Name:
Name: ____________________________________________________ Period:_____________
“Controversial Topics” Research Project
School Databases: Go to . Then click on the
“Student Links” tab. Use the following log-in and password information:
LOG-IN = georgetown (EXCEPTION: Encyclopedia Brittanica; log-in = georgetownhs)
Password = eagle
Step 1: Choose a topic
Step 2: Use MLA Format to cite each source BEFORE you begin taking notes with it.
• You must use 6 sources (minimum).
• Two of your sources must be a news source. (Examples: , , , , , , , news., news., OR any other official news source)
• Two of your sources must be books
• Other sources can be from anywhere EXCEPT for or any other wiki sources.
• Information that needs to be cited: direct quotations from the articles; use quotes, and cite at the end of the sentence with (author’s last name, page # of article).
• Information that doesn’t need to be cited: names, dates, information that can be found in any article written about the event
|Resource Type: Book |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |
|Author/Editor: | | | |
|Title: | | | |
|Place of publication (City,State): | | | |
|Publisher (Company Name): | | | |
|Date of Publication: | | | |
Format for Bibliography:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of publication.
|Resource Type: Online Database |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |
|Author: | | | |
|“Title of Article”: | | | |
|Book or periodical title: | | | |
|Publication information of article: | | | |
|Name of Database: | | | |
|Publication information of database: | | | |
|Library & Date of access: | | | |
|: | | | |
Format for Bibliography:
Author’s Last Name, First name. “Article Title.” Book or magazine title. Publication information. Name of Database. Pub. Info of database. Library & date of access .
|Resource Type: Internet Site |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |Source #: ______ |
|Author: | | | |
|“Title of article”: | | | |
|Document date: | | | |
|Any publication information: | | | |
|Date of access: | | | |
|: | | | |
Format for Bibliography:
Author’s Last name, First name. “Article Title.” Site Title. Document Date. Any publication information. Date of access .
Step 3: Take notes on your topic using your sources.
As you gather information about your focused topic, you may find new information which prompts you to refine, clarify, extend or narrow your focus. Stay flexible and adjust your information search to account for the changes, widening or narrowing your search, or heading down a slightly different path to follow a new lead.
(Source: )
|Use these questions as a jumping off point to take notes on your topic. |Source Number (for |
|Remember to use your own words and put quotation marks around any direct quotes. |EACH note) |
|WHO is involved in this controversial topic? WHO are the people most concerned about this topic? | |
|WHAT is the controversial topic? (Be very specific here!) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|WHEN did this topic first appear in society and begin to be controversial? | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|WHERE did the first case of this controversial topic first occur? WHERE do we see or hear about this topic now? | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|WHY is this topic so controversial? Give several reasons and examples. | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|HOW does the general population of the United States/world view this controversial topic? | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|What laws or government interventions have been passed or proposed to stop or | |
|curtail this controversial topic? | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|Additional Notes: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
You MUST use a QUOTE from THREE different sources:
1. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 4: Construct your MLA Work Cited.
Works Cited
"Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.
Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.
Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.
Ebert, Roger. "An Inconvenient Truth." Rev. of An Inconvenient Truth, dir. Davis Guggenheim. . Sun-Times News Group, 2 June 2006. Web. 24 May 2009.
. Cooler Heads Coalition, 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.
Gowdy, John. "Avoiding Self-organized Extinction: Toward a Co-evolutionary Economics of Sustainability." International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 14.1 (2007): 27-36.
Step 5: Construct a THESIS Statement.
What is a THESIS STATEMENT? (Source: )
In summary, a thesis statement is a single sentence, usually in the first paragraph of the paper, which:
• Declares the position you are taking in your paper,
• Sets up the way you will organize your discussion,
• Points to the conclusion you will draw, and
• Boils down the main point of your paper to a single statement.
My thesis statement is: ______________________________________________________________________ ______
________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Step 5: Write your “paper”
You will be given one class day to write your paper. Date of in class writing: __________
Due Dates and Materials for Research Project
1. Declare Topic and Thesis Statement = due 2/26 and 2/27
2. Sources: 6
2 books = due 3/4 and 3/5
2 journal/magazine articles = (see below)
2 online sources (websites, as opposed to electronic versions of books or periodical journals) = (see below)
3. Documentation for Source Cards and Note Cards = due 3/6 and 3/7
4. In class essays= due 3/6 and 3/7
5. Final draft, including Works Cited sheet =due 3/8 and 3/18
Time constraints will not allow for ANY late work!
