Research Paper and Argument Topics



English 4 Research Paper The North Carolina Standard Course of Study states that each student in English IV will be prepared to enter issues of public concern as an advocate. Your individual research paper will serve as a means to that end. After selecting a topic from the choices below, you should begin by formulating an essential question. Ideally, your research will help you answer the question, and your answer will become your thesis statement. Note: Your paper should not be a history or other kind of “report,” but rather an argumentative, analytical paper. Your paper must have evidence of higher order thinking, synthesis of research materials, and attention to the “so what factor.” Prompt: Many of the works we will encounter this year will embody different forms of expressing concern about a myriad of social issues. Such social commentary is useful throughout history in creating change in our society. Your task is to choose a societal issue from the list below, research it, and compose a paper to argue your point of view. I will only allow up to two people to have the same topic, so on your anticipation guide, you will need to list your top 5 choices in order of preference. Research Paper and Argument Topics Race and Ethnicity Should the primary method of public school funding--property taxes in individual school districts--be amended to create more fairness in schools?Should high-school history classes and social-studies curriculum be changed to reflect diversity and multicultural perspectives?Should Christmas, Easter, and other religious observances be considered national holidays?How do certain television programs perpetuate racial or ethnic stereotypes?Should the American government pay reparations and return land to Native Americans?Gender and SexualityShould women be allowed in military combat? To what extent?Should insurance companies which cover the cost of Viagra prescriptions also be required to cover birth control and regular examinations for women?In what ways does gender play a difference in student success and teacher attention in the classroom?Multiculturalism and Diversity Should English be made the official language of the United States? Should ESL students be taught content courses in their native language? Should the United States have a more stringent immigration policy? Advertising and Marketing How do certain kinds of advertising perpetuate racial stereotypes? How does mass marketing and manufacturing affect originality and creativity in the arts and other fields? Does the American consumerist society conflict with democratic values? In what ways? What kind of advertising is unethical? What current issues of truth in advertising exist? Should product advertising and selling be permitted in public schools? Should communities retain the naming rights to baseball parks and football stadiums, or should businesses be allowed to purchase these rights? Does the modeling industry bear any responsibility in providing healthy, realistic physical role models for young women? Is the use of sexual imagery in a certain ad campaign unethical? Should tobacco and liquor advertising be controlled or regulated by legislation? Economic Issues Should the local sales tax be increased/decreased? Should "sin taxes" on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for the increasing costs of medical care? Should purchases made over the Internet be taxable? Argue for or against the earning potential vs. risk of investing in a certain kind of stock.Argue for or against a controversial trade tariff or tax.Why do many stock analysts describe the nature of today's stock market as completely different from the stock market of twenty or thirty years ago? Argue for or against this assertion.Large corporations, such as Walmart and Barnes & Noble bookstores, have been criticized for driving mom-and-pop shops out of business. Is this a valid criticism when considering the nature of supply and demand?Should the United Kingdom join other E.U. countries in converting its currency to euros?Environmental Issues Should national environmental policy focus on developing more oil resources, or developing renewable energy sources? Should our national energy policy focus on building more nuclear power plants? How does overseas oil dependency influence our economy/ international policies? Should genetically engineered food be labeled differently? How do city zoning laws and ordinances effect development and conservation? What civic policies should be changed to encourage conservation rather than new land development? Should recycling be mandatory? (consider funding etc.)Should the fuel efficiency of SUVs and pick-up trucks be raised? Should the designations of endangered and threatened species be changed? Should environmental studies become a mandatory part of science curricula in public schools? Media Issues Is the Internet a positive development for news reporting? Does it represent a more democratic medium of information? How does specific media bias affect how news is interpreted and delivered? Should cable services be offered on an a la carte system? Should a stiffer rating system be imposed upon television programming? Consider media influence on national political campaigns fifty or a hundred years ago in comparison with such influence today. Should new regulations be imposed to make current campaign coverage more equitable?Should websites that allow the free download of bootlegged movies be shut down? Do production companies have the right to shut down websites that allow the free download of sound or video clips from their media?Consumerism and Convenience Culture Should the official work week be shortened/extended? How is shopping a Westernized cultural value? Argue for a specific regulation that will make a certain business or industry more environmentally and Film Should TV ratings be re-evaluated in regards to sex and violence? What values do "reality television" shows appeal to? How have they changed television viewing? To what extent has television as a source of entertainment changed American neighborhoods and leisure activities? What impact has 24-hour news coverage had on our TV watching