Transcript Research Project - Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools

RESEARCH PROJECT 2015
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Introduction (approximately four pages)
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Literature Review (approximately five pages)
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In-text citations
INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE
To
persuade the reader to keep
reading
To identify your research
questions
To state your purpose statement
To define any terms related to
your topic of study
INTRODUCTION (CENTERED AND
UNDERLINED): SECTIONS
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Statement of the Problem (centered only): What is your
problem? Define your research project as a problem through
an engaging way (i.e. anecdote, alarming statistic, etc.): onetwo paragraphs.
Rationale and Focus of the Problem (centered only):
What is the goal or the aims of this research? How will your
study help to understand the problem, or solve some piece of
the problem, or lead to a change in policy, practice,
intervention, etc.? Briefly describe the study and state the
problem: one-two paragraphs.
Definition of Terms (centered only): You should provide
operational definitions for all your key terms in your research
questions: minimum of four terms and definitions.
Purpose of the Study (centered only): It should be written
as a single sentence. It is the bridge from the problem to
research questions: one sentence.
Research Questions (centered only) : What specific
questions can enable you to achieve your purpose for research?
Make sure to pose questions that data can answer: Two-four
questions; one per variable minimum.
LITERATURE REVIEW: PURPOSE
 To
place your paper in context by
explaining why the question is
important and what other people
have learned about it.
What does the past research say about
your topic?
 What does the past research NOT say
about your topic?
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LITERATURE REVIEW (CENTERED AND
UNDERLINED): ORDER OF PARAGRAPHS
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Definition and History (centered only): How is your
topic defined? What is the history of your topic? Or what is
the history of the research on your topic? (minimum of two
paragraphs; one for definition and one for history)
Theories and Approaches (centered only): What are the
theories or approaches on your topic that exist or have
existed (two to four paragraphs; one for each variable
(i.e. one paragraph on the theory/approach on the
mental affects of eating disorders)
Criticisms (centered only): What research exists that
counters your theories or approaches? (one to three
paragraphs; the number depends on how much
conflicting information you found)
See example online for proper formatting:
http://www.chagrinschools.org/Downloads/Birth%20Order%202013.pdf
IN-TEXT CITATIONS
3 or fewer authors:
 List the authors’ last names in the text or in the
parenthetical citation. The page number always
goes in parenthesis at the end of the sentence.
 Ex: Smith, Yang, and Moore argue… United
States (76).
 Ex: The authors state "Tighter gun control…
rights" (Smith, Yang, and Moore 76).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
4 or more authors:
 Provide the first author’s name followed by et al.
in the text or in the parenthetical citations. The
page number always goes in parenthesis at the
end of the sentence.
 Ex: Jones et al. counter… laws (4).
 Ex: Legal experts… laws (Jones et al. 4).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
More than one work by the same author:
 If you cite more than one work by the same
author, include a shortened title of the specific
work from which you are quoting.
 Ex: Visual studies, because it is such a new
discipline, may be "too easy" (Elkins, "Visual
Studies" 63).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Secondary Sources:
 If you cite a quote within your source, mention
the name of the original speaker in the sentence.
In addition, in your parenthetical citation include
“qtd. in” followed by the name of the writer of the
source and the page number.
 Ex: Smith states that “the sky is blue” (qtd. in
Jones 24)
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Multiple sources/authors:
 If you are citing more than one source in a
sentence to support your claim, mention all
names alphabetically and page numbers in your
parenthetical citation with semicolons between
each.
 Ex: As a new discipline, visual studies have
been criticized for being too easy (Elkins 2;
Jones 5; Smith 20).
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
Non-print or sources from the Internet:
 Include in the text the first item that appears in
the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the
citation (e.g. author name, article name, website
name, film name).
 Ex: Modern Language Association (MLA) is
the suggested citation guide for English
classes (The Purdue OWL).
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