“Controversial Topics” Final Draft: Grading Rubric
*Zero points will be given for sections not completed!*
| |20 |15 |10 |5 |
|Intro/Thesis |Clearly stated thesis and at |Thesis of paper is present, |Thesis present, but 3 areas |Thesis not present, and 3 |
| |least 3 areas of info to be |but 3 areas of info to be |of info not stated. Does not |areas of info not stated. |
| |addressed. Original and creative;|addressed are not stated. |grab reader’s attention. |Does not grab reader’s |
| |a clear picture is given and |Clear picture is not given, |Non-related information |attention. Reader can still |
| |grabs reader’s attention. |but grabs reader’s attention.|included. Reader can still |determine topic of the paper |
| | | |determine topic of paper. |through the info included. |
|Body Paragraphs |Topic sentences are complete |Topic sentences are complete |Topic Sentences are not |Not all paragraphs have a |
| |sentences that connect logically |sentences, but may not |complete sentences and do not|topic sentence; random |
| |to thesis; Transitions make paper|connect to thesis; |connect to thesis; |information is included |
| |flow well. There is at least one |transitions are present and |transitions are present, but |within the paragraphs and |
| |paragraph for each area of info |paper flows well. |do not help with the flow of |transitions are not present; |
| |addressed. | |the paper. |paper does not flow well. |
|Supporting Evidence/Documentation |All 4 sources are used; all info |Only 3 sources are used; no |Only 2 sources are used. No|Only 1 source is used. More |
| |from sources is documented |more than 2 pieces of info |more than 4 pieces of info |than 4 pieces of info used |
| |properly using MLA citation. |used without proper |used without proper |without proper documentation.|
| | |documentation. Format done |documentation. Format done |Format done incorrectly |
| | |correctly using MLA citation.|incorrectly (MLA), but still |(MLA), but still present. |
| | | |present. | |
|Commentary |At least 2 complete, commentary |At least 2 complete, |At least 1 complete, |Commentary sentences are |
| |sentences are written for each |commentary sentences are |commentary sentence is |present in some, but not all |
| |paragraph and support the topic |written for each paragraph, |written for each paragraph |paragraphs OR commentary |
| |sentence and evidence. |but both may not support the |and supports the topic |sentences in all paragraphs |
| | |topic sentence and/or |sentence and evidence. |do not support the topic |
| | |evidence. | |sentence and/or evidence. |
|Conclusion |Summarizes and restates thesis in|Summarizes and restates |Restates the thesis exactly; |Introduction paragraph is |
| |complete sentence; transition |thesis in complete sentence; |may give more info not |just repeated; reader is not |
| |informing reader that paper is |no transition is made; call |included in the introduction |aware that paper is ending; |
| |ending; call to action or final |to action or final thought is|or body paragraphs; reader is|call to action or final |
| |thought given. |not clearly given. |not clear that the paper is |thought is confusing or |
| | | |ending; no call to action or |disconnected from topic. |
| | | |final thought given. | |
|Grammar & Usage |Punctuation, capitalization, and |Errors do not detract from |Errors detract from overall |Enough errors to confuse the |
| |spelling are done correctly (Less|the overall flow of paper |flow of paper (Between 11-15 |reader (More than 15 errors).|
| |than 5 errors). |(Between 6-10 errors). |errors). | |
English II Writing
Expository Prompt
Read the information in the box below.
Think about the following quote by Marcus Aurelius “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
Write an essay explaining why your controversial topic is considered controversial and what credible evidence exists over the topic.
Be sure to –
• Clearly state your thesis
• Organize
• Choose your words carefully
• Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics and spelling
English II Writing
Persuasive Prompt
Read the information in the box below.
Think about the following quote by Bertrand Russell “The most savage controversies are about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way”
Write an essay stating your position on your controversial topic.
Be sure to –
• Clearly state your thesis
• Organize
• Choose your words carefully
• Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics and spelling
-----------------------
Controversial Topic (to research): ____________________________
Why did you choose this topic? ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
1. Review your notes for research lite and MLA documentation. (Look at your sources sheet)
2. All sources must be listed alphabetically.
3. Be sure to indent after the initial line.
Fact is a truth that can be proven. On the other hand evidence is something that is told by someone. It has to be accepted only on belief. There cannot be truth in all evidences. This is the main difference between facts and evidence.
According to Merriam Webster controversy is a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views
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