habits? How has it changed our view of information? How has the television as an invention changed the American household and family life? Because celebrities are so often in the public spotlight, do they have ethical responsibilities to set good examples for young people?Sports and Entertainment Should professional sports leagues such as the NBA , NFL, and MLB establish a promotion/relegation system that rewards strong teams from lesser leagues with promotion, while relegating poor teams to a lower division? Do sports stars or celebrities bear any responsibility for being role models for children? Should the instant replay remain in effect in the NFL? Should it be extended to other sports as well? Should teams with potentially offensive logos and nicknames (like the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins) change their names to be more racially sensitive? To what level should collegiate sports be funded? What is their relationship to academics? Does Title IX actually promote gender equality in college sports?Should GPA standards for college athletes be raised, or more rigidly enforced?How has ESPN and other media sources influenced (positively or negatively) professional sports in the last twenty years? Should communities bear all, part, or none of the burden of financing new sports arenas for professional teams? Criminal Justice Should children who commit certain crimes be treated as adults? If so, is there a lower age limit to this policy? Are certain kinds of capital punishment cruel and unusual? Should capital punishment be suspended?If being tried in our court system, should the citizens of other countries have the same rights as citizens of the United States?Religion What should constitute acceptable "prayer" or moments of silence in public schools? Should religious phrases be removed from American money? Consider the Christian Science religion. Discuss why this is a valid or invalid science.The Political Process Should the electoral college be discarded in favor of a simple popular vote in presidential elections? Do alternative political parties in America receive fair treatment during elections? Should the campaign financing system be reformed? Should terms of senators and congressmen be further limited? Should a national form of health care be created, or should health care remain a private industry?Examine the historical role reversal of the value systems of Republicans and Democrats.Has the executive branch of the American government gained too much power in the last fifty years? Cite specific examples in your argument.Education Is standardized state or national testing (such as the FCAT) helping or hurting American schools? Do teachers in classroom of thirty or forty children accomplish their intended tasks as educators? Should they be expected to?Some standardized tests scores factor in to how much money a school will receive in the next fiscal year. Is this an ethical way to demand accountability from a school, or does this further punish lower-performing schools?Consider the benefits and drawbacks of a home-school education vs. a public school education. How necessary are the arts in the public-school system? Argue for or against a change in funding for a particular district.National/International Policy What should our policy be towards trade with China? Should mandatory military service be required for all men and women in America? Consider the CIA's pre-September 11th policy of non-assassination, and its post-September 11th policy of pro-assassination. Argue for or against this new stance.Not considering the United States, what is the most powerful nation on the planet? Explain the criteria used in making this judgment.Civil Liberties What rights do people lose when on public-school property? Is the suspension of these rights valid?Argue for or against a minimum age for mandatory education (usually sixteen).Counter-Culture Issues Should people under eighteen years of age be required to have parental permission to get tattoos and piercings? Format:Your paper must be in correct MLA format. (We will devote some class time to reviewing this format, and the media center provides access to style guides. Ignorance is no excuse Remember it is in your writing handbook too!!.)black, twelve-point, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, one-inch margins all aroundproper heading: Full Name, Teacher’s Name, Course Name, Inverted Datelast name included with page numbers in each upper right-hand corneradequate title, centered on the first pagepresence of direct quotations and proper use of parenthetical citations Works Cited page with hanging indents, double-spaced text, alphabetical order, proper citations, and the presence of each source within the paperYour paper must be 5-7 FULL pages of writing not including the Works Cited page.You are required to use at least FIVE sources. Three of your sources must be print sources, but keep in mind that Galenet can provide excellent access to print sources, such as magazines and scholarly journals. Web sources will only be allowed except in cases that have been cleared by Ms. Carmichael or one of the media coordinators. Carefully evaluating sources is a large part of the research process. Variety and quality are expected.You are required to use . Any student who fails to do so will receive an automatic zero, regardless of whether or not the student turns in a hard copy.Research Tips:Keep all research paper materials in the manila envelope provided for you.Research your subject first. Gather information and study your subject before you form your opinion. You might be surprised by what you discover.When you have formulated your “multi-prong” thesis, assign each “prong” an index card and sort your note cards accordingly. If one prong has little or no cards, you need to reevaluate. You want more than 3 prongs!Stay on top of deadlines! Refer to the assignment calendar as often as necessary. Deadlines will also be listed on your weekly agendas. Do not procrastinate!This project is meant to be self-directed. We will do some work in class, but much of it will need to be done on your own. You should always feel free to meet with me if you need extra