Transcript Document

YOUR
RESEARCH
PAPER
Thesis Question and Statement

Research Question:
Should states regulate the use of cell
phones in moving vehicles?

Thesis Statement:
States should regulate use of cell phones
on the road because many drivers are
using the phones irresponsibly and
causing accidents.
Now It Is Your Turn
Use the space to the right to answer the following:

What is your Thesis Question?
What question do you want to answer?

What is your Thesis Statement?
Remember, subject + opinion = thesis
Introducing your paper

The introduction paragraph allows the
reader to become acquainted with your
subject.

The introduction paragraph includes your
thesis statement (either the first sentence
or the last.)

Remember, if your thesis is new and
innovative, then the reader will be
encountering this idea for the first time
and will need as much information as
possible about your subject.
An Example Introduction:
At one point in the early twentieth
century, it seemed that the American
buffalo, Bison bison, would continue to
exist only in pictures or on the buffalo
nickel. Its population of one hundred
million around 1700 had been reduced to
one thousand by 1889. Today, that
number has increased to nearly two
hundred thousand (Hodgson 71). The
buffalo, once endangered, has returned.
Five Ws and an H
Research questions you must answer to help
you write your research paper:
Who?
How?
When?
What?
Why?
Where?
Using
MLA Format
In Your
Research Paper
Why we require MLA style:

Proper citation of sources in MLA style can
help you avoid plagiarism, which is a
serious offense.

Using a consistent format helps your
reader understand the arguments and
the sources they’re built on.

It also helps you, the writer, keep track of
your sources.
Two Parts of the MLA Style:
1.
Works Cited Page
2.
Parenthetical Citations
Works Cited Page

A list of every source you make reference
to in the research paper.

Provides the info necessary for a reader to
locate and retrieve any sources you cite.

Each source cited in the essay must
appear on the works cited page, and each
source on the works cited page must have
a citation in the paper.
A Sample Works Cited Page
Notice: Double spacing throughout!
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York:
Penguin, 1985.
Miller, J. Hills. Charles Dickens: The World of His Novels.
Bloomington: University of Indiana Purdue, 1958.
Zwerding, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 99
(May 1973): 429-439.
A Sample Works Cited Page
Notice: Works Cited title at the top
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York:
Penguin, 1985.
Miller, J. Hills. Charles Dickens: The World of His Novels.
Bloomington: University of Indiana Purdue, 1958.
Zwerding, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 99
(May 1973): 429-439.
A Sample Works Cited Page
Notice: Indentations on the left
no space
first line of
entry
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York:
10 spaces
for lines
following
Penguin, 1985.
Miller, J. Hills. Charles Dickens: The World of His Novels.
Bloomington: University of Indiana Purdue, 1958.
Zwerding, Alex. “Esther Summerson Rehabilitated.” PMLA 99
(May 1973): 429-439.
When Should
You Use
Parenthetical
Citations?
1. When quoting any words verbatim:
(the author’s name MUST appear in the citation)
examples:
Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry
was marked by a “spontaneous overflow
of powerful feelings” (263).
OR
Romantic poetry was marked by a
“spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings” (Wordsworth 263).
2. When summarizing facts and
ideas from a source:
this means to take ideas from a large
passage or another source and
condense them, using your own words.
3. When paraphrasing a source:
this means to use the ideas from
another source but change the words
into your own words.
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations

At the end of the quote, summarization or
paraphrase, insert:
step 1 - first parenthesis
example:
…of powerful feelings” (
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations

At the end of the quote, summarization or
paraphrase, insert:
step 2 - first word(s) of works cited entry
example:
…of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations

At the end of the quote, summarization or
paraphrase, insert:
step 3 - page number(s) of citation
example:
…of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations

At the end of the quote, summarization or
paraphrase, insert:
step 4 - end parenthesis
example:
…of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263)
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations

At the end of the quote, summarization or
paraphrase, insert:
step 5 - a period
example:
…of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263).
How to Use
Parenthetical Citations
NOTICE:
1. The period always goes after the citation—
NEVER before.
2. There is NEVER any punctuation between the word
and the page number.
3. NEVER include the period or comma at sentence end,
although you MUST include a question mark or exclamation mark
…of powerful feelings?! ” (Wordsworth 263).
What words do you put in
Parenthetical Citations?
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. 1852-1853. New York:
Penguin, 1985.
Just use the very first word of the Works
Cited entry:
…the words of your quote” (Dickens 123).
What words do you put in
Parenthetical Citations?
Works Cited
Smith, Carol and Jones, Martha. Funny Things. New York:
Zondervan, 1995.
When there is more than one author, use the
last name for each person:
…words of your quote” (Smith and Jones 24).
What words do you put in the
Parenthetical Citations?
Works Cited
“California’s Cigarette Tax Deters Smokers.” Newsweek 125 (June
2000): 67-68.
When there is no author, use just the first
word of the title in quotes:
…the words of your quote” (“California” 67).
Researching
your topic
Researching the Internet

Use search engines to your advantage.

Identify the website.

Examine for credibility.

Determine depth and scope of information.

Assess date of information.
Answer these questions about
the web site before using it:

Who is the creator of the website?

What is the purpose of the site?

Who is the audience of the site?

Can you purchase products at this site?

Is the site affiliated with a business or
university?

Does the site offer eccentric information
about a particular person or group?
Example of a Title Page
The Hazards of Television on Society
by
John A. Student
Mr. Brady
Science Fiction / Fantasy / English IV / A3 or B2
10 March 2012
How to make an outline:
The Senior Project: Synthesizing the K-12 Education
Thesis Statement: The Senior Project is valuable to students because it is based
upon an area of interest to the student, incorporates a variety of academic
disciplines, and uses skills necessary in the workplace.
I.
Introduction
II.
The Senior Project is an opportunity for students to more fully study an
area of interest not covered in the regular curriculum.
A.
Emphasis in one of three areas
1.
Personal growth
2.
Career exploration
3.
Altruism
B.
Allows for in-depth study of a specific topic
III.
The Senior Project encourages study across the curriculum.
A.
Four separate components
1.
Research paper
2.
Project
3.
Portfolio
4.
Presentation
How to make an outline:
The Senior Project: Synthesizing the K-12 Education (continued…)
B. Interdisciplinary skills within each component
1. Project may use both math and writing
2. Speech may use speech techniques and visual aids
IV.
The Senior Project emphasizes skills valued in the workplace.
A. Time management
1. Creating schedules
2. Meeting deadlines
B. Interpersonal skills
1. Choosing and working with a mentor
2. Interviewing skills
V.
Conclusion
Here’s how your outline should look
The Senior Project: Synthesizing the K-12 Education
Thesis Statement: The Senior Project is valuable to students because it is
based upon an area of interest to the student, incorporates a variety of
academic disciplines, and uses skills necessary in the workplace.
I.
Introduction
II.
The Senior Project is an opportunity for students to more fully
study an area of interest not covered in the regular curriculum.
A.
Emphasis in one of three areas
1.
Personal growth
2.
Career exploration
3.
Altruism
B.
Allows for in-depth study of a specific topic
III.
The Senior Project encourages study across the curriculum.
A.
Three separate components
1.
Research paper
2.
Project
3.
Presentation
B.
Interdisciplinary skills within each component
1.
Project may use both math and writing
2.
Speech may use speech techniques and
visual aids
IV.
The Senior Project emphasizes skills valued in the workplace.
A.
Time management
1.
Creating schedules
2.
Meeting deadlines
B.
Interpersonal skills
1.
Choosing and working with a mentor
2.
Interviewing skills
V.
Conclusion
Example of Page Layout
1/2”
1”
Brady 2
sobering amount of situational and relational inconvenience
1”
envelopes the characters found in Albert Camus’ novella The
1”
1” margin all
around
Stranger in that a constant state of tension (Einstein quote) exists
between each character’s interactions with one another.
Albert Camus is attempting to portray a truth about the reality of the
human condition, a reality few individuals would accept, and the
tension filled relationships that overshadow humanity’s everyday
½” margin to base
of name & page
in right top corner
existence.
If Meursault had simply agreed with the Magistrate about
believing in God, specifically Jesus Christ and his death on the
cross, then he would likely have been released from jail. It is
obvious the French had no particular fondness for the Arabs or the
double spacing
throughout
Moors. They are obviously foreigners to the French and, believing
in a faith other than Christianity, are not of the same caliber
aseveryone else. The only problem is that Mersault has not a care
1”
indent 10 spaces
or just ½” tab