Writing Your Research Paper: a step-by-step guide

1. Writing Your Research Paper: a step-by-step guide English I: Chamberlin & Foster 2013

2. The Introduction: • Sentence 1: The Opener Use a powerful quote, a short story, or an important fact to get your reader’s attention Sentence 2-3: General Information about your artist Sentence 4: Thesis (Type your thesis word for word that was approved by me!)

3. Example Introduction: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and I’ve missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed” (BrainyQuote). Michael Jordan, arguably the best basketball player that has ever existed, once said this quote when interviewed about why he is so famous. A basketball player that began practicing in his backyard, then at the University of North Carolina, then spending many years in the National Basketball Association, he has left a legacy that few basketball players can attain. Though many current basketball players have scored similar points and earned similar accolades, Michael Jordan will be forever remembered as a basketball legend because of his dedication to the sport, his personal integrity, and his ability to still inspire players today. OPENER GENERAL INFORMATION THESIS

4. “I have brought my subjects from Russia…. Paris has given them light” (BrainyQuotes). Marc Chagall was the most popular and distinctive artists in the 20th century.Unlike most artists who become known after their death, Chagall was one of the few who became famous during his lifetime. Being a Jew during the World War he had lots of bridges to overcome, and yet he still came out as one of the peak artist for the 20th century. Chagall’s life was majorly influenced by world events; it made his art work more diverse than others because of the events that he went through.

5. Body Paragraphs • Each Body Paragraph should contain three parts: • Topic Sentence • Information to support the topic sentence • Transition sentence to next paragraph

6. Sample Body Paragraph Vincent van Gogh’s life inspired him to become the artist he is known as today. He was born in …… (Smith). While he was never married, he did have a god-son named Blah Blah (Smith). Blah, blah, blah, blah. “Blah, Blah, Blah” (Smith 16). Because of his childhood, education, and personal life, he developed into an Impressionist painter. Van Gogh’s painting experience began in a very unorthodox way. While in an insane assylum after having a mental breakdown, he began to paint various portraits (Jones). “Van Gogh’s paintings had lots of swirly textures and blah blah” (Jones 14). Van Gogh may possibly be remembered best for his painting “Starry Night”. When the world remembers Van Gogh, they remember his dark blues and round textures in “Starry Night.” Topic Sentence Information Transitions Sentence

7. Conclusion • Restate Thesis • In different words • End of Artist Life (death sentence) • Impact on art world • Artist Influence you see on our world

8. Chagall’s life was majorly influenced by world events. It made his art work different than others because of the things that he went through. The one reason why Chagall was so famous was because he showed viewers what his life was like through his paintings. They were not only bright and colorful, but they painted a picture of what he went though during his life time. Chagall was ninety-six years old when he died of a heart attack (Welton 7). Even though he is now dead, he made a huge impact on the world of art. It let artists see that they could make art work that is different then everything else that is out there, and still be famous. It also showed artists that they could express things that went on throughout life to make an impact on what everyone else sees in the world.