Welcome to Research Skills

1. Welcome to Research Skills Mrs. Conte

2. Activities • Mini-lessons to learn how to find information • Sources available in the Media Center • Choosing a topic • Creating a “Working Outline” • Developing note cards • Creating a Thesis Statement

3. More Activities • Creating bibliography cards based on all sources using the MLA format • Creating a “Works Cited” page that lists all the sources in abcorder (MLA) • Write first draft of final paper • Proofread and edit • Type final paper and submit with “Works Cited”

4. Mini-Lessons • We will perform mini-lessons to fully understand the research process. These lessons may include reading articles and gathering the important information, locating websites and deciding which ones are helpful and ones to stay away from. We will also be learning how to be safe on the internet.

5. Sources in the Media Center • Books (using Spectrum to locate a book) • Encyclopedias (World Book) • Internet • Magazine Articles (print and nonprint using EbscoHost) • DVD’s and Videos

6. Choosing a Topic • Students will view numerous sources • Students will make a list of 5-10 possible topics with short notes for each • Students will determine which topic they are most interested in and which one that will have sufficient sources available

7. Working Outline • Students will create a “Working Outline”. This outline will be your map on your journey of research. The outline will be hand-written, graded and then typed. Students will use their outlines everyday while researching. Outlines may change if new information is found.

8. Note Cards • One thought per card • Just a phrase (if it requires a period it is a sentence) • Label cards in the right hand corner according to outline (Example: I-A) • Place a slug at the top to identify subject • Write source on the back

9. Thesis Statement • The focus of your paper • The main idea that you are trying to convey in your work • One declarative sentence • Never use the first person in your thesis (we know it is your opinion because your name is on the paper)

10. Bibliography Cards • Index cards that list where you got your information from (your sources) • MLA format (style sheet to follow) • Cards to be placed in alphabetical order according to whatever comes first on the card • Cards will be graded

11. Works Cited page • Bibliography cards are now typed using Word • Times New Roman – size 12 • Center align “Works Cited” • Alphabetical order • Left align first entry • Tab to indent all preceding lines in the entry • When typing an internet source be sure to type URL and remove as a hyperlink

12. First Draft • Students will hand write the first draft using lined paper (skip a line for proofreading) • The first paragraph will be the introductory paragraph (the thesis statement will be found in the last sentence) • The body paragraphs will be based on the notecards • The final paragraph will be the closing paragraph (similar to the first but not verbatim)

13. Proofreading • You will proofread your paper and edit • You will ask a peer to also proofread • Rewrite paper and proofread again • Type paper using word (times new roman size 12) • Print out and proofread, ask Mrs. Conte to proofread • Edit any corrections

14. Submit Final Paper • Print out final copy • Attach “Works Cited” page • Attach class requirement sheet with rubric • Sit back and relax

15. Plagiarism • The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work. • If you must use another’s words you must give credit to that author • “O” tolerance for using another’s words without quoting them