ inch or five spaces

· Indent set-off quotations 1 inch or ten spaces

Spacing:

· Entire paper is double spaced

o This includes heading, quotations, and the list of works cited

Heading and Title:

· Do not use a title page

· On first page- one inch from top and left type…

o Your name, your instructor’s name, the course number, and the date on separate lines (Example of “date” 24 April 2002)

o Don’t forget to double space

o Double space and type the title of the paper

o Center title

o Do not underline, italicize, bold face, or use quotations for title

Page Numbers:

o Number all pages ½ inch from top and flush with right margin

o Type your last name before the page number

Research Paper: Visual Organizer

Paragraph

Research Paper: Finding Sources

1. You should have some general idea of what it is you would like to research (symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the importance of heritage in “Everyday Use,” etc.) Now, your responsibility is to find sources written about your short stories, your author, the time period, etc.

2. The librarians will guide you as to where you can find sources. Please pay attention to their directions; they have been given the list of short stories beforehand.

3. When you find a potential source, take a few minutes to look over that source. You do NOT need to read the entire article at this point, but take a few minutes to skim its contents. Some articles may have an abstract (summary) that precedes the actual article. These abstracts are very valuable in highlighting the content of the article. Try to identify if the content of the article will be helpful to you. Will any part of it support the general idea that you have developed? (You may need to modify / change your topic as you go through the research process).

4. When you find a source that you think you may be able to use, create a bibliography card by doing the following:

· Put your citation on a 3 X 5 index card

· Be sure to include all essential aspects of the source in your citation. If the article was previously published in another source, you will need to include the original publication information in your citation.

· Use the proper MLA format as designated by the sheet given in class or any of the electronic methods suggested by the librarians.

· Please keep in mind that you need to have a working bibliography of 7-10 sources.

5. On the back of each card, jot down a quick phrase to annotate the type of information found in the source. This should help you when you return to take notes on these sources.

Research Paper: Outlining

Helpful hints:

· Arrange your notes in a logical order to follow as your write.

· Jot down major headings.

· Sort the material to fit under the headings. Revise the headings, order, or both, as necessary.

· Look for relationships among ideas and group them as subtopics.

· Try to avoid long lists of subtopics. Consider combining these into related ideas.

· If you can’t decide where to put something, put it in two or more places in the outline. As you write, you can decide which place is the most appropriate.

· If you’re not sure that an idea fits, write yourself a reminder to see where it belongs after you’ve written your first draft.

· If an important idea doesn’t fit, write a new outline with a place for it. If it’s important, it belongs in the paper.