help. Remember that I am in Room 1010 before and after school. E-mail is also a great way to ask for help (amcarmichael@wsfcs.k12.nc.us) Be extra careful when it comes to avoiding plagiarism. Many students do not take plagiarism seriously, but you should be aware of the serious nature of this act and its penalties, particularly with the adoption of the Honor Code.What constitutes plagiarism?Not using quotation marks to identify a direct quotation from your sourceNot citing your source when using ideas and information taken from the textNot paraphrasing correctlyUse of others’ work and ideas as one’s ownHow can you avoid plagiarism?Use your brain!Take very careful notes as you read through your sources so that you know exactly where your information is from.Add parenthetical citations as you go—both to your outline and your paper. AssignmentPoint ValueDue dateParent letter5 pt ECOct 26Topic request Form10 pointsOct 22Pre writing & Brainstorming10 pointsOct 25Thesis Statement15 pointsNov 4Research Notes (35 “rows” 3 pts each) & Working Bibliography (5 sources 5 pts each)130 pointsNov 5; various check points; see calendarWorks Cited Draft10 pointsNov 8Outline: completion and format70 pointsNov 9Rough Draft completion20 pointsNov 18Peer Edit 1 In Class10 pointsNov 18Peer Edit 2 In Class10 pointsNov 19Peer Edit 3 Out of Class10 pointsYOUR DUE DATEPeer Edit 4 In Class10 pointsNov 22Final draft w/ works cited & online submission to 200 pointsYOUR DUE DATETotal points possible: 505Grading: These smaller assignments throughout the project will count as homework and class work grades. Your paper itself will be judged according to the rubric below. Be sure to study it carefully ahead of time.English IVResearch Paper Rubric4 points3 points2 points1 point0 pointsFocusPresents an insightful and focused thesis statement.Presents a thesis statement with adequate insight and focus.Presents a thesis statement with minimal insight and focus.Presents a thesis statement with no insight or focus.No thesisDraws strong and clear connections between the thesis and significant related ideas.Draws adequate connections between thesis and related ideas.Draws insufficient connections between thesis and related ideas.Shows little understanding of connections between thesis and related ideas.Shows no understanding of connectionsThe paper adheres to the topic and exhibits exceptional sensitivity to audience and context.The paper adheres to the topic and exhibits sensitivity to audience and context.The paper adheres to the topic but lacks sensitivity to audience and/or context The paper strays from the topic, lacks sensitivity to audience and/or context. The paper does not adhere to topicOrganizationEffectively provides a logical progression of related ideas and supporting information in the body of the paper.Adequately provides a progression of ideas and supporting information in the body of the paper.Provides a poorly organized progression of ideas and supporting information in the body of the paper.Does not provide a progression of ideas and supporting information in the body of the paper.There is no progression of ideasEffectively uses transitions to connect supporting information clearly.Adequately uses transitions to connect supporting information.Ineffectively uses transitions to connect supporting information.Does not use transitions to connect supporting information.No transitions presentArrives at a well-documented, logical conclusion, involving critical thinking.Arrives at an adequately-documented conclusion.Arrives at an insufficiently documented conclusion.Does not arrive at a documented conclusion.Does not have a conclusionArgumentationThe paper incorporates an adequate amount of background information without coming across as a report.The paper incorporates more background information than argumentThe paper is all background information and very little argumentThe paper is a reportThe paper has little focusThe paper demonstrates exemplary higher order thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas, paying ample attention to the “so what” factor.The paper demonstrates adequate high order thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas paying attention to the “so what” factorThe paper demonstrates some high order thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas paying attention to the “so what” factorThe paper demonstrates very little high order thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas paying attention to the “so what” factorThe paper has no higher order thinkingSupport/ElaborationEffectively synthesizes complex ideas from research sources.Sufficiently synthesizes ideas from research sources.Ineffectively synthesizes ideas from research sources.No evidence of synthesizing ideas from research sources.No sources documentedDemonstrates exceptional selection of supporting information clearly relevant to the thesis and its related ideas.Demonstrates sufficient selection of supporting information clearly relevant to the thesis and its related ideas.Demonstrates insufficient selection of supporting information clearly relevant to the thesis and its related ideas.Lacks supporting information clearly relevant to the thesis and its related ideas.Ideas do not connect to thesisProvides a meaningful presentation of multiple perspectives.Provides an adequate presentation of multiple perspectives.Provides a limited presentation of multiple perspectives.Does not present multiple perspectives.Only one perspectiveEffectively balances use of quotations and student paraphrasing.Adequately balances use of quotations and student paraphrasing.Insufficiently balances use of quotations and student paraphrasing.Does not balance use of quotations and student paraphrasing.No quotes or paraphrasingStyleExhibits skillful use of language, including effective word choice, clarity, and consistent voice.Exhibits good use of language, including some mastery of word choice, clarity, and consistent voice.Exhibits ineffective use of language, including weak word choice, limited clarity, and inconsistent voice.Exhibits severely flawed use of language, including weak word choice, no clarity, and no voice.Editing not evidentDemonstrates exceptional