Sophomore Research Sophomore Research PaperPaper

Everything You Need to KnowEverything You Need to Know

TAKE NOTES!TAKE NOTES!

Your AssignmentYour Assignment

You will write a paper and deliver a 3 You will write a paper and deliver a 3 minute speech to the class.minute speech to the class.

English 10 – 3 typed, double-spaced pages.English 10 – 3 typed, double-spaced pages. Honor’s English 10 – 5 typed, double-Honor’s English 10 – 5 typed, double-

spaced pages.spaced pages. Yes - your paper must be typed!!Yes - your paper must be typed!! The paper must be written to MLA The paper must be written to MLA

standards, which we will go over.standards, which we will go over.

You must turn in the You must turn in the following:following:

Thesis StatementThesis Statement OutlineOutline 10 Note Cards (completed to my 10 Note Cards (completed to my

specifications)specifications) Rough Draft – with Works Cited PageRough Draft – with Works Cited Page Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page Final Draft Final Draft You will also deliver a speechYou will also deliver a speech

There is a strict calendar for There is a strict calendar for when each item is due. You when each item is due. You must follow this and if you must follow this and if you

know you will be absent, turn know you will be absent, turn in your work early!in your work early!

What will my paper be on?What will my paper be on?

English 10 – your paper will be on a state or English 10 – your paper will be on a state or country. You will choose your topics in country. You will choose your topics in class, and class, and everyone must choose a everyone must choose a different state or countrydifferent state or country..

Honor’s English 10 – your paper will be on a Honor’s English 10 – your paper will be on a current event. You current event. You mustmust select from the select from the list you are given.list you are given.

Choose a topic that you are interested in!Choose a topic that you are interested in! You will NOT be allowed to change You will NOT be allowed to change

your topic!your topic!

How will this affect my How will this affect my grade?grade?

The total points value for The total points value for this assignment is 250. this assignment is 250. Take this very seriously!Take this very seriously!

Points BreakdownPoints Breakdown

Thesis Statement – 10 pointsThesis Statement – 10 points Outline – 20 pointsOutline – 20 points 10 Note Cards – 50 points10 Note Cards – 50 points Rough Draft – 50 pointsRough Draft – 50 points Final Draft – 80 pointsFinal Draft – 80 points Works Cited Page – 20 pointsWorks Cited Page – 20 points Speech – 20 pointsSpeech – 20 points

What is MLA?What is MLA?

MLA stands for Modern Language MLA stands for Modern Language Association. (this is a final exam Association. (this is a final exam question)question)

MLA has a strict code of guidelines for MLA has a strict code of guidelines for writing papers, journals, articles, etc.writing papers, journals, articles, etc.

You may want to purchase or check You may want to purchase or check out am MLA handbook to make sure out am MLA handbook to make sure you follow the rules correctly.you follow the rules correctly.

It is also in your It is also in your Writer’s ChoiceWriter’s Choice book. book.

What is a source?What is a source?

Sources are where you get the Sources are where you get the information that is in your paper.information that is in your paper.

You find these sources by doing You find these sources by doing research.research.

Examples of sources are: books, Examples of sources are: books, encyclopedias, journals, newspapers, encyclopedias, journals, newspapers, magazines, articles, magazines, articles, reputablereputable websites, interviews, movies, etc.websites, interviews, movies, etc.

How many sources do I How many sources do I need?need?

English 10 – you must have at least 3 English 10 – you must have at least 3 sources for your paper. sources for your paper.

Honor’s English 10 – you must have at Honor’s English 10 – you must have at least 5 sources.least 5 sources.

Once you have these sources, put Once you have these sources, put them into alphabetical order and them into alphabetical order and number them – either 1-3 or 1-5.number them – either 1-3 or 1-5.

Make them good!Make them good!

Why do I need sources?Why do I need sources?

If you copy your work directly If you copy your work directly from your source without from your source without

citingciting it, you are committing it, you are committing PLAGIARISMPLAGIARISM. You will be . You will be

given an automatic 0 on your given an automatic 0 on your paper.paper.

If you copy your paper If you copy your paper directly from a book or directly from a book or encyclopedia, you are encyclopedia, you are

committing PLAGIARISM.committing PLAGIARISM.

Know These WordsKnow These Words

ParaphraseParaphrase – the act or process of – the act or process of restating or rewording (even if you restating or rewording (even if you paraphrase, you still have to give paraphrase, you still have to give credit – that means a citation)credit – that means a citation)

VerbatimVerbatim – in exactly the same – in exactly the same words; or word for wordwords; or word for word

Here comes the hard part . Here comes the hard part . . .. .

Here are two things that you MUST Here are two things that you MUST become VERY familiar with:become VERY familiar with:

Works Cited and Parenthetical Works Cited and Parenthetical CitationsCitations

Works CitedWorks Cited

Okay, so you have your 3 or 5 sources. Okay, so you have your 3 or 5 sources. You must have the following information You must have the following information

for EACH source: author, title, publisher, for EACH source: author, title, publisher, date of publication, place of publication, date of publication, place of publication, and the page numbers where you got and the page numbers where you got your notes. GET THIS WHILE YOU ARE IN your notes. GET THIS WHILE YOU ARE IN THE LIBRARY!!THE LIBRARY!!

