Research Paper Syllabus

English 11

 

In the next six weeks you will be researching, drafting, revising and editing your Junior Research Paper. This project will further develop writing skills including: choosing and narrowing a topic, developing a thesis, researching, note-taking, paraphrasing, quoting, summarizing, drafting, revising, editing and using MLA style for documentation.

 

You must complete this paper and a citation check to pass this 9 weeks of junior English.

 

Due: Thursday Dec. 20. The paper is must be turned in before we leave for break. Papers turned in after break without a written medical/emergency excuse will receive half credit. If you are leaving early for break, make sure you hand in your paper. Emergency situation? Email your paper to leslie_harris@plsd.us or erin_salzer@plsd.us

 

Points: 500 points final paper - 350 points process

Paper Requirements:

• The paper must be 5 to 6 pages long, typed, double spaced, 12 point font (Times New Roman or Arial – no big, fancy fonts please)
• Your paper must include a title, your name, course name and the date. Your pages must be numbered. You must include a Works Cited page.
• Your topic must be approached from a persuasive perspective and must be approved by your teacher (please note – we are open to almost any topic as long as you are prepared to argue or analyze your paper in an intelligent, well-researched manner.)
• You must follow the guidelines set by the English Department. Your paper must be formatted according to MLA standards. Please use your research handbook and any class notes as a guide.
• You must use a minimum of five written sources. NO GENERAL ENCYCLOPEDIAS, WIKIPEDIA, ABOUT.COM, ASK.COM. NOT ALL INTERNET SOURCES ARE ACCEPTABLE. You must keep a hard copy of all of your sources to use for citation checks. You may also use a primary source (personal interviews with an expert) in addition to your written sources.
• We will schedule a citation check with each student from Dec. 17-20. The check allows me to ensure that you have properly documented your sources and that your paper contains no plagiarism. You will need the hard copies of your sources for your check. You must pass a citation check to get credit for the paper.
• You must complete all steps of the paper in order to pass. If we do not see notes, outlines or drafts, then we will not accept your final paper for full credit.
• Notes must be taken on note cards. You will turn in your note cards with your paper. You must have notes to pass the paper!
• A formal outline must accompany your paper.

Important Paper Dates:

Working Outline/Research Proposal (15 points) – Due Nov. 15

Source Cards – in MLA form and “Working” Works Cited Page in MLA form

(100 points) – Due Nov. 28

10 note cards (20 points) – Due Nov. 30

10 note cards (20 points) – Due Dec. 3

10 note cards (20 points) – Due Dec. 4

10 note cards (20 points) – Due Dec. 5

10 note cards (20 points) – Due Dec. 5 – all note cards must be complete today!

Thesis Statement (15 points) – Due Dec. 7

Formal Outline (25points) – Due Dec. 7

Introduction & first body paragraph (25 points) – Dec. 12

Rough draft of complete paper (50 points) - Dec.17 at start of class

Citation Checks Dec.17 - 20 in class – bring your sources

Final paper (500 points) – Due Thursday, Dec. 20 by 1:55p.m.

*If you do not complete the research paper you will receive an F for the 9 weeks grading period.

We will all get through this paper together! Relax, have fun and let me know if you have any problems!

 

Research Paper Learning Targets:

By the end of this unit – I will be able to:

·      produce an appropriate research paper that meets established standards of English.

·      practice writing as a process involving a number of elements, including:

o      Collecting credible, relevant information,

o      Taking notes

o      Formulating ideas,

o      Determining relationships among ideas,

o      Drafting,

o      Arranging paragraphs in an appropriate order,

o      Building transitions between paragraphs, and

o      Revising and proofreading according to conventions of Standard American English.

·      identify, evaluate and cite appropriate sources using the MLA format.

·      demonstrate knowledge of basic library procedures.

·      avoid plagiarism. 

·      develop (write) persuasive papers that demonstrate the ability to define a topic, to develop a persuasive/argumentative thesis statement, and to support the thesis with credible facts.

·      write a formal paper following the MLA format.

·      integrate resource material, using quotations, paraphrase, and summary