fluency through varied sentence structure, paragraphing, flow of ideas, and transitions.Demonstrates sufficient fluency through sentence structure, paragraphing, flow of ideas, and transitions.Demonstrates limited fluency through sentence structure, paragraphing, flow of ideas, and transitions.Lacks fluency through sentence structure, paragraphing, flow of ideas, and transitions.No sentence structureCounts 2 times (8)The paper is FIVE to SEVEN pages in length (or longer) not including the works cited.The paper is less than FIVE full pages (automatic failure)FormatDirect quotations are present and correctly incorporated and formatted within the paper.Direct quotations are present and somewhat correctly incorporated and formatted within the paperDirect quotations are present, but incorrectly incorporated and/or formatted within the paperDirect quotations are present but not incorporated OR formatted within the paperNo direct quotations presentThe paper uses black, double-spaced, twelve-point, Times New Roman font only. The paper has one-inch margins throughout.One mistake present with the MLA format2-3 mistakes present with the MLA format4-5 mistakes present with the MLA formatNo MLA format detectedThe paper includes a first-page header and subsequent page-number headings. The paper has an adequate title, centered on the first page.One mistake present with the header/heading format2-3 mistakes present with the header/heading format4-5 mistakes present with the header/heading formatNo header/heading format presentConventionsConsistently uses standard writing conventions in spelling, and capitalization.Generally uses standard writing conventions in spelling, and capitalization.Minimally uses standard writing conventions in spelling, and capitalization.Does not use standard writing conventions in spelling, and capitalization.No editing detectedConsistently uses standard writing conventions in grammar, punctuation, and usage.Generally uses standard writing conventions in grammar, punctuation, and usage.Minimally uses standard writing conventions in grammar, punctuation, and usage.Does not use standard writing conventions in grammar, punctuation, and usage.No editing detectedInformation LiteracyConscientiously and consistently demonstrates integrity in citing practices.Generally demonstrates integrity in citing practices.Inconsistently demonstrates integrity in citing practices.Does not demonstrate integrity in citing practices.No citations present Automatic failureEffectively employs an extensive variety of primary and secondary sources, including a significant amount of current information.*5 sources according to guidelinesAdequately employs a sufficient variety of primary and secondary sources, including a sufficient amount of current information.*5 sources according to guidelinesEmploys a limited variety of primary and secondary sources, including an insufficient amount of current information.Does not employ a variety of primary and secondary sources and/ or does not include current information.No citations presentDemonstrates strong evaluation skills in determining resource credibility and reliability.Demonstrates sufficient evaluation skills in determining resource credibility and reliability.Demonstrates limited evaluation skills in determining resource credibility and reliability.Demonstrates no evaluation skills to determine resource credibility and reliability.No sources/ citations presentThe included Works Cited page displays proper format: hanging indents, double spacing, alphabetical order, and the presence of each source within the paper.One mistake present with Works Cited2-3 mistakes present with Works Cited4-5 mistakes present with Works CitedNo works Cited (Automatic Failure)Total points earned:_____________________x 2 Total grade__________________/200Letter Grade:__________Project Calendar:MondayTuesday WednesdayThursdayFridayOct.25Pre-Writing Due26Parent Letter Due27 Meet in Library1 source; 5 rows due (total)28 Meet in Library2 sources; 10 rows due (total)29November1Meet in Library3 sources; 20 rows due (total)2 Meet in Library3 source; 25 rows (total) due3Meet in Library4 sources; 30 rows due (total)4 Mordred quiz 1Tentative Thesis Statement Due5Research Notes & Working Bib Due8Meet in 1020Works Cited RD Due9Meet in 1020Outline Due10Mordred quiz 21112Meet in 102015Meet in 102016Meet in 102017Mordred quiz 318Rough Draft (3 pg min) Due19Meet in 1020Rough Draft 2 (3 pg min) Due22Meet in 1020Rough Draft 3 (3 pg min) Due23Meet in 1020Mordred test & Final wiki posts due242526English 4 Topic Request FormEssential Question Choice # 1:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________Essential Question Choice # 2:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________Essential Question Choice # 3:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________Essential Question Choice # 4:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________Essential Question Choice # 5:_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________Authentic Sources PowerPoint Guide:Directions: Go to Ms. Carmichael’s Website. Click on>>English 4 documents>>Look under Research Project>>Authentic sources PowerPoint and download the PowerPoint. 1. Paraphrase (put in your own words) the definition of an “authentic source.” 2. In the table below, write each one of the 6 criteria you should evaluate to determine if a source is authentic. Briefly paraphrase each one. The first one is done for you as an example. Leave the right side blank for now. +.CriteriaWeb source URL: 1. Source Information: determine the author’s credentials. They should be an expert on my topic. Determine if there is bias. Are they trying to persuade me? Or do they have documented ideas? 