Once you have this information, put Once you have this information, put your authors in alphabetical order.your authors in alphabetical order.

Works Cited cont.Works Cited cont.

You will put all your sources in a list at You will put all your sources in a list at the end of your paper. the end of your paper.

This will be your Works Cited page. It This will be your Works Cited page. It should be the last page of your paper.should be the last page of your paper.

There is a VERY specific way to list There is a VERY specific way to list these entries.these entries.

It all matters – every period, comma, It all matters – every period, comma, everything!everything!

Here are some examples:Here are some examples:

How to Create Works Cited How to Create Works Cited EntriesEntries BooksBooks

Pinker, Steven. Pinker, Steven. The Blank Stare: The Modern Denial The Blank Stare: The Modern Denial of Human Natureof Human Nature. New York: Viking, 2002.. New York: Viking, 2002.

An Unsigned Article in a Reference WorkAn Unsigned Article in a Reference Work

““Chaos Theory.” Chaos Theory.” Columbia EncyclopediaColumbia Encyclopedia. 6. 6thth ed. ed. 2001.2001.

An Article in a MagazineAn Article in a Magazine

Crawford, Craig. “Kerry’s Vietnam War Record Crawford, Craig. “Kerry’s Vietnam War Record Draws Supporters from Both Sides.” Draws Supporters from Both Sides.” CQ WeeklyCQ Weekly ((Congressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly) 21 Feb. 2004: 464-65.) 21 Feb. 2004: 464-65.

More Works Cited EntriesMore Works Cited Entries

An InterviewAn InterviewReagan, Ronald. Telephone interview. 8 Aug. Reagan, Ronald. Telephone interview. 8 Aug.

1986.1986.

An Online Journal or Professional An Online Journal or Professional WebsiteWebsite

Banned Books OnlineBanned Books Online. Ed. John Mark Ockerbloom. 1993-2003. . Ed. John Mark Ockerbloom. 1993-2003. Online Books Page, U of Pennsylvania. 18 Mar. 2004 Online Books Page, U of Pennsylvania. 18 Mar. 2004 <http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/bannedbooks.html>.<http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/bannedbooks.html>.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE WIKIPEDIA AS A USE WIKIPEDIA AS A

SOURCE!SOURCE!

Parenthetical CitationsParenthetical Citations

In MLA style, in-text citations, called In MLA style, in-text citations, called parenthetical citations, are used to parenthetical citations, are used to document sources within a paper.document sources within a paper.

You do not need a citation if the You do not need a citation if the information is considered general information is considered general knowledge.knowledge.

The citations direct the reader to the The citations direct the reader to the Works Cited page at the end of the Works Cited page at the end of the paper.paper.

Parenthetical CitationsParenthetical Citations

The citations include the author’s last name The citations include the author’s last name and the page number where you found that and the page number where you found that information. NO COMMA!information. NO COMMA!

If you do not have citations, you will get a 0 If you do not have citations, you will get a 0 on your paper.on your paper.

Without them, you are committing Without them, you are committing plagiarism.plagiarism.

There is no such thing as having too many There is no such thing as having too many citations.citations.

When in doubt, cite!When in doubt, cite!

Here is how your citations Here is how your citations will look in your paper.will look in your paper.

Both the federal government and the Both the federal government and the National Education Association (NEA) agree National Education Association (NEA) agree that schools have this dual responsibility that schools have this dual responsibility (Benninga 449). “The federal government (Benninga 449). “The federal government authorized nearly $25 million for character authorized nearly $25 million for character education in the No Child Left Behind Act” education in the No Child Left Behind Act” (Hudd 28). (Hudd 28).

Another way to do a Another way to do a citation is to use a signal citation is to use a signal

phrase.phrase.Suzanne Hudd points out “Character Suzanne Hudd points out “Character educators contend that we are educators contend that we are experiencing a national ‘crisis of experiencing a national ‘crisis of character’ that necessitates the character’ that necessitates the inclusion of formalized curricula in inclusion of formalized curricula in character in public schools” (28). character in public schools” (28).

When you have a long citation, When you have a long citation, you must indent the entire you must indent the entire

quote. It should have a signal quote. It should have a signal phrase, no quotation marks, phrase, no quotation marks, and the page number at the and the page number at the

end.end.

Last Minute DetailsLast Minute Details You must do your heading to MLA guidelines – You must do your heading to MLA guidelines –

you will be shown this!you will be shown this! Margins must be no larger than 1.5 inch.Margins must be no larger than 1.5 inch. Do not center align your paper.Do not center align your paper. No crazy or weird fonts.No crazy or weird fonts. Use 12 point font – no bigger.Use 12 point font – no bigger. Use quotation marks correctly.Use quotation marks correctly. Use transition words – therefore, although, also, Use transition words – therefore, although, also,

for example.for example. Underline titles or italicize.Underline titles or italicize. Do not write in first person!Do not write in first person! Alphabetize your Works Cited page.Alphabetize your Works Cited page. Do your best!Do your best!