The 9th Grade English
Research Report
An Environmental Issue paper
Unit Essential Questions:
Ø How do I follow standard methods of research?
Ø How is the library used to acquire print and electronic material to prepare and write a formal research paper?
Ø How is the actual paper produced?
First: Task Definition
LEQ:
· What are the main components of a research paper?
· How does a thesis statement guide research?
Vocab:
· Thesis statement
· Informational
· persuasive
There are many topics that affect our environment today, both locally and globally. You will need to choose an environmental issue (problem) and the solutions/options for dealing with it. Your purpose is to inform the reader of the problem and persuade the reader that one of the solutions/options which you will present is the best one for the reader to support/pursue.
In order to complete this task, you must follow the steps to writing a research paper:
1. Define the task & create a “working thesis”
2. Compile resources (at least 3 sources total including at least 1 database and 1 internet source)
3. Take appropriate and meaningful notes and keep accurate source information (20 individual notes will be checked during the notetaking process)
4. Organize the notes into an outline for your paper (formal or informal)
5. Write a rough draft in MLA format including internal citations which match the sources on your works cited page
6. Revise, edit and proofread your paper
7. Submit a final draft in MLA format (3-5 pages in length)
Second: Locate, Access, and Evaluate Sources
LEQ:
· Where do I find evidence to support my own research?
· How do I recognize a credible source?
· Why is it important to use a variety of electronic and print sources?
Vocab:
· Electronic sources
· Print sources
· Primary source
· Secondary source
· Database
· Credibility
· Bias
· Electronic card catalog
You must consider writer’s bias and find reliable sources of information about your topic.
** For your internet sources, you must fill in a web page evaluation sheet for each one.**
Third: Gather and Use Information
LEQ:
· How do note-taking strategies simplify the task and improve the paper?
· How can effective note taking prevent plagiarism?
· What are the rules for outlining?
· How can I organize my information in outline form?
· How can note taking create an effective paper?
· What is parenthetical (internal/ in-text) documentation and how do I use it?
Vocab:
· Formal outline
· Informal outline
· Parenthetical (internal/in-text) documentation
· Paraphrase/indirect quotation
· Summarize
· Direct quotation
· Partial quotation (with ellipses)
· Plagiarism
At this point in your assignment, you should begin to take notes, but in order for the notes to be meaningful, you should try to think about the overall outline for your paper ahead of time. That way you will stay focused and only take notes on topics which will fit into your outline.
Formal outline
I. Introduction
A. Attention getter
B. Bridge
C. Thesis
1. Defining the problem
2. Listing the possible solutions in the order they will be presented in the paper
II. Body
A. Background information /definition of the problem
1. What is the problem?
2. Why is it such a big deal?
3. Why should we do something about it?
B. Solution/option one
1. What is the solution?
2. What is good about it? (pros)
3. What is negative about it? (cons)/ What are some negative effects it might have?
4. What is your overall impression (good or bad) about this option?
C. Solution/option two
1. What is the solution?
2. What is good about it? (pros)
3. What is negative about it? (cons)/ What are some negative effects it might have?
4. What is your overall impression (good or bad) about this option?
D. Solution/option three
1. What is the solution?
2. What is good about it? (pros)
3. What is negative about it? (cons)/ What are some negative effects it might have?
4. What is your overall impression (good or bad) about this option?
E. Choose the best option from the three you’ve presented and draw a conclusion/take a stance by explaining why you think that option is the BEST one of the three.
1. What makes this option the best?
2. Why is it the one the reader should pursue?
3. Define your criteria for making this judgement
III. Conclusion
A. Restate your thesis
B. Emphasize the best solution (again)
C. Leave the reader feeling optimistic that a better future can be achieved through this solution
Informal Outline
Outline for Environmental Research Paper
Introduction
*Begin with an attention grabber to incite interest in your subject
*Bridge into your thesis
*Include a thesis which states the problem and all options for solving it which you will discuss in your paper IN THE ORDER THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED!
Body
*Background information about the problem and introduction of some ways of
managing/handling/solving the issue.
*Option (or solution) one
· Describe the solution
· Pros
· Cons
· overall impression (good/bad??)
*Option (or solution) two
· Describe the solution
· Pros
· Cons
· overall impression (good/bad??)
*Option (or solution) three
· Describe the solution
· Pros
· Cons
· overall impression (good/bad??)
*Draw a conclusion/take a stance by choosing the best option based on your research and explain why you chose that option as the best.
Conclusion
*Restate your thesis and emphasize the best solution again.
Graphic organizer method
Please pick up a handout if you are interested in using a graphic organizer instead of a formal outline.
Note taking techniques: Note cards or Single Sheet methods
While note taking, it is KEY that you gather all the necessary publication and documentation information you will need from each source.
YOU CANNOT USE UNDOCUMENTED INFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES WITHIN YOUR PAPER! That is plagiarism.
A Note Card Note Taking Technique
v Make sure only ONE note (sentence or phrase) goes on each card!
v Use different colored cards or ink for each source to keep them organized.
v Write all works cited (publication information) on the source card sheet (see next page)
v When you have all your notes are taken, use the brief note topic description on each note card to organize your notes.