2.3.4.5.6.Briefly describe the difference between Cancer information at the National Cancer Institute (balanced) Just Another Scare (biased; undocumented claims) based on your observations after clicking on the links. *THIS CHART MUST BE FILLED OUT FOR EACH WEBSITE. YOU MUST SUBMIT THE CHART TO MS. CARMICHAEL FOR APPROVAL. WEBSITES WILL NOT BE APPROVED WITHOUT THIS AUTHENTIC CHART. RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINE #1: THESIS STATEMENTWHAT: tentative thesis statementHOW MUCH: 15 pointsWHY: A well-written thesis statement is the most important sentence in your entire paper. Crafting a tentative thesis ahead of time allows for teacher feedback and adequate revision. Having a thesis on hand also helps you maintain focus while designing an outline and writing your actual paper.KEEP IN MIND:A thesis statement should both summarize for your reader the position you will argue and set up the pattern of organization you will use in the body of your paper.A thesis statement is NOT a statement of accepted fact; it is the position that needs the proof you will provide in your argument. Think of it as a claim—it indicates what you claim to be true, interesting, or valuable about your subject. It is an interpretation of your subject, rather than the subject itself. Show me your critical thinking skills!Your thesis should reflect the full scope of your argument—no more and no less. Avoid using a thesis statement that is too broad to be defended within the scope of your paper or too narrow to be an appropriate response to the assignment.A strong thesis not only grabs the interest of your reader, who now wants to see you support your unique interpretation, it also provides a focus or “road map” for your argument.You may revise your thesis statement as you write. The important thing is for your thesis to identify the purpose of your paper and for each aspect of your paper to relate back to your thesis.Be sure to keep a copy for yourself so that you can begin writing your outline!EXAMPLES: Below are some common thesis errors. Each bad example is followed by a better one.TOO BROAD: “The Catholic Church’s influence on the formation of labor unions in the nineteenth century was extremely significant.”SUFFICIENTLY FOCUSED: “Through its use of both the pulpit and the purse, the Catholic Church exerted significant influence on the labor movement in the United States during the final decades of the nineteenth century.”MERE FACT/OBSERVATION: “People use many lawn chemicals.”ASSERTION: “People are poisoning the environment with chemicals merely to keep their lawns free of weeds.”ANNOUNCEMENT: “The thesis of this paper is the difficulty of solving our environmental problems.”TAKING A STAND: “Solving our environmental problems is more difficult than many environmentalists believe.”TOO VAGUE/GENERAL: “Hemingway’s war stories are very good.”SPECIFIC: “Hemingway’s stories helped create a new prose style by employing extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-Saxon words.”Tentative Thesis Statement GuideWrite your tentative thesis statement in the space provided below. Remember to look at your note cards. The subtopics, which should be written in the top LEFT corner, could be included in the thesis to give it a focus and a purpose. Your thesis should also answer your essential question. Think of your thesis as a road map. Your claim/argument is the highway, which leads to the different “cities” of your paper. All the “cities” are tied together by this common highway. Sample Essential Question: Should public schools switch to year round school calendars? Sample Thesis: Year round schooling would clearly be a positive change for all public schools in the United States due to the improved retention rate of material, a reduction in missed instructional days, positive economic and societal implication, improved test scores, and decreased student and teacher burn out. Name: ________________________________________Period:__________Date:___________________________My Essential Question: __________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ My Subtopics: (4-5)1.______________________________________________ 2.______________________________________________3. ______________________________________________4. ______________________________________________5. ______________________________________________ 6. ______________________________________________My tentative thesis statement: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINE #2: RESEARCH NOTES & WORKING BIBWHAT: Research Notes TOTAL POINTS: 35 Rows; 3 points each: Total: 105WHY: Taking careful notes will save you from having to reread your sources from start to finish when you begin to write your paper. Furthermore, keeping key points attached to their respective sources will help to prevent plagiarism!KEEP IN MIND:Use the templateHow to Summarize: Put the author’s ideas in your own words in a shortened version. Read the passage. Then, without looking at it again, rewrite the passage in your own words without your ideas or interpretations. Read the original again to check for accuracy.EXAMPLE: Ballard had dreamed of finding the Titanic since 1973. In the summer of 1985, after weeks of searching, he found it by using a camera mounted on a small submarine.How to Paraphrase: Put the author’s ideas into your own words with no attempt to shorten. Read the passage. Then, without looking at it again, rewrite the passage in your own words without your ideas or interpretations. Make the author’s ideas simpler, but don’t shorten anything. Read the original again to check for accuracy.EXAMPLE: The 222 third-class cabins had pine wall paneling and impressive floor coverings. These were more luxurious than third class cabins on other ocean liners.How to Quote Directly: Copy the author’s words exactly, including any punctuation or mistakes the author has made. Put the entire thing in quotation marks to remind yourself these aren’t your words.EXAMPLE: The Titanic had “a total lifeboat capacity of 1,178 passengers—well above the Board of Trade requirements, but well short of the 3,300 passengers and crew the ship was certified to carry.”Keep your note cards SIMPLE. One thought per card. One side only. Taking notes demands accuracy. AVOIDING PLAGIARISM STARTS HERE! One source should produce multiple note cards. Likewise, one sub-topic should also produce multiple cards. Otherwise, you need to rethink your strategy.Try the following checklist for taking notes:Does every note clearly identify its source?When a source has sparked your own thoughts, have you identified both the source and the fact that the note is your own idea?Have you taken down