Research Layout for Mrs. McInnis

You will begin by reading the article in the encyclopedia. Actually read through it to facus on the main points you can use. This is your project and you need to use sources which are necessary to the topic. You should not waste your time on sources which are unlikely to assist you in the report.

Source Information

2. Use one magazine, journal, or newspaper article (no more than two).

3. Use two online sources (no more than two).

4. The remainder of sources will be made up from whole books, parts of books, and other media sources.

5. EVERY type of source used in the paper will have a source card.

Keep in mind that I must be able to review your sources. You may use more than the required amount -- but make sure each is documented. If the source is not available at the Southwood library, then you are required to submit duplicated copies of the pages from which you are taking notes.

Required Sources:

You will use eight sources in your paper and will have eight sources in your "Works Cited" page. Do not hesitate to find and use many more sources than the total required.

Preparing Note Cards

There are three ways to take notes:

1. A direct quotation--

2. A paraphrase--

3. A summary--

Requirements:

1. Use 4X6 lined notecards.

2. You will complete 100 notecards for this project.

3. 90 cards will be paraphrased or summary cards.

4. 10 cards will be direct quotation cards. (keep in mind you will have two shorter quotes--20-30 words and one londer quote--40-50 words)

5. Each notecard will contain an outline heading, source number(s), and apagenumber(s).

6. Be accurate.

7. Double-check facts to make sure you have them correct.

8. Distinguish between fact and opinion.

9. Non-essential parts of aquotation can be cut if the overall meaning is of the quotation is not changed. Indicate an omission of material by using ellipsispoints--a series of three spaced dots (...)--enclosed in brackets.

10. Always double check page references.

Plagiarism--

1. Early Life -- birth, parents, siblings, education, experiences, early jobs.

2. Later Life -- experiences, jobs, influences, etc.

3. Writing Style/Leadership Style -- kinds of writing (poetry, short stories, fiction, non-fiction, novels, etc.)

4. Minor Works/Minor Accomplishments -- titles of at least two works, discess, publication dates, and briefly how they impacted the world; list and discess two accomplishments and dates, what/who they involved, the impact, etc.

5. Major Work/Major Accomplishments -- this is their one greatest contribution, discess it, why was it written, why did it happen, who was involved, explain.

Put one of these five topics as your heading ("slug") for every notecard and quotecard you make -- see me if you need and additional topic.

Outline

Requirements:

1. You will use a topic outline -- not a sentence outline. It will contain words, phrases, or clauses.

2. Your outline will be created using your notecards.

3. Your outline will include an appropriate, informative title which indicates to the reader the specific content of your paper.

4. Your thesis statement will be located under the title.

5. Your outline is subject to change.

Example:

William Shakespeare's Sonnets: Revealing His Life

Thesis Statement: William Shakespeare reveals his own life experiences through each of his sonnets.

I. Introduction

II. Early Life

A.

B.

C.

III. Later Life

A.

B.

C.

IV. Writing Style/Leadership Style

A.

B.

C.

V. Minor Works/Minor Accomplishments

A.

B.

C.

VI. Major Work/Major Accomlishments

A.

B.

C.

VII. Conclusion

Thesis Statement:

You are ready to begin your statement after you have grouped your thoughts for the outline. This WILL BE ONE sentence and it will be the purpose of your paper. Your paper will support the thesis statement.

The thesis statement will be the first sentence in the introduction (first paragraph). This paragraph will contain five to six sentences. This paragraph should have NO citations.

Writing the Rough Draft

I. Writing the Introduction -- in class

1. Make sure you have your thesis as the FIRST sentence.

2. It should contain five sentences

3. Give important information or provide important definitions.

II. Writing the Body

1. Use your outline.

2. Paraphrase, summarize all statements.

3. Use three quotes--two short--one long

4. Use your notecards

5. DOCUMENT!!DOCUMENT!!DOCUMENT!! You must use 8 sources.

6. Third person ONLY--Do not use "I" or "you" in your paper-unless it is a quote.

7. No fragments--abbreviations--informal languages.

8. Refer to your author by his last name AFTER you mention his complete name on time.

9. A paragraph should contain AT LEAST 5 sentences in the paper.

10. Underline books, plays, magazines, newspapers (or use italics).

11. Every sentence should contain a subject and a verb.

12. NO OPINIONS!! You only give facts.

13. Spell out words under 100.

14. Use passive voice UNLESS associated with work - The character in the novel is (NOT WAS) evil.

Correct: Shakespeare has written many play.

Incorrect: Shakespeare writes many plays.

15. Do not begin any sentences with the words "It" or "This".

III. Conclusion

1. Leave you reader with an understanding of the person.

2. Review important points already made.

3. Restate your thesis, if necessary (Approx. 5 sentences in length)

Requirements--

1. It may be hand-written or typed.

Typed--double-spaced with one inch margins all around.

Hand-written--skip lines and write in pencil.

2. You must have one student from ANY of my CURRENT classes to review the paper, making necessary changes in red ink only, and sign the top right-hand corner of the first page.

3. You must have an adult review your paper using a red-ink pen and have them sign top left-hand corner of the first page.

--You will lose points if it is NOT reviewed.

Works Cited

Demko, George J., Jerome Angel, and Eugene Boe. Why in the World?

````````New York: Anchor, 1999.