EXAMPLE of Note Card Note-Taking Model
Source Card # D-______
ONE NOTE PER NOTE CARD!
*Remember your notes NEED to be a combination of paraphrasing and direct quotes. Make sure to indicate when exact words are taken from a text with “quotation marks.”
Single Sheet
1. Use a separate sheet of paper for each different source.
2. Cite the source information on one side of the note-taking page.
3. Write down the page on which you found a note you might want to use for your paper.
4. Write down a brief topic description so you can use this to organize your information for your outline and paper.
5. Then paraphrase information or copy down direct quotes you might use in your paper.
Example:
Pg. # / Brief TopicDescription / Your paraphrased note or direct quote
5 / Survival Tips / When alone in the woods make sure you have “food, shelter, and water; especially water. You can not live without it so it is a priority in any survival situation” (Jones 5).
6 / Survival Tips / For safety it is always best to hike, climb, camp, or do any outdoor adventure activity with a partner (Jones 6).
10 / Building a Fire / Dry wood or tinder is essential for staring a bow fire (Jones 10).
The documentation information is exactly the same as the example previously shown with the note cards
*Hint: To save time later, cite the source of each note in a parenthetical directly behind the note; then when you use the note in your paper, you’ll remember to include an internal citation with it!
Many new researchers commit plagiarism. According to Webster’s dictionary, plagiarism is the act of stealing and passing off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: using (another's production) without crediting the source. Plagiarism can be either the blatant copying of another’s work or it can be negligent plagiarism, which is done when a researcher does not cite his or her sources properly or fully.
Even if you paraphrase information, you need to cite the original source of the IDEA.
Fourth: Synthesis
LEQ:
· What steps are required to draft a research paper?
· How do I edit my paper?
· What is the format of the research paper?
Vocabulary:
· MLA format
· Transitions
· Revise
· edit
· Topic and concluding sentences
· 1st person point of view
· 2nd person point of view
· 3rd person point of view
**Now it is time to take your notes and put them into your outline (if you have not already done so) with the appropriate internal citation after each note.
DO THE CITATION; it will save you lots of time later!
**After your outline is complete, GO AHEAD; start typing. You should add your analysis and thought into the paper without resorting to 1st or 2nd person point of view.
As you type, don’t forget to use signal phrases and/or internal citations to give credit to the information which you’ve collected from outside sources.
**After you have a rough draft, it needs to be revised and edited. You revise when you change/add/eliminate sections of text. You edit when you look for and change spelling/grammar/capitalization/punctuation mistakes. DO BOTH.
You should adhere to the items on the rubric to increase your grade:
General Format· Double Spaced
· One inch margins
· Typed (12pt. font, TNR or CN)
· Headers on all pages (including WC)
· Spacing between paragraphs / MLA Citations
· Sources cited match Works Cited Page (internal citations match first line of WC page entries)
· At least 3 citations (one for each source) are used
· Citations properly set up and used in paper
· Information accurately paraphrased or directly quoted
· All borrowed material is cited
· Quotation marks around directly quoted material
· Periods and commas properly placed inside quotation marks and outside internal citations
· Ellipsis marks used if material omitted
Page One of the Paper
· Header (last name, pg. #)
· Proper Heading (all parts in proper order and format)
· Title of paper (centered, 12pt. font, etc.)
· Spacing between title and text / Works Cited Page
· Works Cited information is on a separate page
· Proper header at the top of the page
· Works Cited title centered
· Double spaced (page and entries)
· 1st line of entries are flushed left; subsequent entries are indented
· All entries are completed in proper format according to source type (order, spacing, punctuation, spelling, etc.)
· Entries in ABC order
· Minimum 3 sources used (at least one print source)
Content
· Clear thesis statement in introduction paragraph
· Pro/con format followed
· Topic sentences used in each paragraph
· Original thought included in the paper; not just a copy and pasting of borrowed information
· Thesis restated in conclusion
· Content of paper complete and detailed
· Paper is well organized (transitions used)
· Paper is 3-5 pages in length / Formal Writing Skills and Conventions
· Fragment or run-ons
· Sentence ending with prepositions
· Contractions used
· Slang or text messaging style used
· Capitalization mistakes
· Subject verbs agreement mistakes
· Commonly misused words – used incorrectly
· Use of 1st or 2nd person
· Incorrect punctuation of titles
· Referencing the essay itself
· Sentences that begin with “This quote”.
· Author addressed improperly (First and last name used in first mention of author, and only the last name of the author in all subsequent sentences.)
· Misuse of commas
Get a parent, peer or both to read through your paper.
Tell them to “mark it up” with suggestions.
Then READ YOUR PAPER OUT LOUD!
You’ll find even more mistakes that way.
When you’ve completed the revisions and editing, you are ready to publish (turn in) your final draft for a grade!
Staple together these parts in this order:
Top: Checklist with signatures (20 pts)
Middle: Rubric with your name/period
Bottom: Final draft (100 pts)