verbatim—that is, copied every word, every capital letter, and every punctuation mark exactly as it was in the original—any useful passage that you think you may later quote, being especially careful to put quotation marks around any words you use directly from a source?WHAT: bibliographical citations for five sourcesTOTAL POINTS: 20 (5 points each)WHY: Keeping a working, or preliminary, bibliography is extremely helpful. It is easy to add or drop a source as needed and to arrange your list alphabetically when you begin to prepare your final Works Cited page. Using the MLA format from the get-go will also save you valuable time in the end.KEEP IN MINDBibliography entries should include: inverted name of the author (and/or editor), title(s), and publishing information (see samples below), in addition to a source number—a way for you to organize your sources and later, your notes—as well as call number and/or location—should you need to return to any source. Keeping your sources organized is also a great way to avoid plagiarism.Publication information consists of city, publisher, and date for a book; title, date, and pages for a magazine; title, volume, date, and pages for a journal; title, date, edition, section, and pages for a newspaper; and paragraph number plus date/means of access for any electronic sources.Evaluating sources requires thought. Use reliable sources and a variety of them. Avoid bias.Try the following checklist for evaluating sources:What are the author’s credentials—degree, job title, etc.?Does the work contain evidence indicating that the author is well informed?Does the work contain evidence that the author is prejudiced in any way?Is the work recent enough to provide up-to-date information?Does the work provide documentation to support important points?If the source is electronic, is there evidence of frequent maintenance?EXAMPLES: (for additional examples, consult your MLA reference handbook or the Library Quick Guide)BOOKBlumberg, Rhoda. York’s Adventures with Lewis and Clark. New York: Harper Collins, 2004.MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPERMorrell, Virginia. “Mission to Mercury.” Discover Apr. 2004: 34-41.DATABASE MATERIALGuterl, Fred. “Lost Chimps.” International Wildlife Sept. 1996: 12-22. General Reference Center-Gold. Thomson Gale. West Forsyth High School Library, Clemmons, NC. 2 Feb 2004 <>.The Research Note Template packet looks like this: Name: Period: Date: Bibliographic InformationURL:Authors’ last names:Authors’ first names:Publication title:Article title:Volume or issue nos.:Page nos.:Publishing / copyright date:Place of publication:Date accessed:Citation formatted from OR Research SubtopicNotesWhy the information is importantProcess of findingTHIS IS CONSIDERED ONE “ROW”; YOU MUST HAVE 35 TO GET FULL CREDIT!Ballard had dreamed of finding the Titanic since 1973. In the summer of 1985, after weeks of searching, he found it by using a camera mounted on a small submarine.This is important because it shows the extent of the search and the dedication of the researcher proving that it wasn’t easy. WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THIS RESEARCH?Now that you have researched your topic, you need to think about how to integrate your sources. There are three basic ways to show off your newfound knowledge: summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation. (Notice that these categories correspond to the types of notes I asked you to create for Deadline #3.) SUMMARIZING: condensing the main point(s) of your source as you restate them in your own words. A summary is shorter than the original source and lacks the kind of detail that fleshes out the original. Even when you summarize, however, you need to include a parenthetical citation.PARAPHRASING: restating information in about the same number of words as the original. Paraphrase when you (a) use someone else’s content but not his/her specific words or (b) simplify difficult material. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking that you can substitute synonyms for an author’s words while you preserve the sentence structure. This is plagiarism, even if you provide a source citation.“Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help!” USING DIRECT QUOTATIONS: the most straightforward method of incorporating research into your paper. However, there are a number of important guidelines to keep in mind when using direct quotations.Use direct quotations only (a) to retain the beauty/clarity of someone else’s words or (b) to discuss the implications of the words in question.Standing alone is for cheese, not for quotations. Each quotation you use in your paper needs a firm connection to your own thoughts and the overall flow of your sentences. There are four basic ways to integrate quotations. Figure 1: floating quotes are a "no-no!" They will float away like a balloon without a stringIntroduce the quotation with a complete sentence and a colon.Thoreau ends his essay with a metaphor: “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in” (64).“Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help!” Use an introductory phrase, separated from the quotation with a comma.Thoreau asks, “Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life?” (61).Make the quotation a part of your own sentence without any punctuation between your own words and the words you are quoting.Sings the original “boy Band,” According to Thoreau, we are “thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito’s wing that falls on the rails” (63).Use very short quotations—only a few words—as part of your own sentence.Thoreau argues that people blindly accept “shams and delusions,” while regarding reality as “fabulous” (63).Try not to use the same method all the time. Instead, spice up your paper with a little variety. Also, keep in mind that your words are the most important! Avoid long quotations, and don’t rely too heavily on quotations of any size to construct the body of your paper. Make sure that your thoughts and ideas begin and end each paragraph; keep quotations in the middle, where you can provide proper context and explanation.Pay attention to punctuation. In general, punctuation marks go inside