Writing a Research Paper on an ISSUE related to the 1940s and Today

1. Writing a Research Paper on an ISSUE related to the 1940s and Today 1. You are going to select an ISSUE from the handout given in class or one you create and get teacher approval that interests YOU and research that issue and write a report that reflects what you have learned and shows the connection from the 1940s to today's society. You will present what you have learned in class. 2. You will review the project list and select an issue. You will submit this topic to your teacher for approval. 3. You will use your spiral bound index cards for note taking. If you still don't have these, you must ask your parents TODAY for the note cards.

2. Characteristics of an Issue 1.Real World ·An issue is a controversy or problem that people are discussing or should be discussing. ·It is ambiguous with no clear-cut or easy solutions. ·As new information is obtained, the problem changes. 2. Multiple points of view ·Different people or groups have different perspectives or points of view about an issue. ·Depending on how an issue is resolved, various groups and individuals (called stakeholders) stand to win or lose tangible things such as income and recreational areas or intangible things such as solitude and freedom of speech. 3. Researchable with substantial information available ·You will need multiple sources of information and data. ·Important issues and real world problems are informed by historical and contemporary information sources and by the collection and analysis of a variety of data. 4. Worthy topic and personal involvement ·ask questions about things that matter ·consider the arguments of others and to contribute your personal perspective and original thinking ·select an issue that you care about ·dig for evidence, take a stand, develop an argument, propose a resolution to the problem

3. Day 1. Project Introduction and research basics from Mrs. Miller. Select your issue and complete the Developing an Issue handout for homework. Day 2. Visit the library to begin research and learn how to cite sources so you don't have ANY plagiarism - which will result in a ZERO on your paper! *Begin the Research Model Planner - #3 is crucial to the success of your paper. You must have at least three distinctly different questions you want to have answered in your research. Day 3. Research from reliable sources, You MUST have your index cards! Don't forget to include print resources such as the encyclopedia and at least one book source. You must have both in your final paper. You must have at least three (3) Internet sources and one (1) encyclopedia and (1) book source for a total of at least FIVE different sources in your bibliography. Day 4. Research continues. Day 5. Wordly Wise Test and research continues.

4. All of your note taking MUST be finished for Check Point #1 on Wednesday, 1/18. I will be checking to see that your Research Planning Page is completed as well as all of your note cards are complete. You should have at least 15 notecards completed. Your rough draft is due on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 for Check Point #2. You will also have a self-review and peer-review checked off as well. Your final paper is due on your presentation day the week of January 30th - your day will be assigned to you by Mrs. Long. You may NOT read your paper, but prepare a 3 to 5 minute presentation on your issue for the class on your assigned day. You may use visual aids to help with your presentation. YOU MUST research at home on your own, visit the public library if necessary and remember that YOU alone are responsible for taking notes on your subject. If you do not have Internet at home, you must make arrangements to research on your own.

5. Gathering Information from Sources and Taking Notes... 1. Use several sources to insure that your information is current, accurate, and balanced. 2. Check to see when printed sources were published to make sure that the information in them is up-to-date. 3. If you find discrepancies in the information from two sources, go to a third source to check the facts. If three or more sources disagree, mention this disagreement in your paper. 4. Whenever possible, cross-check information from the Internet by consulting other sources.

6. Create an outline to help you stay organized while you prepare your rough draft. You may decide to use the Dagwood Model graphic organizer for your paper. Copy the following sample: Title of Your Report/Issue I. Introduction (this will contain your thesis statement) II. First main idea about your issue A. Supporting detail # 1 1. any additional ideas that go with the detail in A 2. any additional ideas that go with the detail in A B. Supporting detail #2 C. Supporting detail #3 III. Second main idea about your issue... (follow the format above) IV. Third main idea about your issue...follow format above V. Fourth main idea about your issue, and so on... VI. Fifth main idea, and so on... VII. Conclusion

7. Note Taking on your index cards ·write ONE note/fact on the front of each card. ·Double-check the spelling of names and technical terms. ·Use quotation marks whenever you copy words exactly. ·On each card, record the title of the book or article and the page number, or the name of the Web site or interviewee. ·Create a source card for each book, article, web site, or interviewee. Use the source templates provided by your teacher(s).

8. Imagine this is your index card. Number each card. #1 Name of Source (book title, web site address, encyclopedia name, page #) Note/Fact about your issue. You must read your source and put the note/fact in your own words.

9. Once you have all of your notes completed from each of your sources follow these steps: 1. Review your notecards. At this point, you will need a ziploc baggie because you will be tearing out your note cards so that you can organize them according to the related facts/research questions you answered. You will be required to turn these cards in with your rough draft! This is part of your final grade. 2. Make sure you have a source template filled out for each source used. 3. Based on your point of view on the subject, look over your notes and develop your thesis statement about your subject.

10. Thesis Statement:one sentence that is the main idea of your research paper. It is one sentence that sums up the point of your paper. A thesis statement is developed after you have gathered all of your information on your note cards. Here are two examples: Write these in your notes! 1. Alexander Hamilton was a great leader because he assured the financial security of the United States. 2. George Washington was called the Father of this Country because without him, the colonists would have lost the Revolution and the new republic would have torn itself apart with political rivalries.

11. Once you have your thesis statement and all of your note cards, use the DAGWOOD graphic organizer (detailed Hamburger Model) or the sample outline shared in class to write your ROUGH DRAFT. ·Your rough draft MUST be typed. ·You must include a Works Cited page with your rough draft, so you will have to use your templates and citationmaker.com to help you create this. If you use quotes from any of your sources where you use the exact words from the source, you MUST use quotation marks and include an INTERNAL citation. Visit for a review of what we cover in class. (MLA Formatting and Style Guide) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/

12. Let's look at how you are going to get this assignment completed... 1. Visit my web site and use the "Middle School Research Guide" to help you at home and at school with this process. You may print it at home if you are able. You may print in the media center if you have 10 cents per page. 2. Refer to your notes in your spiral notebook about your thesis statement and how to take notes using the index cards. 3. Remember that for each source you use, you MUST have the complete bibliography information written down on a template for citation maker. You will use www.citationmaker.com to create your bibliography for your rough draft and your final draft.