the final quotation mark, except where you are providing a parenthetical citation. Additionally, if a question mark or exclamation point is yours and not the quoted author’s, it too should go outside the quotation mark.You should never change the words in a quotation without indicating the changes. Even if you find a spelling or grammatical error in your source, you should include it in the quotation. Follow the error with [sic], a Latin word meaning “thus found.” (Chances are you won’t have to worry about this.)Brackets indicate material that you have added to a quotation. For instance, you may need to change the tense of a verb or provide the antecedent of a pronoun in order to integrate the quotation as smoothly as possible. Be careful not to overuse brackets, though. (You may not need them at all.) It is okay to delete material from a quotation, as long as the deleted material is not vital to the meaning of the quotation. Replace deleted material with an ellipsis [. . .].If you must use a long quotation—more than three lines in length—offset and indent the quotation two tabs. Do not put quotation marks around indented quotations, but do double-space them.Always use single quotation marks to indicate a quotation within a quotation.PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS: The basic elements of the parenthetical citation are the author’s last name and the page number of the material used in the source. However, it is not necessary to repeat any information that is already clearly provided.Olivier creates Richard III’s “central device of coherence” by using a cyclical theme of the crown (Brown 133).Constance Brown argues that Olivier uses a cyclical theme of the crown to create “the central device of coherence” (133).If you cite a source with more than one author, be sure to credit both authors. If you cite an anonymous or unsigned text, use a shortened version of the title in place of a name. If you cite a multivolume work, include the volume number (followed by a colon and a space) before the page number. As Katherine Raine has argued, “true poetry begins where human personality ends” (2: 247).(Ask if you are unsure how to cite other types. You can always consult a style guide in the media center or even online! Ignorance is no excuse.)Works CitedBegley, Sharon, et al. "Mapping the Brain." Newsweek 20 Apr. 1992: 66-70.Damasio, Antonio R. "Aphasia." The New England Journal of Medicine 326 (1992): 531-39. Diagram Group. The Brain: A User’s Manual. New York: Putnam’s, 1982."Nurturing Development of the Brain." Editorial. New York Times 28 Apr. 1997,late ed.: A14. New York Times Ondisc. CD–ROM. UMI. 1997.Ex. (Begley 67) Ex (Damasio par. 6) Ex. (“Nurturing” 80)RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINE #3: WORKS CITED ROUGH DRAFTWHAT: Rough draft of the works cited pageTOTAL POINTS: 10 pointsWHY: to give accurate and complete credit to all sources actually USED within the paperKEEP IN MIND: Your works cited should be the final page of your research paper so the heading should have your last name and page number and it should start on a separate sheet (should be pg 6 or higher). You works cited is like a “final draft” of your working bibliographyUse the checklist and the sample to guide you. Works Cited Checklist:Do I have five sources? Are three print?Are all my sources cited in my paper? Is everything double spaced?Is my header my last name with a space and the page number?Is everything in Times New Roman 12 point? Are the sources in alphabetical order?Did I make sure each one is a hanging indention?Mackenzie 7Works CitedBegley, Sharon, et al. "Mapping the Brain." Newsweek 20 Apr. 1992: 66-70.Damasio, Antonio R. "Aphasia." The New England Journal of Medicine 326 (1992): 531-39. Diagram Group. The Brain: A User’s Manual. New York: Putnam’s, 1982."Nurturing Development of the Brain." Editorial. New York Times 28 Apr. 1997,late ed.: A14. New York Times Ondisc. CD–ROM. UMI. 1997.TransitionsTransitional phrases are the bridges that a writer uses to connect ideas and to guide readers through the path of the writer’s paper. They help a writer carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. There are several types of transitional phrases, and each category leads your reader to make certain connections or assumptions about the areas you are connecting. Some lead your reader forward and imply the "building" of an idea or thought, while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts.To Add:and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.)To Compare:whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be trueTo Contrast: On the contrary, contrarily, notwithstanding, but, however, nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or, nor, conversely, at the same time, while this may be true.To Prove:because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that isTo Show Exception:yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimesTo Show Time:immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then, After, afterward, before, then, once, next, last, at last, at length, , formerly, rarely, usually, another, meanwhile, at the same time, for a minute, hour, day, etc., during the morning, day, week, etc., most important, later, ordinarily, to begin with, afterwards, generally, in order to, subsequently, in the meantime, eventually, concurrently, simultaneously.To Repeat:in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted,To Emphasize:definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservationTo Show Sequence:first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth, next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soonTo Give an Example:for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrateTo Summarize or Conclude:in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently, on the whole,To Illustrate: Thus, for example, for instance, namely, to illustrate, in other words, in particular, specifically, such as.To Concede: Although, at any rate, at least, still, thought, even though, granted that, while it may be true, in spite of, of course.To Give Detail: Specifically, especially, in particular, to explain, to list, to enumerate, in detail, namely, including.To Give Consequences or Results: So that, with the result that, thus, consequently, hence, accordingly, for this reason, therefore, so, because, since, due to, as a result, in other words, then.To Give Suggestion: ***Remember, this is a list of a FEW transitions that are commonly used. Some have been used so much they are trite. Also remember to make sure you understand that effect the transition will have on your sentence and choose transitions that fit with your voice and message. Transitions are only effective when used correctly. ***See example bellow from For this purpose, to this end, with this in mind, with this purpose in mind, therefore.Example of unclear transition: The characters in Book A face a moral dilemma. In the same way, the characters in Book B face a similar problem.Improved transition:The characters in Book A face a moral dilemma, a contested inheritance. Although the inheritance in Book B consists of an old house and not a pile of money, the nature of the problem is quite similar.RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINE #4: OUTLINEWHAT: typed outlineTOTAL POINTS: 70 (based on completion and format)WHY: A formal outline is helpful when analyzing a draft and preparing to revise. The thesis statement should be at the top of your outline. The outline is helpful in analyzing a draft & preparing to revise. It helps keep your paper organized and focused throughout writing. Keep in mind your outline shouldIndentions and numbers to indicate various levels of logic for your paper. The main points form the major headings and the supporting idea for each point form the subheadings. You will need enough major headings to develop your subject within the boundaries established by your thesis. In this case, you need four virtues and/or vices. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE CORRECT FORMAT (see example). You may have to turn off the auto-format)MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PARALLEL STRUCTURE (if you have point A you must have point B. If you have a 1 you must have a 2)Be sure to keep a copy for yourself so you can begin writing your first draft!Sarah McKenzieMs. CarmichaelEnglish 4 Third Period26 February 2008OutlineThesis: Year round schooling would clearly be a positive change for all public schools in the United States due to the improved retention rate of material, a reduction in missed instructional days, positive economic and societal implication, improved test scores, and decreased student and teacher burn out.P1. (Transition) improved retention rate (complete topic sentence) P2. (Transition) reason 1 the retention rate will be improved (complete sentence)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P2. Concluding SentenceP2. (Transition) reason 2 the retention rate will be improved (complete sentence) P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P2. Concluding sentenceP1. (Transition) improved retention rate (complete concluding sentence)P1. (Transition) reduction in missed instructional days (complete topic sentence)P2. (Transition) reason 1 the retention rate will be improved (complete sentence)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P3. Summary, quote, or paraphrase (parenthetical)P2. Concluding Sentence[…]RESEARCH PAPER DEADLINE #5: FINAL DRAFT & SUBMISSIONWHAT: final draft, works cited page and online submission to TOTAL POINTS: Final draft 200 WHY: Completion of an argumentative research paper is one of the requirements for English III.KEEP IN MIND:You will receive an automatic zero for any of the following:failure to turn in a research paper within five days of the deadline_________________failure to turn in a Works Cited page along with your paperfailure to submit your paper through by midnight on lack of parenthetical citations(no higher than 69% ) if less than five FULL pagesIf you need help, come see me BEFORE the deadline. Otherwise log on, select your class, and click “submit” next to Research Paper. Type your name and paper title. Click “Browse,” and a box called “Choose File” will appear. Within minutes, you should receive an e-mail confirmation. Save it just in case!The hard copy of your paper is due at the beginning of class on[ ]. This means it must be printed out and in my hands. I will not let you print it during class. I will not accept it via email. You may not turn it in to me later that day without penalty. I don’t want to hear “I had printer problems”; “we ran out of ink”; or any other excuses. You’ve known about this for a month. Figure it out before that day. CHECKLIST FOR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION GRADE:FOLDER W/ YOUR NAME, PERIOD, & TOPIC2 COPIES OF YOUR FINAL PAPER W/ WORKS CITEDROUGH DRAFT WITH EVIDENCE OF REVISIONSELF EDITPEER EDITSROUGH DRAFT WORKS CITEDOUTLINERESEARCH NOTES PAGESNumber Key for Interpreting Paper CommentsYou have a weak/incomplete introductionYour thesis statement doesn’t exist.Your thesis statement is not the last sentence in your introductionYou do not have a topic sentences for this paragraphYou do not have a concluding sentence for this paragraphYou need a transitionYou have used first person or the indefinite use of second personYou have used a contraction, an abbreviation, or informal languageYou have used a run-on sentencesYou have used a sentence fragmentYou have a punctuation errorYou have a capitalization errorYou have not documented correctly. You have not restated your thesis.You have a weak/incomplete conclusionYou have used awkward sentence structure; your sentence is unclear.You have overused a word or have been wordy. You have a problem with MLA formatThe following words are not typed correctly: Works CitedYour Works Cited is not doubles-spaced throughout.Your Works Cited is not alphabetizedThere is an error in your entry-refer to MLA You did not use hanging indentionYou should not number your entries. ^=you have left out something.s/v=faulty subject/verb agreement#=spacing is wrongsp=word spelled wrong or divided wrongant=faulty pronoun/antecedent referenceww=you have used the wrong wordBS=need to be more specificEX=Explain yourself! ................
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